Rosewood Villa Magna

Villa Magna has anchored the smart end of Paseo de la Castellana since the 1970s, and its relaunch as Rosewood's first Spanish hotel gave the property the residential warmth the brand is known for. Set back from the boulevard behind its own garden forecourt on the edge of the Salamanca district, it trades the bustle of the tourist centre for the boutiques of Calle de Serrano and the embassies and offices that keep its bar humming on weekday evenings.

The interiors lean domestic rather than grand: herringbone floors, linen upholstery, contemporary Spanish art and fireplaces that make the ground floor feel like a collection of drawing rooms. Rooms and suites are generously cut, with dressing areas and marble bathrooms, and the terraced suites at the top overlook the Castellana's tree line.

Dining is a genuine draw, with Spanish and Asian-influenced rooms and a bar that has become a Salamanca meeting point in its own right. A compact spa and well-kept gym round things out. This is not the hotel for sightseeing on foot from the doorstep—the Prado is a taxi ride away—but for repeat visitors, shoppers and business travellers it is arguably Madrid's most comfortable address.