History
A journey through the history of the heart of Madrid
The Gran Hotel Inglés, the oldest luxury hotel in the capital, originally opened its doors in 1886.
FROM ENGLISH CAFÉ TO GLOBAL HOTEL ICON
It all began on 27 July 1886, when the businessman Agustín Ibarra -owner of the famous Café Inglés- inaugurated in Lobo Street (nowadays
Echegaray) a grand property with a clear vision: to offer a first class restaurant and luxury accommodation to rival the best in Europe.
A PIONEER IN URBAN INNOVATION
From its beginnings, the Gran Hotel Inglés not only offered accommodation: it marked the path of luxury and modernity in Madrid. It was the first to integrate its own restaurant within a hotel, anticipating a trend that today we consider essential. It was not only about
comfort, but to create a complete experience, where the art of hospitality began at the table and extended to the last detail of the room.
It was also one of the first buildings in the city to have electricity, a symbol of progress that spoke of a vision ahead of its time. Where others saw limits, doors were opened here. Electric light not only illuminated corridors and halls: it lit up the future.
This is how the spirit of the Gran Hotel Inglés was born: that of a place that has always been one step ahead, that was not afraid of change, but embraced it, to continue to be a reference in the heart of Madrid.
THE LITERARY HEART OF MADRID
For decades, the lounges of the Gran Hotel Inglés were a refuge for writers, thinkers and artists who left their mark on Spain's cultural history. Clarín, Galdós, Valle-Inclán, Virginia Woolf and Gabriel Miró shared gatherings, ideas and nights of inspiration within these walls.
The hotel was much more than just accommodation: it was an agora, a spark and a home to great works. Today, that literary vocation is still alive in every corner of the hotel.
SCENE OF UNFORGETTABLE STORIES
Historic banquets were held here, speeches that changed countries were born and legendary romances were lived. Like the one between the bullfighter "El Gallo" and Pastora Imperio or the toast that lit the seed of Philippine independence with José Rizal.
Every room holds an anecdote, every room a scene.
Because at the Gran Hotel Inglés, history is not told: it is relived.
THE REBIRTH OF GLAMOUR
After almost five years of careful restoration, the hotel reopened its doors in 2018 with a clear vision: to respect the soul of the past and project it into the future.
With an interior design signed by Rockwell Group and under the direction of Carmen Cordón and Ignacio Jiménez, the Gran Hotel Inglés has become the flagship of Hidden Away Hotels, recovering the essence of the 1920s with the sophistication of the 21st century.
A LEGACY THAT TODAY SHINES BRIGHTER THAN EVER
In 2025, the Gran Hotel Inglés has been recognised as one of the best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler. A milestone that celebrates not only its
current excellence, but 139 years of living history in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras.
The history of Madrid is discovered from your bedroom
Each of our luxury rooms in the Barrio de las Letras are much more than just a place to rest. They are settings where the living history of Madrid can be breathed from within: from the wardrobes lined with original 19th century postcards to the Art Deco-inspired details that evoke the hotel's golden age.
To sleep at Gran Hotel Inglés is to stay in the oldest 5-star hotel in Madrid, where history and design coexist naturally to create a sophisticated, intimate and authentic experience.
Because true luxury in Madrid is not only in comfort, but in feeling part of a legacy.
A piece of history at every turn
To walk through the Gran Hotel Inglés is to walk through the oldest luxury hotel in Madrid. Every object tells a story, every corner holds a memory, and every detail has been preserved to connect the present with the essence of the past. It is a Hidden hotel in which the history of the Barrio de las Letras comes to life through original pieces.
Because in our 5-star hotel with history, you can touch, look and feel what is authentic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Excellence is not proclaimed, it is cultivated.
History is not invented here: it is honoured, it is cared for, it is shared.
What was the first luxury hotel in Madrid has regained its splendour thanks to Hidden Hotels. Gran Hotel Inglés has been included in the Golden List 2025 as one of the 70 best hotels in the world.
Located in the emblematic Barrio de las Letras, this boutique hotel in Madrid shares its history with those who appreciate the authentic.
A place where old charm blends with contemporary design and yesterday subtly seeps into every gesture of hospitality.
Today, as then, the soul of this building continues to welcome travellers with sensitivity, culture and a desire for authenticity.
At Gran Hotel Inglés, it's not just about staying in a hotel with history. It's about being part of a history that is alive and well. And you are part of it.
A luxury hotel in Madrid that never ceases to evolve in the present, without forgetting the echoes of the past.
Gran Hotel Inglés, where every stay leaves its mark.
The hotel with a history in the centre of Madrid that doesn't need to be told: it needs to be experienced.
A place where centuries do not weigh. They inspire.
And where every stay... leaves its mark.
