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This Mandarin Oriental Madrid Review is from our site inspection stay, shortly after we stayed at the Four Seasons Madrid. The hotel, which was built at the request of King Alfonso XIII and opened in 1910, was sold by Belmond in 2015 to a Saudi-based owner and Mandarin Oriental, reopening in 2021 after an extensive renovation.
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Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid Location and Check-In
The Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid is centrally located at Plaza de la Lealtad 5, across from the Prado Museum and near El Retiro Park. It's only about a 15-20 minute drive from Madrid Airport (MAD) without traffic, and a 6-7 minute drive from Madrid train station.
When I arrived in the early evening, there was no wait at reception, and I was brought a cool towel, a very nice touch that's uncommon at European hotels, but makes sense for a Mandarin Oriental.
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In the lobby, intricate gold and silver aerial sculptures are both eye-catching and reflect a combination of both plants native to the area (in gold) and others from around the world (in silver).
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Prado Suite, Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid
The hotel has 153 rooms and suites, starting with the entry level Superior Room (courtyard facing), which is 319 sq. ft., up to the opulent 2-bedroom Presidential Suite (2013 sq. ft.).
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We were kindly upgraded to a Prado Suite on the 4th floor, which was a spacious 728 sq. ft. (68 sq. m.) with an oak floor. As its name implies, the suite faces the Prado Museum, although unfortunately at the time of my visit it was shrouded due to ongoing construction work on an extension. Still, it was a lovely view at sunset.
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Some lovely welcome amenities awaited me: a bottle of Cava, a generous assortment of fresh fruit (appreciated after a longer than expected travel day due to a flight delay) and a superb almond cake.
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The suite's bedroom, separated by a door from the living room, also has a window facing the Prado Museum, and is quite spacious, with a king bed. The mattress was rather firm; good for guests who like firm beds, but not nearly as comfortable for me as the Four Seasons Madrid bed.
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Cotton yukata-style robes were in the wardrobe, along with a tote bag and yoga mat for use during the stay:
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The Prado Suite bathroom, clad in Dolomite stone, has double sinks, a separate toilet chamber, and expansive wet area with a deep soaking tub and rain shower.
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In the Honor Bar area, there's a Nespresso machine, hot water kettle (which I always appreciate, so as not to have to call for Housekeeping to bring one), and fine touches such as Bernardaud porcelain from Limoges, and TWG tea.
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Breakfast in the Palm Court
A bountiful breakfast buffet as well as a la carte breakfast is served in the hotel's atrium-like Palm Court, with a glass roof, from 7-11am.
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TravelSort Clients enjoy a complimentary full buffet breakfast daily for up to two guests per room, or can choose an a la carte breakfast instead.
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We particularly loved the plentiful fresh raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries (even many luxury hotels offer these in small containers, if at all), the array of different cheeses and smoked fish, and many baked goods, including a fantastic cheesecake.
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The only things that were disappointing were the dim sum (these tasted like frozen dim sum you'd get from a grocery store) and the linen napkins, which shed all over my black dress. I saw someone else complain about this is a review from many months ago, but it appears the hotel still hasn't fixed this.
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Mandarin Oriental Madrid Dining
While I didn't have the time to experience it, the hotel also has Deessa Restaurant, with two Michelin stars, which is open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays-Saturdays and serves several multi-course tasting menus. There's also outdoor dining available at the lovely El Jardin del Ritz which is open 1-8pm daily.
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Fitness Center and Spa
The hotel's fitness center (open 24/7), spa (open 10am-9pm daily) and swimming pool (open 6:30am-9pm daily) are in the basement of the hotel. This is typical for many city luxury hotels that have a pool, but I definitely preferred the skylit swimming pool and sundeck at the Four Seasons Madrid.
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Mandarin Oriental Fan Club Benefits
Don't be fooled by Mandarin Oriental's “Fans of MO” program; the best way to reserve any Mandarin Oriental hotel is with Fan Club benefits, which all TravelSort Clients enjoy. These benefits exceed the Fans of MO program, which makes you choose some and forego others.
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The Verdict
The Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid is a beautifully restored historic hotel, and we loved the bountiful breakfast buffet and attentive service in the elegant and airy Palm Court. The fresh berries, array of cheeses and cold cuts, and cheesecake were particular highlights, while the dim sum were underwhelming–order an egg dish instead. We also appreciated the cool towels at check-in and the many welcome treats, from Cava to fresh fruit to the fantastic almond cake.
The Prado Suite normally has a lovely view of the Prado, although during our visit there was scaffolding that detracted from the view. We found the living area and bedroom a bit on the dark side, and the bed was too firm for our taste, in contrast to the ultra comfortable bedding at the Four Seasons. The bathroom was lovely, however, and we appreciated the high quality touches such as TWG tea and Bernadaud porcelain.
For guests who prefer a firm bed and more classic elegance, or who prioritize a more extensive breakfast buffet, we'd absolutely recommend the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid. Given our desire for a plusher bed, more contemporary interior, rooftop dining and light-filled swimming pool, however, we preferred the Four Seasons Madrid.
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