The Pestana Plaza Mayor is located in a historic 17th century building, the Casa de la Carnicería, on the city’s iconic Plaza Mayor right in the centre of Madrid de los Austrias – a neighbourhood known for its rich sense of history and proudly distinctive style. Housing 87 elegantly-furnished private rooms, the hotel’s interior spaces pay loving tribute to generations of artisans that have contributed to Madrid’s creative charms: embroiderers, weavers, blacksmiths, ceramicists and carpenters. Everywhere you look, the sense of local creative pride is palpable – from Pestana Plaza Mayor’s huge early-20th-century stained glass window to its strikingly geometric Herrerian-style staircasing.
The hotel’s crowning glory can be found up on the roof – an outdoor swimming pool that offers magnificent views over the lanes and rooftops of historic Madrid, open during the warmer months. An additional indoor pool is open year-round, and is attached to the hotel’s on-site sauna and spa treatment rooms. A small fitness centre complete with Technogym equipment allows visitors to keep up with their usual routine. There are also some pleasantly scenic running routes down by the nearby the river Manzanares – the hotel’s friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to advise.
The Pestana Plaza Mayor is home to the RIB Restaurant, which specialises in organic beef but also offers some excellent fish and vegetarian options for those not of the carnivorous persuasion. Located in the beautiful inner courtyard of the hotel, it is a leafy and romantic spot to enjoy a classic Spanish bone-in Chuletón steak or a 45-day-matured kilo of Tomahawk. If you’d prefer to get out and explore, that’s easily done – the restaurant-heavy street of Cava Baja is just round the corner, and is crammed with delicious tapas bar options.
Staying on the edge of Madrid’s 400-year-old Plaza Mayor has its perks, one of which is that it is extremely easy to traverse the city from this super-central location. La marcha (the action) of Madrid’s infamously buzzy nightlife is never far away – with options ranging from the bars of lively and trendy Malasaña to the elegant, upscale establishments of Serrano. Upon your return, walk into the hotel from the Calle Imperial to make your way up the magnificent central staircase, for the most atmospheric entrance.
Madrid is an art-lover’s paradise – from home-grown heroes such as Velázquez and Goya, to other Spanish artists such as Dalí and Picasso, alongside a variety of Italian and Flemish greats, visitors are never too far from the next masterpiece to marvel at. The Pestana Plaza Mayor is perfectly located to discover all the wonderful artworks the city has to offer – it is just 20 minutes’ walk from the world-famous collections of Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where you’ll find Madrid’s most creatively inspiring artistic sights.
