In Spain’s invigorating capital, it’s all too easy to pace the streets from dawn until dusk – and then some more. After stepping into my suite at BLESS Hotel Madrid, I ripped up plans for a jam-packed schedule in favor of slowing down for my final days in Spain. Made up of 111 rooms and suites on Salamanca’s prestigious Velázquez Street, BLESS just about meets the threshold for a boutique hotel where you can expect to strike up a rapport with staff and see familiar faces at breakfast. Speaking of food, this luxury hotel’s gastronomic offering includes an Art Deco lobby sporting a patisserie and cocktail bar, a rooftop terrace, and a supper club with a secret bowling alley.
Photo courtesy BLESS Madrid
BLESS Madrid Offers A Convenient, Posh, and Uniquely Madrileño Stay
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First impressions of BLESS Madrid at Pinzelada
Photo courtesy BLESS Madrid
My stay at BLESS Hotel coincided with the unveiling of the lobby lounge, Pinzelada. Alejandra Pombo’s renovation has created an elegant arena for afternoon tea, cocktails, and all-day dining. Clad with curved velvet booths, brass bar stools, and oak paneling, Pinzelada sets the tone for a stay at this comfortable hotel.
As I came and went during my stay, I noticed there was a constant carousel of madrileños and travelers – people tapping at their laptops, couples discussing their itinerary, friends sharing cake, families resting with kids, and a backdrop of chatter.
I ate at Pinzelada on my first evening in Madrid. The dinner menu offered a creative selection of sharable and personal plates inspired by sea and land. I started with a cold soup of grilled artichoke, almond, garlic, and Iberian bacon which I’d have been just as happy to have as a main. I followed this with juicy monkfish dressed in barnacle velouté and tossed with strips of asparagus.
To drink, it took me a while to settle on “The Traveler” – the cocktail list was awash with liqueurs and spirits I’d never heard of and wanted to try. My choice was a refreshing blend of Roku gin, Chartreuse, honey, bergamot, and shiso oil. I’d have been tempted by a second had the prospect of a long soak upstairs not won out.
Rooms, suites, and wellbeing at BLESS Hotel Madrid
Photo courtesy BLESS Madrid
My tastes always lean olde-worlde and I was charmed by how Lázaro Rosa-Violán’s decor amplified the original features of this 19th-century building and brought in modern flair where needed.
Guest rooms at BLESS Madrid are larger than average; my Velázquez View Studio Suite felt like an apartment with French paneled doors dividing the living area from a massive walk-in closet and bathroom. The bed, cushioned by a headboard of a fantastical woodland scene, gave me one of the deepest sleeps of my trip. To my absolute delight, a clawfoot tub stood between the window and an antique fireplace flickering with fairy lights. A sumptuous velvet green couch matched the comfort of the bed.
While checking out the rooftop views, I peeked at BLESS Madrid’s Wellbeing Terrace Villas on the next level down. The Palladium Hotel Group is best known for its Ibiza resorts and these hot tub suites bring a slice of island life to the capital. They also have retractable sunroofs to offer protection from the elements (and my fellow nosy guests).
I made do with nightly wellness sessions in the basement spa: a chic little sanctuary with aromatherapy showers, a blazing-hot sauna, and a jacuzzi that I had to myself each evening.
Skyline dining and clandestine entertainment
Photo courtesy BLESS Madrid
Besides Pinzelada, guests can while away the hours on the roof or go for the lucky strike at the hotel’s bowling alley. Picos Pardos Sky Lounge moves with the seasons; my check-out was a day or two before the winter launch but I did pop up to admire the après booths and four private igloos. All areas were individually styled with faux-fur throws, evergreens, and mistletoe sprigs. Come spring, Picos Pardos becomes a sun trap where guests and day visitors flit between the terrace bar and the rooftop pool.
SLVG completes BLESS Madrid’s culinary experience with inventive Japanese cuisine. This bourgeoisie salon gets a twist through wildlife motifs and nightly acrobatic floor shows followed by late-night bowling.
The BLESSed breakfast – a sizable buffet of regional delicacies and à la carte options of the highest quality – is served in SLVG. I enjoyed slathering bread with an inch of honey straight from the honeycomb and sipping fresh grapefruit juice as my order cooked. The thoughtfulness of the staff stood out, from the waiter who brought me extra berries for my pancakes to the attentive offers of extra coffee.
A BLESSed location on Madrid’s Golden Mile
Photo by Diego Puerta, courtesy of BLESS Madrid
Standing amid the boutiques of Calle Velázquez, BLESS Hotel Madrid is close to sights and on the right side of town for the airport. My taxi to Barajas took around 20 minutes – and it was only a 10-minute drive from the train station when I arrived at Atocha. There is a fleet of taxis directly outside the hotel so there’s never a need to pre-book or fiddle with apps.
I sat down with Katarina Knaga, the Concierge Manager, who curated a walking itinerary for me. My journey skirted the northern end of Retiro Park and along Alcalá Street, passing the Cibeles Fountain and ducking into tranquil side streets and plazas before reaching the Royal Palace. There was no need to use public transport so I’ll pocket my multi-card for the next trip to Madrid. 