Reigning in Spain

AC Palacio del Retiro, Madrid

Fans of Madrid’s exquisite Santo Mauro need no longer worry when the place is full, as owner AC Hotels has just opened another hotel, near the Parque del Retiro, that’s just as beautiful. The Palacio del Retiro is housed in a 19th-century palace, and mixes original fittings with contemporary furniture by Antonio Catalan, the founder of the chain. The restaurant has a modern Basque menu and the bar serves great cocktails. All 51 rooms have plasma screens, state-of-the-art stereos and free minibars. Of the suites, 201, the former palace dining room, is the most spectacular.

17 February 2005 | Travel