This is BLESS, the Best Hotel in Madrid According to TripAdvisor Users

The Palladium hotel group launched a new brand a few months ago, the BLESS Collection Hotels, and it has done so in the capital, opening its first establishment in one of the most luxurious areas of Madrid, at 62 Velázquez Street, marking its journey under the prestigious label of The Leading Hotels of the World.

In what was once the Gran Hotel Velázquez, it has been revitalized into a true space to enjoy the most hedonistic luxury. To carry out this extensive renovation, they collaborated with the renowned interior designer Lázaro-Rosa Violán, who has perfectly captured the atmospheres that will characterize the BLESS brand.

Simply passing through its doors transports us to Madrid of the 60s and 70s, with constant references to bygone eras, conceived in a luxury key. The hotel concept is a 'back to basics' approach where the overall customer experience truly matters.

This experience is magnified through the five senses: sight with all the stimuli we encounter at every turn, and the dim lighting that makes the guest feel welcome, as if at home; touch through the thousands of textures found in the hotel (velvet, wood, ceramics, curtains, carpets with nods to the Manila shawl, etc.).

Smell plays a very important role since each space offers different fragrances. We please our ears with the hotel's music, always adapted to the time of day and the space where you find yourself, and lastly, taste is stimulated by both their signature cocktail menu created by mixologist Alberto Fernández, who has crafted a tailored drinks list for BLESS, as well as their cuisine designed by Martín Berasategui and his restaurant ETXEKO, the first in the capital, which means 'made at home' and offers a journey to the chef's origins with creations based on products from the sea and the field.

Even the check-in moment is an experience in itself. The idea is that the guest arrives, enjoys a welcome drink while resting in one of their spaces, and the hotel staff takes care of all the paperwork. The hotel does not forget its past, which is why they have maintained their iconic façade, the skylights-one of which presides over the reception-and the impressive spiral staircase, spaces that were already part of Madrid's heritage.

Another vivid memory of BLESS Madrid is the nod to the old bar of the Gran Hotel Velázquez, La Ruleta. That narrow bar was famous because before gin and tonic became trendy, it was one of the best places in Madrid to have it, boasting over three decades of tradition. So in the new design, the first thing you will see as soon as you enter is its circular bar decorated with a huge roulette on the ceiling.

Their 111 rooms feature the 'wow' effect we all seek when swiping our key card. They are spacious, bright, and wonderful. The selected furniture couldn't be more exquisite; some rooms have terraces and jacuzzis, while others offer a separate living room, dreamy walk-in closets... The beds are adorned with headboards featuring designs from London designer William Morris and are part of what the brand has called the BLESSED BED, from mattresses created specifically for this hotel to a pillow menu personalized to meet our needs.

Additionally, all rooms are eco-friendly. You won't find any paper there, as all communications are made through the television. The Santal 33 amenities come in recycled plastic bottles, toothbrushes are made of bamboo, and the paper that wraps other accessories turns into compost once disposed of.

At BLESS they have also considered pampering the body and thus have a spa with saunas and relaxation spaces, as well as treatment cabins. The prestigious beauty center TACHA Beauty also has its own cabin with a menu of facial and body treatments. In the gym area, they have state-of-the-art machines, personal trainers, and a room with 360-degree screens to get fit with the help of a virtual personal trainer.

And don't miss their speakeasy... Because Fetén is one of the most unique spaces within BLESS. It is a clandestine bar where you can enjoy their cocktail and music offerings, and also features one of the hotel's crown jewels: a bowling alley! Have you ever seen a hotel with a bowling alley inside? Neither have we, but we can't think of a better plan than to grab a drink with your friends and bowl a few games.

And of course, they also have a sky lounge, Picos Pardos, with two distinct areas. On one side is an exuberant pool with Balinese beds for hotel guests, and on the other, an area open to the public with a food and drink menu.