Travel's all about timing, and although my recent off-season stay at the Thompson Madrid wasn't particularly well-timed, I still loved the stylish hotel and would love to stay again under different conditions.
Despite a seasonal closure of the rooftop pool and some construction in the plaza outside the front door, the Thompson Madrid offered a comfortable, cool stay just steps from the center of Madrid.
This February, I stayed at the property, just about two-and-a-half years since the property opened in September 2022. The 175-room hotel is – like all Thompsons – extra stylish and luxurious in its appearance. I loved the decor and energy, and the staff was incredibly accommodating.
Just two blocks from Puerta del Sol, the city's main square, it only takes about two minutes to get right into the center of the action. That said, the hotel still faces away from the action into the then-under-construction plaza, which created a little hamlet off the main Madrid thoroughfare. Besides the ideal location, the hotel's bakery and restaurant, Mendo, offered several tasty meals, including a particularly inspired breakfast.
While my timing wasn't ideal, I think the Thompson Madrid is well worth the World of Hyatt points I used to book the room for myself. Given the promise of a rooftop pool and a completed plaza at the property, I'd be excited to return.
How to Book the Thompson Madrid
The Thompson Madrid is a Hyatt hotel and falls into World of Hyatt's Award Category 6. Thanks to Hyatt's peak and off-peak pricing, Category 6 properties start at 25,000 points per night but can get as cheap as 21,000 points per night or as expensive as 29,000 points per night, depending on when you stay.
Read More: A Complete Guide to the World of Hyatt Loyalty Program
You can also secure these rooms by paying cash, of course. World of Hyatt usually offers the best rates on these rooms for its members, which will be in the 450 euro to 500 euro range during the peak months. Off-peak dates were closer to 340 to 380 euro per night.
Finally, you can also book the Thompson Madrid through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts – giving travelers with *amex platinum* up to a $200 statement credit when booking using their card, as well as guaranteed late checkout, daily breakfast for two, and an onsite food and beverage credit, too.
However, from the dates I spot-checked, Amex appears to be offering steeper rates than Hyatt on these same rooms.
Overall, the best value for booking these rooms is using World of Hyatt points. You can also acquire valuable hotel loyalty points by transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt on a 1-to-1 basis, so you can fill up your Hyatt coffers before you book.
Location, Checking In, & The Lobby
Location-wise, it doesn't get a whole lot better than the Thompson Madrid.
Like everything in downtown Madrid, it's about 30-45 minutes by taxi or Uber from Madrid Airport. During peak times of the day, taxis can't drop you off right in front of the hotel, requiring a few blocks' walk in my case.
But once you're at the hotel, you're in the true center of the action.
When you approach the front door of the Thompson, you'll see this lovely, updated exterior of an older, classic-looking Spanish building.
From the plaza, heading inside, you'll find a modern, classy lobby area. At the far end of the lobby pictured here, you'll find the check-in desk right next to the entrance.
Below, you can see the plaza area outside the hotel that was under serious construction when I arrived. The views were hampered by the big green fencing around the site while I was there, but staff said the plaza should be completed by this summer, meaning your upcoming stay is likely to be unhindered by this issue.
For my February visit, the interior gave me plenty to look at, however. I particularly loved this massive piece on the wall of the lobby.
At check-in, the front desk took my information and sent me over to the bar, where a bartender was waiting. I was offered a Vermouth Marianito – a traditional Spanish cocktail along with this paella plate. It was a delicious check-in snack and drink, and I was very impressed.
Another perk about this particular service: The bartender who prepared this cocktail and snack for me was fun and accommodating. He even offered a handwritten list of his favorite restaurants and cocktail bars around Madrid that I should check out. I hope this kind of service is available every day from the Thompson, but at least during my low season visit, he had some time to offer a personal touch to my check-in.
The bartender went three-for-three on his recommendations, by the way. The best one: If you love cocktails, go to Salmon Guru and try some of their insane (in the best way) concoctions.
After the bright lobby, the rest of the property had a moodier vibe. From the dark elevators to the hallways lit dimly by lamps and funky sideboards, it was extraordinarily quiet and dark at all hours of the day.
The Room
I quite liked the room at the Thompson Madrid. The standard king room offered me plenty of elbow room. The entryway hosts this large, open closet and suitcase stand. It's nice to keep the clutter of your luggage from the rest of the room.
This high-backed chair sits in the corner of the room in front of these floor-to-ceiling windows. My interior-facing room abuts this vine-filled courtyard. It's a cool vibe, for sure, staring into a naturally lit room of multi-story vines. You can see them from several hallway rooms, too.
Would I have preferred a room with a view? Of course, but these rooms are plenty bright and fun – even without a plaza or street view.
The room itself offered plenty of space. As you can see, it's nothing out of the ordinary, except for some Thompson-y stylish touches like the soft, warm headboard lights, a retro alarm clock, and a Bluetooth speaker.
Another fun touch: Every guest gets this bottle of Thompson-branded olive oil. I returned this bottle to the States, and it now sits on the bookshelf behind Kyle and me when we record the Thrifty Traveler Podcast!
The minibar and coffee setup was certainly high-end. A Nespresso machine, some tea options, a large bottle of water, and all of these beer and soft drink options made up half the minibar area.
The rest could be seen inside the hutch, including chips, olives, wines, and various booze options. Notably, there was also some cool glassware for the spirits.
The bathrooms in these rooms are not unusually large, but I thought this one served me perfectly. Clean, warm, and modern, it was an exceptional space. Glass stall doors separate the toilet and shower.
The rain shower featured fancy Bowmakers soaps, as did the soaps on the countertop. Every guest gets a bathrobe and slippers, too.
The Property: Gym, Pool, & More
I'll be honest: I was really looking forward to this rooftop pool. So this view was a bit deflating…
Yes, the pool was drained for the winter season. Maybe I'm the idiot for thinking the pool deck would be open in February, but as a hearty Midwesterner, I was fully prepared for a dip in the pool with temps in the 50s Fahrenheit. (Balmy!)
The rest of the rooftop bar and pool area was open but unstaffed and a ghost town. I'd imagine this space is vibrant and lovely in the spring and summer months.
The entire space looked ideal for spending a warm afternoon in Madrid and was also positioned perfectly for events. In fact, underneath the pool area was a building specifically for events that looked like this. It was a massive space that I caught just a fraction of in this photo.
Elsewhere in the building was this gym with street views of downtown Madrid.
The modern gym amenities were lovely, and the sprawling space did not feel like a cramped hotel gym.
Behind the wood walls on the left of the image below was a hallway leading to men's and women's restrooms, each featuring two shower suites. Like the room showers, they were equipped with soaps, towels, and everything else you might need.
The Restaurant: Mendo
Mendo is a restaurant in a hotel, but it's not a “hotel restaurant.”
I was pleasantly surprised by my two meals with Mendo in Madrid. The in-house bakery supplemented some excellent culinary creations in this vibrant space.
I asked to eat on the patio while temperatures were in the 50s and the sun was out. The staff looked at me like I had two heads, but despite nearby construction, the patio was comfy and quiet.
This sandwich and potatoes dish really hit the spot.
All day, the bakery had these delectable creations sitting out to tease passersby.
The smell of the bread alone was enough to lure me in for breakfast the next morning. For 35 euro, you get your choice of juice, coffee, a starter, and a main breakfast dish.
My parfait was exactly what I needed, and this bacon–egg maple waffle blew my mind. It was a fantastic hotel breakfast. While it cost me 35 euro, Hyatt's top-tier Globalists get free breakfast at the Thompson.
Bottom Line
If you want to use your Hyatt points on a hotel stay in Madrid, the Thompson Madrid is a stylish, well-located option that would set up an ideal Spanish vacation.
Despite the rooftop pool and bar being closed during my visit and the plaza outside being under construction, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Thompson and can't wait to visit again when the pool is open, and the plaza is complete.
Was there this past February as well for our honeymoon trip and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the staff made our stay even better with over the top gestures.