Madrid, Spain

Hotel Urso

Rates from (ex tax)$157.53

Price information

If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (including tax) available in the next 21 days.

Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (EUR155.10), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.

Hotel Urso Photos

Style

Neo-Classical cool

Setting

Between Camberi and Chueca

RUNNER-UP: BEST NEWCOMER – SMITH HOTEL AWARDS 2015

Superlative style, a serene spa, and an inventive pop-up restaurant concept that’s wowing all the coolest madrileños? ¡Sí! Hotel Urso in the centre of Madrid is the sort of Spanish city stay that makes you want to cancel your flight home. 

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

A welcome drink from an exclusive menu on arrival, early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability), and free access to the spa and steam room. For stays of three nights or more, €30 to spend on spa treatments

Facilities

Photos Hotel Urso facilities

Need to know

Rooms

78, including 18 suites.

Check–Out

Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

Rates

Double rooms from $157.53 (€141), excluding tax at 10 per cent.

Price information

If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (including tax) available in the next 21 days.

Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (EUR155.10), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.

More details

Rates don’t usually include breakfast.

At the hotel

Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV; Nespresso machine; minibar with beer, wine, water and soft drinks; air conditioning; black-out curtains; hair dryer; Lab Room toiletries.

Our favourite rooms

Go for an Urso Terrace Suite: they’re penthouse-style spaces with separate lounges and bedrooms, and huge private terraces (complete with loungers for chilling out in the sun and a dining space… breakfast on the roof, perhaps?)

Poolside

Take a dip in the small, heated pool in the spa.

Spa

Hit the steam room at the Urso Spa by Natura Bissé for instant relaxation after a long day of exploring (or a long night of gin sipping). Or, take to one of the the three treatment rooms for a massage. If even that sounds too much like hard work, book an in-room appointment and let the spa come to you. Please note, the minimum age for spa entry is 14.

Packing tips

Sunglasses pull double duty here: the clientele’s as cool as the sun is bright, all year round.

Also

All common areas and some guest rooms are wheelchair accessible.

Children

Adults only, please: Urso’s a blissfully grown-up city haven entirely free of pesky under-18s.

Food and Drink

Photos Hotel Urso food and drink

Top Table

To soak up the last rays of the Spanish sun, request a table by the windows.

Dress Code

Nothing formal required, but with a restaurant concept this cool, aim hip.

Hotel restaurant

Media Ración serves (as it's name, which translates as 'half portion', would suggest) the traditional small plates for which Madrid is famous. We're fond of the muscles, cockles, caviar and anchovies on the seafood side of things, and partial to the Spanish classics, including croquetas, foie gras, smoked eel, sobrasada sausage and white shrimp toast. Make sure you leave room for cheese which, in true Media Ración style, can be sampled in quarters, by halves or whole. Those with a sweet tooth will find the bread with hot chocolate sauce, cheesecake or toasted vanilla cream hard to resist.
 

Hotel bar

If you’re a gin fiend, you’re in luck: so’s the bar manager. Sit back in the bar-ified corner of the open-plan ground floor and let the experts mix you something new (and they’ll write down the recipe for you, too). 

Room service

Snack in your room whenever you like: order cheese and cured meat platters if you fancy grazing, or perhaps a burger if you’re a little more peckish.

Location

Photos Hotel Urso location
Address
Hotel Urso
Mejía Lequerica 8
Madrid
28004
Madrid
Spain

Planes

Touch down at Madrid–Barajas airport, about 20 minutes’ drive from the hotel. It’s one of Europe’s busiest airports, with regular arrivals from around the world, including services from London Heathrow and City airports, Paris, Berlin, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Trains

Madrid’s extensive metro network willth quickly whisk you around town (including to and from the airport, which has its own station). If you’re heading further afield, the nearby Atocha railway station, in the centre of town, is served by Renfe and Eurostar, taking you all over Spain and beyond.

Automobiles

Madrid’s user-friendly public transport, plentiful taxis and strollable streets mostly render cars redundant, but if you do arrive on four wheels you’ll find valet and self-parking onsite for €33.

Worth getting out of bed for

From your hotel home-from-home, you have the entire capital on your doorstop – you’re a five-minute stroll from the city’s most exclusive shopping strip and, for instance, or just 10 minutes on foot from El Prado. But with so many options, a little insider knowledge comes in handy… some of Hotel Urso’s staff favourites for sightseeing include the picturesque Palacio de Cristal in Buen Retiro Park (built in 1887 as a greenhouse, but now home to art exhibits) and the iconic Plaza de Cibeles – a square full of fountains that’s synonymous with the city itself. The cultural centre Círculo de Bellas Artes – with its calendar packed with shows, films, exhibitions and events – is also worth a visit. 

Madrid’s restaurant scene is ever- changing, but St James (26 Calle Juna Bravo) has a well-established reputation as one of the best arrocerias (paella places) in town. Casa Botín, at 17 Calle Cuchilleros, serves classic Madrid favourites, and No (8 Calle Puigcerdà), Ten Con Ten (6 Calle Ayala) and Otto Madrid (8 Paseo de la Castellana) specialise in modern Spanish cuisine. For seafood, head to Opazo at 20 Calle de la Reina Mercedes, and Basque flavours are on offer at Casa Txistu (6 Plaza de Ángel Carbajo). 

Reviews

Photos Hotel Urso reviews

Anonymous review

Trips often mark significant moments in life. When I was was finishing my three-year tenure as executive chef at Belgraves Hotel, I was in desperate need of a weekend away – one far enough away to feel like a holiday, but not so far that the journey would be wearying. I plumped for Madrid, one of those cities that’s always been there in the background without exciting me very much. Boy, was I wrong. Madrid, I discovered, is warm, cultured and very sexy.
                        
I always think you can tell a good hotel in the first five minutes. Hotel Urso didn’t disappoint. The doormen were stylish and charming, check-in was smooth and instantly our shoulders dropped a few inches. The lobby was an interesting mix of modern design and classic European elegance: old-school wrought iron, plush muted colours and a living wall of greenery.
                        
Once up in our room, we found it spacious and well stocked (traditional delights like violet pastilles, Marcona almonds and Ruinart Champagne are always a plus for me). The pale greys and yellows proved immediately soothing, tempting Mr Smith and me to try the bed for a quick post-flight nap (unsurprisingly, it proved very comfortable indeed). 
                        
We pottered around the neighbourhood for lunch, starting in one bar for jamón iberico, then moving on to sea urchin croquettes in another; favourite finds included El Paraguas for good service, interesting menus and a crowd of monied locals, or Ultramarinos Quintin for modern pintxos and tapas, and a great gin selection. (We missed Sala de Despiece, which is supposed to be brilliant, but it’s on our list for next time). After that, the hotel spa and hydrotherapy pool was the perfect place to steam away the excesses of lunch.
                        
After an afternoon of eating and drinking, we opted to continue in the evening – despite being a tourist destination, the gorgeous Mercado de San Miguel served up an overwhelmingly mouthwatering selection of tapas, wine and cocktails. From the classic grilled Padron peppers to tiny baby eels cooked in garlic, there was something for everyone. The foodie in me loved it.
                    
                
            
        
        
            
                
                    
                        
The next day, we started with more food, of course: Urso’s breakfast proved fantastic. The Continental array was varied and interesting, and the à la carte menu delightfully non-standard, with gluten-free options and a lovely dish of poached eggs with truffles.
                        
You won’t be surprised to learn, given our appetites, that my main reason for choosing Hotel Urso was its foodie credentials. For the past few months, the hotel restaurant has been a revolving pop up with various renowned chefs from all over Spain taking the reins for a month at a time. Our stay coincided with that of Hisop from Barcelona, with head chef Oriol Ivern at the helm. We plumped for the eight-course set menu, which was an interesting selection of dishes, some very good indeed (and one or two, I thought, slightly less so). The stand-out stars were the creamy rice with clams, fennel and bergamot, and the strawberries with black olives and pepper. The staff were excellent, too, and it was a great modern Michelin experience. Personally, after years of working and eating in fine dining restaurants, I sometimes crave more down-to-earth, simple cooking, which I found at our seafood lunch earlier in the day: simple boiled spider crab, percebes, king prawns and aioli, all washed down with a strong white wine and some slightly churlish service. The two meals were poles apart, but I loved both meals.
                        
Post dinner, I got the sense that we could have easily partied into the early hours. Instead, we saved our energy for one last meal – Sunday lunch at Botin, the world's oldest restaurant. You will be there with a room full of tourists, but it’s worth it for the suckling pig, baby lamb and old-school menu perfectly executed. We rolled out of there just in time for our late flight home. 

On the plane, I reflected on Madrid. It’s the perfect destination for a weekend away: its warm energy and good food make it a great antidote to London life, and Hotel Urso itself was a calming haven of good taste nestled right in the middle

The Guestbook

Whenever you book a stay at a Smith Hotel with us, we’ll invite you to review it when you get back. Read what other Smith members had to say in Hotel Urso’s Guestbook below.

We loved

Hotel Urso is everything a Smith hotel should be: spacious, immaculately designed rooms; large, comfortable beds; proper bathrooms with a shower and a bath and all the trimmings... A perfect base from which to explore Madrid's bustling bar and restaurant scene. A great restaurant nearby is Fismuler, or a little further is Tatel (founded by Rafa Nadal). Go for a more traditional pre-dinner drink at Bodega de la Ardosa with a plate of their incredible tortilla - though don't expect to have much space, it gets very busy.

Don’t expect

to find breakfast closed when you emerge after a late night Madrid-style... the brilliant breakfast buffet is served until midday - perfect for a lazy weekend!

 

Rating

Stayed on 17 Feb 2017

We loved

Hotel Urso exceeded our expectations. The staff are amazingly helpful and accommodating. They also had excellent recommendations for places to eat. The spa area was a perfect way to end the day after a long day of exploring Madrid and shopping! Could not have asked for a nicer hotel. If you're looking for amazing service and a luxurious hotel then Hotel Urso is the perfect place. Carmencita Bar has an amazing brunch menu and Mimosas. Ten Con Ten was recommended by the hotel for dinner and was definitely worth the visit. Beautiful food and a great atmosphere.

Rating

Stayed on 9 Nov 2016

We loved

Excellent hotel, great rooms and bar and amazing spa.

Rating

Stayed on 29 Sep 2016

We loved

Mega comfy beds, quite dark rooms, great for lazy lie ins and lovely breakfast in bed. Walking distance from all the key points in town and the oh-so-friendly staff, always willing to suggest a tapas bar or book a table. Although a bit touristy, Calle Cava Baja is the street for tapas grazing and late night street parties

Don’t expect

Late night parties. Only a small bar so better for couples and spa breaks rather than all night dancing.

Rating

Stayed on 10 Aug 2016

We loved

The incredibly comfortable bed. Staff had great array of recommendations

Don’t expect

A pool

Rating

Stayed on 11 Jul 2016

We loved

The location, a bit off the main tourist route and in the midst of small road and local bars. The helpfulness of the staff and their recommendations for tapas tasting. The lift! Free Sandiman walking tour of the city, learnt lots in an easy and interesting way.

Don’t expect

To be disappointed, as I realise another review has already said!

Rating

Stayed on 25 May 2016

We loved

The rooms were lovely and spacious, bar staff charming and location perfect. Close to Malasana but far enough away from the busy areas of Cheuca and Malasana. Visit the local mercados like Mercado San Anton - great food. Also fave bar - Gorilla and amazing breakfast at Cafe Federal

Don’t expect

It's a little quiet and best for couples and families.

Rating

Stayed on 9 Apr 2016

We loved

The friendliness of the staff and attention to every detail. Excellent food at Emma Cocina.

Don’t expect

To be disappointed. There was nothing we could fault.

Rating

Stayed on 5 Mar 2016

We loved

The staff were really special and so attentive to all our needs. The room was beautiful but it was the bed that I loved the most! Most comfortable bed ever!

Don’t expect

Quality bath products; we felt they didn't correspond with the high quality of food and general experience.

Rating

Stayed on 4 Dec 2015

We loved

Location, staff, interiors of public spaces,big bed, decent blackout on curtains,relaxing comfortable lounge area, this would make a great small, boutique business travel hotel. I would be happy to stay here as a single women. lots of dining choices close by the hotel with all budgets covered.

Don’t expect

Large rooms, kettle in room for making tea, dining choices within the hotel.

Rating

Stayed on 23 Oct 2015

We loved

The hotel is a really lovely, character building which has been sympathetically designed, retaining lots of original features. We stayed in an Urso twin room, which was very nice and quite spacious. The staff were friendly and helpful, and a special thank you to Mario on the front desk, who made superb restaurant recommendations. We went to Celso Y Manolo for dinner (recommended by Mario) which is a brilliant tapas restaurant. And Ten Con Ten which is a superb restaurant with amazing deco. For breakfast we went to Babelia Café, which is lovely and a short walk from the hotel.

Don’t expect

We didn't have breakfast at the hotel, preferring to go out. However, breakfast is very pricey there at 18 euros for continental and 26 euros for cooked breakfast.

Rating

Stayed on 22 Oct 2015

We loved

The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. We received a room upgrade, early check in and welcome drink at the bar.

Don’t expect

The spa was a lovely space which you could use the pool, which was a better size than expected. Should have taken swimwear!

Rating

Stayed on 19 Sep 2015

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