Hotel Opera

Hotel description

From the name it could be an overstuffed baroque fantasy; from the outside it could be a bank. The location, just across from the Royal Opera, accounts for the name, and the Los Austrias district, nearby the Royal Palace, is obviously an upscale one. So it’s all the more surprising that Madrid’s Hotel Ópera is as contemporary — and as affordable — as it turns out to be.

Rather than opera-house opulence, the interiors opt for bright, sunny simplicity, with clean lines, neutral colors, natural materials and expansive views through the oversized windows. Flat-screen satellite TVs are standard, as are smart little work desks and efficient modern bathrooms. A few come with private Jacuzzi-equipped hot tubs, but all of them share far-ranging views over the city.

There’s an English-style cocktail bar, as well as a restaurant staffed by singing (!) waiters. Service, lyrical or otherwise, is emphasized throughout — there’s even a dedicated shopping concierge on hand to dispense retail advice. The Ópera includes a full gym, a Finnish sauna, and a massage service, and this part of town is rich with jogging routes. And then, of course, there’s the Royal Opera itself — if that’s why you’re here, you could hardly pick a more convenient lodging.