Room Mate Alicia

Chic, contemporary and supremely comfortable, this is one of the brightest stars in the constellation of Madrid’s boutique hotels

The quirky philosophy of Room Mate is to infuse their hotels with the character of an imaginary personality. Here you meet the sophisticated Alicia, whose love of the ‘better things in life’ is reflected in every corner of this elegant, lofty building. It's a former woollens factory, once the only industrial building in central Madrid, now metamorphosised by interior design supremo Pascual Ortega.

Stepping in from leafy Plaza de Santa Ana, through sliding glass doors flanked by aluminium panels, the reception area takes your breath away. A svelte, nude video figure walks hypnotically towards you from a screen of coolest blue; a tall sculpture of stacked clay shards evokes a Giacometti figure; an extraordinary stainless steel staircase with flowing Art Nouveau tendrils points the way to your room. Ortega was given free rein and an open cheque book to create 31 spaces-to-sleep that leave the mundane a long way behind. The 2 suites, complete with plunge pools and terraces overlooking the square, just shout "special celebration for 2".

Highs

• It's at the epicentre of bohemian Madrid, surrounded by great bars and restaurants
• The building looks great from within and from without. At night the elegant glass-fronted upper storeys are lit in changing colours, adding a unique visual element
• Très chic and très comfortable, the rooms are worth their higher-than-most price
• If you splurge on a Duplex Suite, rest assured you’ll be sleeping in one of the city’s funkiest bedrooms
• Staff treat you as they would a friend, and are chosen according to how easily they slot into the Room Mate ‘way of being’
• If you’re travelling with a laptop, you’ll appreciate the WiFi network

Lows

• This part of Madrid rocks on into the early hours, and there’s usually some noise down in the square, but Alicia’s double-glazed windows do the job
• The nearest car park is 200m away in Calle Prado, so if you have a heavy suitcase make sure to take a taxi
• The hotel’s eclectic decorative cocktail might seem contrived - like the single green apple on your bedside table
• With occupancy of 90% across the year, advance booking is a must
• The hotel only serves breakfast, but you'll find plenty of eateries within strolling distance for lunch and dinner