Artrip Hotel

It isn't easy to find a hotel like this one in the Lavapiés neighbourhood, a bold, modern cutting-edge design that has been able to blend a series of up-to-date features with history. The hotel building dates from 1900, giving it a very traditional feel, with inner courtyards and spacious balconies overlooking the street. The hotel has been very careful to respect the original structure of the building and has 17 bedrooms, some of which are in the attic and have wooden ceiling beams. The common feature of all the rooms is the light that streams in through the windows and the predominantly white decor.

But this is a hotel unlike any other. It's an art hotel that runs a continuous programme of exhibitions of work by new artists in the lobby. The hotel's support for new creative artists makes this an even more special place and an excellent operations base for anyone wanting to enjoy first-rate attractions in Madrid, like El Rastro open-air market and the area's international restaurants. And while we're on the subject of food, the hotel has a café where you can tuck into a healthy Mediterranean-style breakfast featuring home-made products (bread, yogurts, jams and so on). For people who like a lie-in, breakfast is served up until twelve noon.