Where to go in Spain’s capital for a conveniently located luxury hotel & nearby Michelin (starred) restaurants:

When it came to planning a Menorca trip (hotel/restaurants), my husband and I decided to start it with a short stay in Madrid. We have never been there. Quite some years ago, we already thought about visiting Spain’s capital. However, when we noticed that you could not dine at the restaurants of our choice before 9pm, we abandoned the idea again. The good news here, this (prohibitive) start time has changed a bit to the better. As to our Madrid dining spots, we opted for Michelin Guide listed ones. While we were not looking for the best of the best (just as DiverXO), we wanted them to be good. And they should be near our lodging, which we chose for its proximity to major sights in town. Plus, we wished our hotel to be upscale – yet fairly priced. Hence, find in the following all the details to one of the best hotels and some top restaurants in Madrid.

Which luxury hotel to choose in Madrid

As my husband and I wanted to explore Madrid by foot, we had been looking for a centrally located high-end hotel. As some more known establishments in the heart of Spain’s capital came with rather hefty price tags, we widened our search on smaller lodgings. And when I discovered CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha, I found it to be the perfect choice for the two of us.

In this context I must point out that before we had booked another nearby hotel. That was Grand Hotel Inglés.

While I liked its style, I later found out that their restaurant, Lobbyto Snack Bar, did not get good reviews (also for the breakfast). So, we canceled our reservation in favor of CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha. And I felt good about this decision once we were in Madrid and walking by the hotel we had originally booked. This is because it it amidst the hustle and bustle of the city’s party scene, which is not for everyone.

But now to the accommodation we were, CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha.

Hotel CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Madrid’s back story

The hotel used to be a palace at the time. It was built in 1852 and owned by Nemesio Sancha, a high official to the Overseas Ministry and knight of the Order of Charles III. Before becoming a hotel, it housed a hermitage and a convent. The property’s entrance is guarded by the figure of the god Hermes, and it actually is an old carriageway. Its 7-meter/23 feet-ceilings leads to a courtyard.

Hotel CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha opened in June 2021 after a thorough renovation done by Antana Arquitectura in collaboration with the interior design team of Proyecto Singular. Emphasis was placed on a harmonious blending of past and present.

CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha is part of a small hotel brand launched in 2018. The group compromises three properties, all of them are former palaces. Apart from Madrid, you find them in Seville and in Asturias (all in Spain). In addition, there are two in Portugal (Porto and Lisbon) that will open soon.

Location of CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Madrid

CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha’s location in the Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter) is as convenient as it gets. This district used to be the home of many famous writers back in the Golden Age of Spanish Literature (e.g. Cervantes or Quevedo). Nowadays, it is a party mile with lots of bars and outdoor restaurants.

You are here close to many Madrid sights just as the Plaza Mayor

or the Prado Museum. And you are not in the midst of the activity and commotion of the party scene but on its edge. Precisely, CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha is on Calle Atocha (Atocha Street). It is here only single lane and therefore quieter than elsewhere in town.

Ambiance/Staff at CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Madrid

Everything at CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha is intended to merge the best of classic and modern. The promise of the impressive high entrance where carriages used to enter is kept. You are here in an extraordinary place with a soul. I fell in love with the magnificent old stairwell, which was preserved in its original state.

It is no longer needed – as there is also a new one – , yet it is here as a tribute to history. Just by the entrance, there is also lovely, tiny courtyard for lingering.

And when traversing the property, you come to a bigger one. Here you discover a secluded pool garden, an oasis amidst Madrid’s flurry.

The staff suits the character of this house. The employees are cool and at the same time unassuming. All our concerns were met with professionalism, which made my husband and me feel valued as guests. And they were attentive too. On our last day, they provided us with a small fruit plate, a thank for our long stay.

Rooms at CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Madrid

The hotel has a one Michelin key rating, which denotes the crème de la crème of the Michelin Guide lodging selection. And rightly so!  The rooms are among the largest you find in Madrid. They offer 34 accommodations between 34 and 110 sqm. All of them are designed to combine the finest of traditional and contemporary. The signature ones even have their own private terrace with a jacuzzi.

We opted for one of the six Suites, which offer lots of space (58 to 57 sqm).

Despite their size they did not cost the earth (742€ in the shoulder season), as I found. And how beautiful ours was! It was on the third floor facing the pool garden. The suite was kept in neutral colors and featured lots of details, which made it intimate and unique. Not only the open-plan living and bedroom was spacious but the bathroom to, which was gigantic!

I read that the rooms are highly soundproof, and I can confirm this.

Facilities at CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha Madrid

I mentioned it already, there is a small (plunge) pool and a bar (both indoors and outdoors). Furthermore, you find here Restaurant El Patio de Atocha with two areas, inside

and out. We have not dined here so I cannot comment. From what I read they consider themselves to be a fusion between a traditional restaurant and a modern bistro.

However, my husband and I had breakfast here. We had it in the outdoor area in some kind of a glasshouse. While we liked the (served) offerings, we had to bring some patience while doing so. This was especially the case when the place was busy. They have a strict regime here when it comes to the sequence of the breakfast (first the drink order, then the handing out of the menus and finally the food order).

If you should wish massage treatments, they do not have a spa but they provide this service in your guest room. And this should be no problem because the rooms are – as you know by now – vast. Plus, you can make use of a range of experiences just as a private fitness coach, yoga sessions or a photoshoot with a “Madrid Cool Photographer” (all for a fee).

In summary about one of the best hotels in Madrid

If you care for an intimate, high-end lodging Madrid experience at the best location possible, you cannot go wrong with Hotel CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha. This recently renovated historic palace is boutique, offering 34 oversized rooms, which I found stunning. And I considered them reasonably priced too. In addition, there is a pretty courtyard pool along a bar/glasshouse-style restaurant. The staff also does a great job, plus the breakfast is great – yet you need some time for it. In short, staying here leaves little else to be desired if you care for a luxury yet not overpriced Madrid accommodation.

After my report on one of the best hotels in Madrid now to some of the finest restaurants in town.

Where to go for great Michelin (starred) restaurants in Madrid’s heart

As I already let you know, we dined at Michelin (starred) restaurants on our Madrid stay. We wanted them to be superior yet not necessarily the crème de la crème of haute gastronomy. And they should be in walking distance from our hotel – CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha. Plus, we did not wish to break the bank for such dinners, and the ratings of the eateries had to be good. Finally, we liked the dining-spots to be more on the modern side. So, I can advise on four upscale restaurants in Madrid that I all can wholeheartedly endorse.

I start with the most upscale eatery and end with the most casual one in my list of some of the best restaurants in Madrid.

1. Restaurant CEBO Madrid

(1 star Michelin,  2 Soles Guía Repsol)

CEBO is located within Hotel Urban and run by two young chefs, Javier Sanz and Juan Sahuquillo. And they have been in charge since 2022. They prepare seemingly simple – yet deeply refined – creations made with delicious local produce. The setting is contemporary chic,

and the service was smooth. The staff recommended the smaller Classics Menu (160€) – there are two of them – , and this is what my husband and I ordered. All the dishes we got (11 of them) were great, many of them were finished at the table.

I especially adored the Smoked Sturgeon with Oscietea Caviar, yet everything was full of flavor. And the service was prompt, we were just in here for two hours.

2. Restaurant Kuoco Madrid

(Michelin listed, 1 Sol Guía Repsol)

When we arrived at Kuoco two minutes before opening time, the reception was a bit frosty. But Spaniards do love to dine late. And the ambiance quickly warmed up in this informal restaurant.

The chef here is a young Venezuelan, Rafa Bergamo,

and he does not know any limits. He effortlessly combines Asian, Latin and Spanish influences. You can order here from an à la carte menu, but I would opt for the menu instead (Atemporal, 89€), which is an intense journey across the globe. I loved every single dish we had (12 plates), yet my personal winner was the tuna that you could add to the menu on our evening.

After the initial twenty minutes where we just waited for everything to unfold, the dinner proceeded just perfectly. And if you are into wine pairings, the one here is terrific (48€).

3. Restaurant Trèsde Madrid 

(Michelin listed, Guía Repsol Recommended)

Trèsde, a laid-back dining spot in a French bistro-style,

is the project of three lifelong friends. They have revived the concept of a starter-main-dessert combo (46€) where you can make your choice out of three dishes in each section. Plus, you can add a snack (Oyster or Anchovy, 5€ each) to start your meal. You also have the option to insert a cheese selection. Since the eatery’s opening in 2023, you get here seasonal cuisine where vegetables have always played an important role. My husband and I opted for the tuna dish and an asparagus variation, followed by the Fish of the Day, turbot with broccoli. To close the meal, we had Pavlova and the Tartlet of the Day (chocolate).

The dinner was delightful, everything we had was to our liking. Service was very friendly and attentive.

4. Restaurant Ticuí Madrid

(Michelin listed, Guía Repsol Recommended)

Ticuí is the place for upscale Mexican cuisine, and this in a nicely decorated, contemporary setting. You can either reserve a table in some kind of a sun room (Comedor, not heated) or in the room where you find the open cuisine (Barra Omakase). We were seated in the latter at one of the regular tables; another option here is the long bar table.

On our late lunch we could choose from an à la carte menu with following sections: Raw Bar (16-24€), Clay Griddle (11-27€) or Kitchen (18-55€, most dishes are available as half or full portion). Alternatively, you could go for the Ticuí Experience (six courses for 75€, with wine pairing 110€).

While we were a bit unsure how much to order, we decided to make a selection – the dishes are meant to share. Afterwards, we asked the (friendly) staff whether the quantity is adequate, which was affirmed. We had the Tuna Tostado from the Raw Bar and the Rosarito Shrimp from the Clay Griddle to start. As mains we ordered half a portion each of the Grilled Fish (Sea Bass) and the Pibil-Style Suckling Pig, both from the Kitchen.

Although we had enough, it was rather a light lunch. If you should be very hungry, go at least for one full portion with the mains. Yet everything we had was really tasty! I especially liked the freshly made tortillas from the griddle.

To end the meal, a server rattled off a few desserts in Spanish only. We went for a creation made of corncake, tres leches and caramel ice cream, which was delicious.

Looking forward to my Menorca content

I have mentioned it, the Madrid city trip was the prelude to a (seven-day) Menorca stay.

While you might know Mallorca (see my content) or Ibiza, this Balearic Island is not as known as its “two other beautiful sisters”. Together with a fourth island (Formentera) they form an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Find out in my two posts to come where to go in Menorca to stay and dine in style.

Date of stay: May 2025

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