Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa Plaza opened last year following a complete transformation of a 1970s property in the upscale Argüelles neighbourhood. It arrives as the first Marriott in Madrid’s city centre, and it has wasted no time making its mark. Sleek, modern and flooded with natural light, it is a hotel that works hard for both guests and planners, and in a city where finding centrally located event space of this scale is harder than it sounds, it has quickly established itself as a serious option for planners.
Plaza de España is a short walk away, the Royal Palace around twenty minutes on foot, and the Argüelles metro station is practically outside the front door, putting the airport within forty minutes. The surrounding neighbourhood rewards exploration too: great restaurants and shops are easy to find, and just around the corner sits Liria Palace, one of Madrid’s most remarkable historic landmarks. Still privately owned by the House of Alba, it houses an extraordinary private art collection. We were lucky enough to visit during our stay, and it is well worth pointing delegates towards for an additional activity.
Inside, the renovation by Estudio Caramba has been done with a real eye for detail, sensitively preserving the building’s characteristic hexagonal pillars while completely transforming the interiors. The Great Room lobby serves as the vibrant heart of the hotel: open-plan, welcoming, with a bar serving drinks and coffee throughout the day and plenty of comfortable seating for working, meeting or simply unwinding. The 414 fully renovated rooms and suites are spacious, bright and smartly designed, with panoramic city views from the upper floors. Comfortable and well-equipped without being fussy, exactly what you want for delegates who need to sleep well and work efficiently. The hotel is the first Marriott property in Spain to introduce the M Club, an exclusive lounge offering personalised service and dedicated spaces for work and relaxation.
The event offering is truly impressive. With over 1,200 square metres of naturally lit event space across 12 versatile rooms, including the Chamberí Ballroom, a vast 457 square metre modular space that can host up to 375 guests, supported by full AV and high-speed connectivity. All spaces sit on two dedicated floors and are served by an exclusive private foyer, perfect for drinks receptions and coffee breaks. The rooms are fully combinable and adaptable, handling everything from a small boardroom session to a large-scale conference with ease.
Food is taken seriously here, and rightly so. We had lunch at La Chata, Abacería Castiza, the hotel’s main restaurant, which has positioned itself as a proper gastronomic destination in its own right. The menu celebrates traditional Madrid cuisine, featuring anchovy brioche, Russian salad with tuna belly, beef tenderloin and Bilbao-style wild sea bass. We also had the chance to experience the events banquet menu, a four-course celebration of locally sourced produce that impressed throughout. The mango salmorejo with prawn tartare was a particular highlight, followed by line-caught hake in green sauce, suckling pig terrine, and finished off with a delicious pineapple carpaccio. If that is what delegates are eating at your gala dinner, the feedback forms will look after themselves.
Then there is La Mimosa Coctelería Presumida — decorated with flowers and open from early evening Tuesday to Saturday, it is a relaxed and stylish space, popular with locals as well as guests. The cocktail menu takes its inspiration from the city itself, and I was lucky enough to sample a few. Beautiful to look at and incredibly refreshing, with thoughtful non-alcoholic options too.
Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa Plaza knows exactly what it is and delivers on every front. Modern, central, light-filled and well-run, with food that goes well beyond what you might expect. For planners looking for serious event infrastructure in the heart of the Spanish capital, it belongs firmly on the radar.