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Founded in 1853, this family-run hotel is close to the Prado and the nightlife around Sol and Plaza Santa Ana. The rooms are spotless and comfortable, though those overlooking the street can be noisy. Excellent value and there’s even a gym. Book ahead.

Close to Sol, Gran Vía and the shops of Calle Preciados, this modern 4-star hotel has wooden and leather furnishings throughout. The rooms are on the small side, but clean and comfortable. Service is attentive and there’s a certain old-world charm about the place.

When Ernest Hemingway stayed here in the 1950s he praised the location – near the Prado and the Círculo de Bellas Artes. Renovated in 2000, the rooms are small but tastefully decorated. There’s a terrace on the 7th floor and the café-restaurant offers a reasonably priced menú del dia as well as afternoon tea.

This 4-star hotel is handy for the Retiro, the art museums and the fashion boutiques of Salamanca. The building is modern but the ambience is old-world. All rooms were refurbished in the 1990s; try for one overlooking the leafy courtyard.

A large 4-star hotel in an imposing early 20th-century building opposite Atocha railway station. The location is perfect for the “golden triangle” of art museums. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant and the stylish rooms are equipped with satellite TV (some have balconies).

This modernized hotel, convenient for the Palacio Real and the Gran Vía, is furnished with strategically placed statues and old paintings to give it a touch of elegance. Though small, the rooms are comfortable and stylish – try for one on the fifth floor where there are tiny balconies with views of the city.

Located in lively Chueca, this distinguished-looking hotel includes a restaurant and meeting rooms, while the pleasant rooms have TV and hair-dryers. A special breakfast is available for early risers.

This 90-room hotel is excellent value given its location, near the Rastro and Plaza Mayor, and its spotless rooms furnished with antiques. There’s a restaurant and an airport shuttle on request.

This 4-star hotel is in a quiet residential street near the leafy surroundings of Parque del Oeste. The rooms with a balcony are the most attractive. The piano bar is a good place to relax.

An attractive 3-star option on one of Madrid’s most historic streets. Rooms (some with balcony) are comfortable, with double glazing.