Only You Hotel & Lounge Madrid opened in late 2013 following more than $20 million in renovations. Spanish interior designer Lazaro Rosa-Vilan and Madrid-based Carlos Hernandez-Carrillo of b76 architecture teamed up to recreate the hot boutique hotel. Once a 19th-century palace, the 70-room space was a dark, crumbling, old-town apartment building. Thanks to the craftsmanship of Rosa-Vilan and Hernandez Carillo, this newest addition to the Ayre Hoteles group property is now one of the hottest spots in Madrid.
Only You is located in Chueca, one of Madrid’s most fashionable districts. Creative cafes, trendsetting boutiques and lively bars encircle the property. For party animals, the fiesta is close at hand, and for early risers, the hotel has soundproofed windows. The property’s central location also makes it easy for guests to access the city’s main sights, including Retiro Park, the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia.
Upstairs, the hotel’s 44 deluxe rooms are adorned in deep navy blue, white, black and mustard yellow. Maps are also prominent in the decor — antique street maps of Madrid have been transformed into glass partitions, giving guests a magnified view of old town alleyways. Amenities include 42-inch LCD Smart televisions, iPod/iPhone/MP3 audio systems, and a well-stocked mini-bar. Bathrooms are on the small side but are fitted with marble countertops and stocked with Hierbas de Ibiza toiletries, a high-end Spanish brand made on the Balearic Islands. For more spacious accommodations, Only You offers 19 premium rooms and seven junior suites.
Like most downtown addresses, natural light is limited within Only You. To make the most of the Spanish sun and illuminate gloomy spaces, the architect and designer took advantage of two enormous interior patios.
In the first patio, Rosa-Vilan installed a crisp and contemporary lobby lounge using vintage furniture as well as modern leather sofas and designer lamps. Ivory walls, partially faceted with mirrors, stretch up five floors and further brighten the area. To the side of the lobby is the reception area, where a wall of white, 1950s suitcases offer a creative backdrop for checking in. Guests will enjoy a surprise when the hand-painted tile mural to the right of the counter chimes and opens up to reveal two cleverly hidden elevators.
Guest don’t have to go far to mingle over good drinks. Housed in what was once the Padrino Libreria bookstore, Only You’s bar fills with visitors and locals sipping after-work cocktails and nibbling on tapas. The bookstore’s original facade and sign were left untouched during the building’s remodel, a nod to bygone days.
The Details
Only You Hotel & Lounge Madridwww.ayrehoteles.com
