‘Mad Men’ meets Madrid: Thompson Hotels hits Spain

By News Room On Mar 11, 2024

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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Madrid

A stay at the Thompson, a stylish arrival on Madrid’s hotel scene, begins as most good things do in the Spanish capital: with a glistening plate of jamón ibérico and a glass of white wine. This taste of local specialities is meant to make guests feel welcome while passports and keys are filed and administered at the front desk, though it’s also an intro to the hotel’s core theme: Thompson is an ode to Madrid, a celebration of the city’s (and Spain’s) gastronomic, cultural and artistic prowess, in everything from the materials used in its design and construction, to the art on its walls and the dishes served from its kitchens — all with, of course, a dash of the New York brand’s sultry style. With marble and dark wood (both sourced in Spain), earthy tones and a mid-century design aesthetic employed throughout, Thompson is where Mad Men meets Madrid.

This comes into focus from the get-go in the hotel’s chic lobby lounge and bar area, where beneath its striking wood-panelled ceiling, a rotating selection of couture garments from local fashion designers are usually displayed on mannequins, alongside fine art photography from Madrid’s own Andrea Torres. Each floor of the hotel features works by different local artists.

Depending on where your room is, the building itself, designed by local firm López y Tena, can feel rather labyrinthine due to its two large, central courtyards that create a maze-like layout, but the important result is that even interior bedrooms let in plenty of natural light. The sophisticated quarters — there are 151 generously portioned rooms, with an additional 23 suites, including an enormous two-storey penthouse — have comfortable king-size beds, Eames-style seating and ample storage. The spacious bathrooms are alluring and moody, with dark marble and flattering lighting, large rainfall showers, double sinks and toiletries from the eco-friendly DS & Durga. Guests can choose either courtyard or city views, though it’s the rooms with terraces that will be most tempting in a city that sees an average of 350 sunny days per year.

The hotel’s best venue for enjoying Europe’s most cloudless capital, however, is its roof, a patch of heaven during Madrid’s scorching summer months, with 360-degree views of the cityscape, a sparkling infinity pool, plenty of loungers, hammocks and shaded seating, and a restaurant and bar. Cold-weather imbibing is better in the basement, at Hijos de Tomás, Thompson’s lively piano bar and speakeasy.

All food and drink at the hotel is overseen by one of the best-known names in Madrid’s culinary scene, chef-restaurateur Nino Redruello, whose La Ancha restaurant group runs some of the city’s — and the country’s — most celebrated establishments, including its eponymous jewel, the century-old La Ancha.

At Thompson, his star shines brightest at The Omar, the hotel’s excellent in-house bakery and all-day restaurant. With a few exceptions, the cuisine is, unsurprisingly, local and otherwise Spanish, modernised and refined for the setting, but without sacrificing authenticity and simplicity, as exemplified by the lightly grilled, local white asparagus (when in season) and pollo picantón, an umami-rich chicken and rice dish that I could eat by an Iberian pig’s troughful.

Madrid’s seafood obsession is best expressed here through the beautifully fresh raw bluefin-tuna belly — thinly sliced and doused with a citrusy olive oil and toasted, slightly salted almonds — and one of the off-piste options: a prawn and crab pasta that’s slathered in a punchy bisque-like sauce with notes of lemongrass and Thai basil. It’s a clever bit of fusion that makes little sense on this menu, but I personally hope it’s there forever.

Thompson Madrid is the only European property in the Hyatt-owned hotel group (a Rome location is expected to open this year, followed by Vienna next year and Seville in 2026) — its other 18 venues are primarily in the US. The (now-closed) original spot in New York’s SoHo played a pivotal role in the area’s transition into the chichi neighbourhood it is today. I suspect the Thompson brand could have a similar impact on this slice of central Madrid, near the frenetic shopping district around Gran Via and the Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares (and home to the clock whose chimes ring in the New Year). Thanks to a surge of new chic hotel openings in recent years, including the Edition, UMusic and the Four Seasons, with more to come, developers have already billed the area as the city’s new Golden Mile. Thompson is certainly a gleaming addition.

At a glance:

Rooms: 151 rooms and 23 suites (which include a 222 sq m penthouse suite spread over two floors)
Good for: A stylish and luxurious abode in the heart of central Madrid. Sun- and pleasure-seekers will relish the rooftop pool and bar
Not so good for: The immediate area is busy, though it’s central and a convenient base for exploring the city
FYI: Make time for a meal at The Omar, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant and bakery run by one of the city’s most celebrated culinary figures
Gym: On the first floor. Guests can book personal training and group fitness classes
Rates: Double from €450
Address: Plaza del Carmen, 28013 Madrid
Website; Directions

Niki Blasina stayed as a guest of Thompson Madrid

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