Hotel Urban

Youthful, energetic, sleek

Carrera San Jeronimo 34, Madrid 28014

34-91-7877770

See Website

At a Glance

Modern steel and glass, decorated with architectural artifacts, exudes a hip vibe in the city’s historic center.

Indagare Loves

  • The Loft suite, with double-height windows and a view of the Congress of Deputies
  • Architectural treasures throughout the hotel, including an Egyptian gallery
  • Rooftop pool for a dip on hot summer days

Review

The 101-room Hotel Urban opened in 2004 and remains one of the city’s most popular spots with travelers who want a contemporary, well-designed property in the middle of everything. Situated blocks from the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, the Urban is a striking, five-story metal-and-glass tower that contrasts starkly with the historic buildings in the area. The bedrooms are equally modern, with minimalist platform beds, leather-paneled headboards, dark-wood floors and dim mood lighting, creating a groovy lair-like atmosphere. All bedrooms have wi-fi and LCD televisions, as well as marble baths with rain showers and double sinks. Despite the Urban’s location on a busy street overlooking the Spanish Congress of Deputies building, street noise is largely absent, thanks to double-pained windows and heavy blackout blinds—a serious plus given that most guests patronize the hotel’s hip rooftop bar and recover from the evening’s festivities by sleeping in.

The Urban reflects the passions of its owner, the Catalan archaeologist Jordi Clos, who spent three years designing it. The end product combines his interest in art with his drive to create one of the city’s most vibrant five-star hotels. His personal collection fills the building, starting with Egyptian galleries in the basement. Clos has even placed an artifact in each guest room, displayed with museum-quality lighting and a note explaining its background and origin. The pieces may not be as fine as those in the Prado, but they certainly beat the boring works in most hotels.

On the downside, the Urban’s rooms tend to be small, and their dark walls and floors show even small scuffs and scratches. But given its fantastic location near the heart of the city and the hotel’s own trendy restaurants and bars, guests spend so little time in their rooms that the lack of square footage and tiny signs of wear and tear hardly matter. These few flaws are more than compensated for by the hotel’s unique combination of modern construction, convenient location and a rooftop swimming pool – a blessing on a hot summer day in Madrid.

Who Should Stay

The Urban is best for singles or couples who want a convenient location with a bit of a scene. Although the hotel’s rooftop pool makes it appealing to families, parents traveling with young children might feel a bit out of their element.

Written by Henley Vazquez

What's Nearby
Indagare employees walking up stiars

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