Madrid’s luxury hotel of longest standing reopens its doors under the aegis of Hidden Away Hotels, now as a comfortable and distinguished 5-star establishment.
Gran Hotel Inglés opened back in 1886 at Calle Echegaray in Madrid’s Literary Quarter. It was a favourite among artists like Matisse, Valle-Inclán and Carlos Gardel and now it has recovered the splendour of its past as a symbol of cultural refinement thanks to Hidden Away Hotels. This Mallorcan chain has reformed it in an ambitious project featuring prominent experts in hotel development and interior design, including New York’s Rockwell Group and the International Hospitality Projects studio.
Located in one of Madrid’s foremost commercial areas, it is set to take its place among the very best hotels in the city. It has 48 elegant and evocative guest rooms, with fine hardwood flooring, bronze and crystal furniture, and aristocratic sheets of 500-thread-count Egyptian cotton. The luxurious main suite, of 125 m2, has two independent entrances, two bedrooms, lounge areas, dining room, bar area, butler service, two 1920s-style free-standing bath tubs, and 65” TVs.
Gran Hotel Inglés also offers the best in gastronomy with its restaurant Lobo 8, which brings back the glamour that marked the establishment as a sophisticated meeting point ever since it opened in the 19th century. Other common areas include private dining rooms, library, gym, wellness centre (Egoiste Spa) and meeting rooms. The hotel forms part of Leading Hotels of the World, an exclusive association bringing together the world’s 340 best establishments, and its general director is Javier Polo, a well-known expert with long experience in the city’s luxury hotel sector.
Lobo 8, luxury and tradition
Lobo 8 reflects the traditional elegance of Madrid as a gourmet restaurant offering delectable classic cuisine by master chef Willy Moya. His signature dishes evoke all the magic of the Literary Quarter, featuring time-honoured specialities like spicy hot potatoes, “crashed” eggs with truffled charcuterie, cured ham, day-fresh fish and tender meats. With contemporary touches, this is authentic traditional gourmet fare like that once served in the elegant dining rooms of the quarter’s great houses – a veritable culinary experience that will pleasantly surprise even the most discerning palates.
