Beautiful classy old hotel with nice views from some rooms, and an elevator with a glass side. The stairwell is a work of art. Attentive staff, polyglots, competent and efficient from check in to housekeeping. The rooms are comfortable, monsoon shower heads with hand wands, bidets, plenty of electrical outlets, you need to bring your USB adapters. The desk could have used a light bulb (there was a desk lamp but no bulb), the coffee machine makes an acceptable espresso and they have ceramic espresso cups in the room. Downstairs in the lobby there is always cool fruit tinged water which is very welcome. The hotel has a nice bar they call the Library, and they serve a good breakfast. Walking distance from Mercado Barelo where you can pick up bread and charcuterie, produce, or sit down and have espresso, breakfast, lunch, supper or dinner (a different meal every visit for a week), there's a post office nearby, and dozens of restaurants in the immediate neighborhood ranging from very affordable tapas to more than a handful of Michelin Star places. In Winter there are hardly any American tourists, the only other Americans we met were ex-pats or students. An easy metro train ride from the airport, a short number 10 or 37 bus from here to the museum triangle, an very easy metro train to the train to Toledo for a day trip. A block away is a lovely old Catholic church for you Chief of Staff to go to Mass. Prices fluctuate but if you can get one of their better rooms for 150 Euro a night, that's a great deal. read more