Hard Rock Hotel Madrid Review: Holiday like a rock star from as little as £130 a night

Hard Rock Hotel Madrid Review

Hard Rock Hotel might have you thinking of raucous rockstar parties and endless bottles of champagne, and while there is always an opportunity for a glass of bubbles, we discovered a stay at Hard Rock Hotel Madrid is a far more relaxing affair.

Just a stone's throw from the home of Picasso's famous Guernica, what was once a car park located directly opposite the Reina Sofía museum has been transformed into the sleek Hard Rock Hotel Madrid.

Opened in June 2021, the hotel is nestled in the heart of Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art, within walking distance of many of the city's most famous attractions. That is if you can drag yourself away from the hotel amenities.

A modest entry from the street level gives way to a slick and stylish lobby, overhung by a mighty hanging guitar sculpture, spanning the glass atrium lobby. You'll be welcomed first by a life-sized Las Meninas statute, inspired by Diego Velázquez, adorned with song lyrics by Spanish singer Rosalia.

The ground level is also home to the Rock Shop, where you can pick up a Classic Hard Rock or City T-shirt to remember your stay, as well as Sessions restaurant and the atmospheric lobby bar.

This is a Hard Rock Hotel, and so it wouldn't be complete without some unique memorabilia from pop and rock stars from around the world. Hard Rock International has been the preeminent collector of music and entertainment memorabilia for over 50 years, beginning its collection with a donation from Eric Clapton. These days, the collection has grown to over 88,000 pieces worldwide.

In the lobby, you'll spot a fringed leather jacket worn by Spanish pioneer of rock and roll, Miguel Ríos, and on-stage accessories which once graced guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. Other unique pieces are dotted across the hotel's eight floors, including a suit worn by Elvis Presley, shoes once donned by David Bowie and even a Municipal Court Receipt dished out to Kurt Cobain.

The check-in desk is backlit by rainbow prism-like lights, each one decorated by an etching of an electric guitar. Expect to be welcomed with a smile, with attentive staff who will be on-hand throughout your stay. By the end, they'll start to feel more like friends. Make sure to take a look at their name badges - it'll tell you exactly who their favourite musician is.

Guest floors are accessed via the lifts, but with security paramount at the hotel, only those with a key card can access higher floors.

Or, head down to the lower level where you'll find Body Rock fitness centre, looking out to views of the pool and garden area. Given that Madrid can soar to summer temperatures of up to 40C, the pool is a welcome relief for taking a mid-day dip, though it's more of a plunge pool than one for getting lengths in.

The pool area is encircled by candy cane-striped parasols and Balinese beds (the latter reserved specifically for "Rock Star" status guests). There's a bar steps from the garden area, where you'll find a poolside dining and drinks menu including a must-try selection of frozen Sangrias.

The Rooms

Rating: 5/5

Hard Rock Hotel Madrid is home to 161 bedrooms and suites, spanning 10 categories plus the exclusive Rock Star Suite, as well as accessible and family-friendly rooms. We checked into a Deluxe Room with views of the swimming pool and garden area.

Though mostly neutral, jewel tones and golden accents inject a hint of luxury. Music, naturally, is the thread that runs throughout the hotel experience. On arrival, a personalised The Sound of Your Stay playlist can be created for you - ours was promisingly titled "Forever Young". Real rock enthusiasts can also enjoy Fender® guitar rentals, with an electric guitar delivered straight to your door so you can channel your inner Slash at any time of day.

Backed by an opulent navy velvet headboard, even the sprawling king-size bed has a musical twist. Plush pillows are stitched with tiny lilac electric guitars in each corner, and if you look closely you'll notice the ivory-patterned duvet cover is also made up of a series of guitars.

A contemporary take on classic art pieces firmly roots you between Madrid's “Big Three” art museums.

Dining and Drinking

Rating: 4/5

Sessions is the hotel's main restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, combining the classic elements of an American diner with contemporary design.

While the famous Hard Rock Café might come immediately to mind if you don't know the Hard Rock Hotels brand, Sessions restaurant is a completely different concept.

The wood-clad interior gives subtle nods to the typical New York diner, with dark green booth seating and sections of tiled flooring, along with more elegant design elements.

Breakfast is a wide-ranging affair of bread, cheeses, cold meats, fruit, vegetables and decadent pastries - along with a variety of sweet and savoury spreads and sauces. The hot dish section offers eggs cooked differently every day, along with beans, sausages, bacon, and mushrooms to name just a few things.

But, if you're not satisfied, there's also a made-to-order menu including fluffy American pancakes and perfectly scrambled eggs. There's plenty of fresh fruit juice to choose from, as well as a selection of teas and a coffee machine. And as you reach for sugar, notice the packets are stored in a guitar case.

On weekends, Sessions offers a very on-brand Guitar for Two Brunch. The playful experience is exactly as it sounds - brunch for two served in a Fender guitar case.

The dinner menu is a far-reaching American-infused comfort offering, with big hits including Mac and cheese croquettes, 'Krispy' spicy tuna sushi, Josper baked artichokes, and the restaurant's namesake the Sessions burger. However, some dishes are fairly salty. The menu has some vegetarian options though they are limited and vegan options even more so.

After dinner, hop in the lift and head up to RT60 for drinks with an incredible view (even more so if you time it for sunset when the rooftop is bathed in golden light). Inspired by its sister bar in New York City, the rooftop bar brings the Big Apple to Madrid, with neon lights and iconic street signs.

There's a range of drinks available, including cocktails, as well as trendy smash burgers should you get peckish. Unsurprisingly, RT60 can get busy on weekends, so if you want a seat it's worth getting there early.

Standort

Rating: 5/5

Nestled in the Golden Triangle of Art, the hotel is in a prime location for art lovers, within walking distance of The Prado, Reina Sofia (which is quite literally over the road), and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Beyond that, the city is home to an incredible 70 museums, all within easy reach. Though Madrid has an excellent public transport system, the city is incredibly walkable and great for exploring at your own pace.

Madrid's Literary Quarter, Barrio de las Letras, which was once the home of the great writers of the Golden Age of Spanish literature such as Cervantes and Quevado, is just 16 minutes away on foot.

El Retiro, a 350-acre green paradise, is just 20 minutes away. One of the largest parks in the city, El Retire houses an array of beautiful gardens, outdoor fitness spaces, cafés, a Crystal Palace overlooking a pond filled with turtles and even a lake where you can hire a boat for an hour.

While Hard Rock Hotel Madrid has you covered for food and drinks, there are also many bars, restaurants and cafés all within walking distance from your room.

The Madrid Atocha Train Station is just five minutes away and a taxi from the airport takes around 30 minutes.

Value For Money

Rating: 5/5

Double rooms start from €150 (approximately £130) per night, though prices fluctuate depending on your dates and how far in advance you book. Find rooms and book direct on the Hard Rock Hotel Madrid website.

Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at Hard Rock Hotel Madrid with Booking.com or Hotels.com.

Final Verdict