Best Business hotels 2011

Hotel Único, Madrid
Address: Claudio Coello 67
Tel: 34.91 781 0173 (Spain)
Website: www.unicohotelmadrid.com
Opening date: Re-opened in May 2011
Rates: From €250
Business amenities: There are two small meeting rooms seating up to 20, including the Consejo, a grand, high-ceilinged salon with a colourful décor; a 24-hour business centre; a garden accommodating 100 people; and the option of booking the entire hotel for an exclusive event. Complimentary broadband internet is available throughout the hotel.
Rooms: Furnished in a masculine mix of brown wood wall panelling, light timber floors, and king-sized beds wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets, the 44 sound- proofed rooms are kitted out with a blaze of hi-tech gadgetry including wide-screen LCD TV, Blu-Ray, CD and MP3 players, iPod and iPhone docks, hydro-massage jets in the shower, and anti-fog mirrors.
Leisure: A small but fully-equipped gym teams up with an equally bijou spa. Or else, pack running shoes for a sprint around nearby El Retiro Park.
Restaurants: With two Michelin stars tucked under his belt, Ramón Freixa continues to dazzle Madrid's gourmets with his nouvelle cuisine Spanish menu that includes dishes such as langoustine cappuccinos and roasted rabbits stuffed with pistachios. Weather permitting, the best seats are in the garden terrace.

The owners of Bilbao's Hotel Miro and Barcelona's Grand Hotel Central have launched their third venture in Madrid's historic Salamanca quarter. A renovated 19th-century mansion, the property is a stone's throw from all the major museums, restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Since its relaunch, Único has become something of a destination for Madrid's smart set. And why not? The vibe is invariably low- key and chic, and everyone is clamouring for a table at Ramón Freixa.