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Hotel Emperador, Madrid

Calle Gran Vía, 53, 28013 Madrid, Spain (show on map)

Hotel Emperador stands as an iconic fixture on Madrid’s famous Gran Vía. Designed by architects Julián and Joaquín Otamendi, the building was completed in 1947 and quickly became a glamorous hub for the city’s cultural elite. Throughout its history, the hotel has hosted legendary figures like Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, and Sophia Loren, cementing its status as a symbol of mid-century sophistication.

The property is perhaps most famous for its stunning 10th-floor rooftop terrace. Featuring a large swimming pool that dates back to 1948, it was one of the first of its kind in Madrid. Even today, it remains a premier destination for those looking to enjoy a cocktail while overlooking the city’s historic skyline, including breathtaking views of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.

Beyond its history, the hotel offers a refined mix of classic elegance and modern comfort, with over 200 well-appointed rooms. The lobby bar is a favorite spot for guests to unwind, providing an intimate setting that feels worlds away from the bustling energy of the avenue outside.

Its location is unbeatable for anyone wanting to explore the heart of the capital. You are within walking distance of the historic Puerta del Sol and the grand Plaza Mayor. For art lovers, the famous “Art Triangle”—home to the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofía museums—is just a short, pleasant walk away, making the Emperador a perfect starting point for discovering Madrid’s cultural treasures.

Expert reviews

CNN review:

“The chief recommendation at The Emperador, certainly in the summer, would be the roof-top swimming pool. There’s a bar up there, too, and captivating 360-degree views of the Spanish capital.”

Guest rating

4.2 out of 5.0

Ranked 18th in Madrid


This an aggregated guest review rating of Hotel Emperador, Madrid. We have taken customer review ratings from hotel booking sites, search engines, the official hotel website and other travel platforms. This is the average of all those ratings. We only list places that have a guest review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0


What guests liked


Value for Money

85.51 %

Ranked 17th in Madrid


We use a smart algorithm to determine the value for money each hotel offers. The score is based on a combination of aggregated guest review ratings and the average nightly rate. The higher the percentage, the better the overall value you receive for the price you pay.


Location

Recent guest reviews

4.5
Michael

9 June 2026

It was great!

The butlers

Tv

4.5
Souza

9 June 2026

Great location !

Nice facilities

4.0
Clive

8 June 2026

Very good

Brilliant location -- attractive pool area to relax around when not out and about in the city

Sometimes inattentive service. The room had very little in the way of cupboards or hanging space so impossible fo 2 people to unpack bags

5.0
Olivia

8 June 2026

Exceptional

We loved absolute everything about Emperador! The service was amazing the location was so convenient and the pool and terrace were a highlight!

4.0
Christopher

8 June 2026

Good one night stay for us...

Very central, room immaculate and clean. No complaints

The view could have been better..

4.0
Mandy

7 June 2026

Enjoyed the holiday but hard on the picket

Roof terrace and pool excellent. Location perfect

A bit pricy for small and tired room 24 euros per person for breakfast

4.0
Christopher

7 June 2026

Very good

The location on the Gran Via was excellent. The front desk staff were very helpful with reservations and transportation, etc. breakfast as very nice. Good Value.

NA.

4.5
Philip

7 June 2026

All you will need for a great stay in Madrid.

Excellent location and great facilities.

Very small issue. Not a criticism but a suggestion - a more varied selection of fruit in the morning for breakfast but all in all a great hotel for a stay in Madrid. Staff were great.

5.0
Ana

7 June 2026

Fantastic place to stay while visiting Madrid

We been here before and for sure will come back the location is great, the rooms are very comfortable, even being by a busy street we were surprised with the great windows

Nothing

5.0
Artiles

6 June 2026

Exceptional

Excellent service

5.0
Artiles

6 June 2026

Exceptional

Excellent service

4.5
John

5 June 2026

Fabulous

Great location and rooftop pool

4.5
Ferdinand

3 June 2026

Very much recommendable.

Great location. Very clean. Spacious lobby. Friendly and helpful staff.

4.0
Ming

2 June 2026

Met my needs for the trip

Central location in Gran Via, very convenient to walk

The room they gave me didn’t have any views, you were basically looking at the back of another building

4.0
Yanrong

2 June 2026

An older style hotel in a central location.

The central location.

The old-style shower over bath

5.0
Merve

31 May 2026

It was wonderful.

The hotel's location, staff, and cleanliness were excellent. The breakfast was very varied. The poolside area was also a great place to relax during this hot weather.

5.0
Jhon

31 May 2026

Exceptional

Perfecto

4.5
Alison

29 May 2026

Great hotel

Beautiful rooftop terrace and pool. Really lovely staff in all areas. Great location.

Dated bathroom. Slow and ineffective lift. Breakfast items not very hot

5.0
Randolph

28 May 2026

Great Hotel in Downtown Madrid

Great hotel in the heart of Madrid. Easy walk to so many things - restaurants, parks, Prado Museum, Royal Palace, Plaza del Sol, etc. Very nice lounge/restaurant/pool on the roof, with great views of Madrid. It had the best breakfast buffet of any Spanish hotel we stayed in.

5.0
Madeleine

28 May 2026

Our dream stay in Madrid

Everything! Location was amazing, so central. The room was so spacious and perfect room temp in hot weather. Super clean. Staff extremely attentive. Rooftop is worth going here for alone but everything was superb! Really appreciated the unexpected room upgrade and little birthday treat for my Mom. Attention to detail here is 100%!

Nothing!

4.0
Jennie

26 May 2026

Great spot for shopping/sightseeing and relaxing!

Swimming pool and rooftop area amazing. A real oasis in the city when it’s hot. Staff all lovely.

Nothing.

4.5
Caroline

25 May 2026

Very enjoyable

The staff were lovely especially Natalia in the roof top bar

4.5
Morag

24 May 2026

Brilliant

Location was excellent as was standard of rooms & public areas

4.0
Wendy

22 May 2026

Great location

Great location and staff very efficient and helpful

Breakfast was limited and a bit disappointing for the 24e price paid

4.5
Brad

21 May 2026

A short visit to Madrid.

The location was great. The rooftop terrace provided a great view of the city.

The elevators were very slow. The problem is there are the main elevators and a secondary parking elevator. Guests call both sets which makes the elevator slow.

4.5
John

20 May 2026

Superb location and cultural experience

Location is superb!! Walking distance to Plaza Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza España and many amenities. Friendly staff and helpful. Rooms are spacious, comfortable and quiet. Good air conditioning

Nothing

4.5
Mabel

20 May 2026

It was good. If I traveled again I would stay in the hotel.

It was good. It had orange juice and water. I don't drink hot beverages. They had coffee and also tea for the person that don't drink coffee.

The scramble eggs could taste better and also had more variety of fruits.

4.0
Chris

20 May 2026

Very good

Great location. Needs some updating. Breakfast was just mid.

Older. Slow elevators.

4.0
Andrea

20 May 2026

Well located good service and def would stay again

Great location great rooftop- comfy rooms a little dated but nothing to complain about and comfy beds.

Breakfast 24 euros pp

5.0
Sara

18 May 2026

Great location for everything, lovely staff brill location !

Breakfast was great everything you could want. The facilities on the roof were fab ! Barman was excellent could make any cocktail 🥂

4.0
Andreucetti

18 May 2026

Very good

Location is amazing. Roof top bar was excellent. Staff were lovely

5.0
Dan

17 May 2026

Great and beautiful hotel. Spacious rooms

Great location, very comfortable, very spacious rooms, lovely terrace and rooftop bar setting. Just a really nice hotel, that is very welcoming.

Nothing - great hotel

4.0
Patrick

17 May 2026

I enjoyed my stay overall

Breakfast was excellent/ location very central

Room 926 next to me was under renovation- very noisy Also I didn’t like the contact reception method with QR code - non Spanish people cannot understand the language

5.0
Bill

17 May 2026

Nice place near the action.

Nice room, clean.

Tough subway trip from airport, three lines and lots of stairs.

4.0
Mark

16 May 2026

Very good

Location

Our room had a connecting door so we ended up with a lot of noise from next door.

5.0
Kevin

16 May 2026

Exceptional

The breakfast Buffett was just ok

4.5
Robin

12 May 2026

Convenient and well located

The staff at the front desk was very helpful and the roof top pool was wonderful. The hotel is right in the middle of everything on the Grand Via.

The standard room is very small!

5.0
Michel

11 May 2026

Exceptional

Excellent

Nothing

4.0
Alexandra

10 May 2026

Very good

Well located

Not particularly friendly staff. Bathroom needed upgrading, shower plastic and shower nozzle broken.

5.0
James

9 May 2026

Excellent location with a lovely rooftop bar

Great location with great facilities

Everything was good

5.0
Eugene

8 May 2026

Amazing hotel with helpful staff and lively lobby.

Amazing location, friendly and knowledgeable staff, nice clean rooms.

Everything was great.

4.0
Glenn

7 May 2026

Great location on the Gran Via

Nice breakfast. Great location.

We wish the staff had warned us about the closure of the Gran Via for Labor Day. We struggled to arrive, having to drag our bags several blocks. Also, AC was not great.

4.5
Dan

7 May 2026

Fabulous

Location, excellent breakfast, large space in the room.

4.0
Ventseslav

6 May 2026

Very good

The service is flawless! Excellent location! The room is quite well equipped.

Artificial bed linens. No view from the room.

5.0
Colin

6 May 2026

Had an enjoyable stay. Hotel close to many restaurants.

Good location and facilities. Breakfast excellent. Staff very good.

Nothing

4.5
Bob

5 May 2026

It was an amazing stay and staff.

Everything was top notch and the quality of the facility was amazing.

wished the pool was open and the roof lounge open and more vibrant. It was close to 80° during our stay. I was charged for "cork service" to open a bottle of wine at $20. The bottle was bought off site for $15. Seemed a bit much.

5.0
Somaya

4 May 2026

Adorable

Everything was perfect, the staff was so nice, the room was amazing; we arrived early and they did an early check-in for us and even they upgraded our room from standard to premium with a view and this was so nice of them. The location is amazing, it’s very central

4.0
Noel

3 May 2026

A good one but expensive small room

Good Location

My room space was cozy but very small.

4.5
Kersti

30 April 2026

Luxurious vibe in the heart of Madrid

Our stay at Hotel Emperador was lovely. The first thing that stands out is the classic luxury and elegant atmosphere of the hotel. Being located on Gran Vía made exploring the city incredibly easy. Regarding the amenities, the breakfast was okay—nothing extraordinary, but certainly sufficient to start the day. We didn't have any major complaints and thoroughly enjoyed the upscale feel of the property. Would definitely recommend it for the location and the views from the rooftop!

nothing

5.0
John

30 April 2026

Came in for three days to go to the ATP Mutua Madrid Tennis

Loved the location. Loved the professional and friendly staff. Loved that I requested an early check-in they were able to do that for me.

Everything was great.

Hotel facilities

General

  • - Room service
  • - Non-smoking rooms
  • - Facilities for disabled guests
  • - Lift
  • - Safety deposit box
  • - Soundproof rooms
  • - Heating
  • - Non-smoking throughout
  • - Air conditioning
  • - Shuttle service (additional charge)

Business facilities

  • - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
  • - Business centre (additional charge)
  • - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)

Food & Drink

  • - Bar
  • - Snack bar
  • - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
  • - Fruits (additional charge)
  • - Coffee house on site

Reception services

  • - 24-hour front desk
  • - Currency exchange
  • - Tour desk
  • - Luggage storage
  • - Concierge service
  • - Invoice provided

Activities

  • - Fitness centre
  • - Massage (additional charge)
  • - Fitness
  • - Temporary art galleries

Outdoors

  • - Terrace
  • - Outdoor pool
  • - Sun terrace
  • - Outdoor pool (seasonal)

Cleaning services

  • - Laundry (additional charge)
  • - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
  • - Ironing service (additional charge)
  • - Daily housekeeping

Accessibility

  • - Wheelchair accessible

Pool and wellness

  • - Rooftop pool
  • - Pool with view
  • - Pool bar
  • - Sun loungers or beach chairs
  • - Swimming pool
  • - Swimming pool

Miscellaneous

  • - 24-hour security
  • - Key card access
  • - Security alarm
  • - Smoke alarms
  • - CCTV in common areas
  • - Fire extinguishers
  • - Delivered food is securely covered
  • - Access to health care professionals
  • - Thermometers for guests provided by property
  • - Face masks for guests available
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