It is hard to be the first. It is harder to be the best. And only a few can be the first and remain the best for more than a century. The Gran Hotel Inglés is proudly one of the few. It was the first proper luxury hotel opened in the capital of Spain, and today, after more than 130 years, it is still one of the main gems of the city. This year the old hotel got a new status of the winner of Luxury Lifestyle Awards in the category of ­The Best Luxury Hotel in Madrid, Spain.

The doors of the Gran Hotel Inglés first opened in 1886; it had 110 rooms and shared bathrooms. In 1964 the hotel was refurbished: the number of rooms was reduced to 58, and now each of them had a separate bathroom. The building was closed for a complete renovation in 2013, and five years later, the world saw the hotel in contemporary stylish Art Deco design and with a completely new level of luxury.

The whole hotel and its location elegantly combine the charm of the past and the modern sophistication. The Gran Hotel Inglés is situated in the Barrio de Las Letras, the most authentic neighborhood of Madrid and the best one to start to explore the city.

The hotel’s style is determined by its rich history. The traditional atmosphere of the sumptuous 1920s in the modern luxury setting, active use of warm shades in interior, a classical library area which is a peaceful space for you to contemplate, surrounded by volumes of modern history – these and many other details create a refined ambience of this place. One of the hotel’s favorite features among guests and locals is food. The restaurant Lobo 8 is known for its delicious Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, and LobByto is a space dedicated to signature cocktails and a benchmark for meet-ups in the city centre of Madrid.

“Such high recognition by the experts Luxury Lifestyle Awards is very important for the whole team of our hotel. We are honored to be in the top-list of Madrid’s luxury hotels and stay an important part of the capital’s past and present,” says Javier Polo, Managing Director of Gran Hotel Inglés.

All guests of Gran Hotel Inglés have the option of attending the wellness facilities, including Le Max Wellness Club, Sisley SPA, and elegant fitness center. A personalized and exquisite concierge service is always ready to make all your wishes come true with high attention to detail.