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InsideFlyer’s Christian recently had the chance to check out Madrid – this is his review of the Hotel Montera Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton.

The city of ‘Los Blancos’, the well-known Prado Museum and the extensive Retiro park offers something for everyone. It is no wonder that Netflix regularly visits the Madrilenians to record the next popular series. During a weekend away in late summer we stayed at the five-star Hotel Montera Madrid, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton…

Location in the centre of Madrid 

Madrid, with its suburbs, is one of the largest urban areas in Europe. So you can imagine that there are hundreds of hotels in the city – from simple hostels to luxury five-star hotels.

For a weekend away, the location is of course important. Many well-known hotels are centred on or around Gran Via, a long street of stately buildings and monuments. There you will find shopping centres, restaurants and many other entertainment venues, as well as the famous Schweppes Sign – say the Piccadilly Circus of Madrid. 

In terms of hotels, it is certainly a hotspot. Hotel Montera Madrid – Curio Collection by Hilton is located on the side street of the Gran Via of the same name. On Calle de Montera, in addition to this hotel, you will also find numerous shops, restaurants and bars. 

It is about a 30 minute drive from Madrid International Airport, or ~45 using public transport. If you choose a taxi, Bolt and Uber are available and cost between €20 and €30, depending on the traffic. 

Reception at Hotel Montera Madrid – Curio Collection by Hilton

On a beautiful summer evening I arrived at the hotel around 21:00. The taxi dropped us off at the busy Gran Via and it took a while to find the entrance of the hotel. It is not clearly indicated – the entrance is somewhat hidden and I could easily walk past it. When I arrived, there was already a queue, but this was actually for the rooftop bar El Cielo de Chicote on the 10th floor of the hotel. This turns out to be a very popular location for a drink in Madrid. 

Luckily we didn’t have to wait in line. We went to the concierge desk and our luggage was taken immediately. One of the very friendly concierges accompanied us to the elevator to go to the reception on the 9th floor. Once upstairs, there was already a glass of refreshing lemon water waiting for us. So far a very good reception.

We had to wait a while for someone to be available to check us in though, even though we were the only guests at reception. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long before a friendly employee appeared to help us. He explained that the hotel opened last year, as the first Curio Collection by Hilton location in Madrid, after a long period of renovation of the historic building. He told us that there used to be a different hotel or hostel on each floor and Hilton bought all these floors to make one hotel out of them. 

After a short explanation about the facilities of the hotel, as well as the breakfast and the concierge desk, we got the room key cards. What stands out from arrival to check-in is the special interior of the hotel. The design is inspired by the history of the city and local artists. It really does give a feeling of a luxury boutique hotel. 

The rooms of Hotel Montera Madrid

The hotel has a large number of different rooms and suites. They have a surface area of ​​22 to 64 m2. Most rooms have a large king-size bed, but there are also rooms with two single beds. All rooms have a large 55 inch TV and an extensive minibar (with price list…). You can also make your own cup of tea or coffee. All rooms have a water bottle that can be borrowed during your stay. This can be filled with cold water at the taps in the hallways. 

The hotel also has 2 types of suites. The King Corinto Suite features a separate sleeping and living area. The bedroom offers a king-size bed and a beautiful view of the city. The Family Connecting Suite is designed for families who want a little more space. 

You can read more about the different rooms here. In the rest of this review of the Hotel Montera Madrid – Curio Collection by Hilton I will discuss the ‘King Esperanza Room’. 

The room: King Esperanza Room

Our room was on the 8th floor. Because the hotel is not that big, you can reach the room from the stairs or elevator in no time. We opened the door of the room with the room key card, but it is also possible to create a digital room card via the Hilton app.

When you enter the room, there is a small hallway. Then you walk straight through to a separate toilet. The layout of the room is a bit unusual, because when you walk through to the bedroom, you first pass through the bathroom.

In the bedroom we were greeted by a gigantic king-size bed with a luxurious headboard. The mattress was a bit soft for me, but I still slept fine.

The soft pillows and luxurious duvet cover were of very good quality. The blankets are a bit warm, but fortunately the air conditioning more than compensates for that.

On either side of the bed is a bedside table with a table lamp. The headboard of the bed also has reading lamps incorporated. There are sufficient power outlets in the wall by the bed.

The table lamp on the left side of the bed is a bit awkwardly placed because it gets in the way of using the power sockets. 

Opposite the bed is a large 55 inch TV mounted on the wall. In addition to international TV channels, it also provides information about the hotel and the surrounding area.

Next to the TV is a piece of furniture with the minibar. On this is also the kettle and Nespresso coffee machine.

There is a sofa with a round table by the window.

The bathroom 

As I mentioned before, the bathroom is directly accessible from the hallway. When you enter, you walk straight through to the toilet, which can be closed off with a door. For a five-star hotel, I thought the toilet paper looked a bit cheap.

The rest of the bathroom is located in the hallway that gives access to the bedroom.

The bathroom is stylishly designed with a large bath, spacious washbasins with large mirrors and a marble shower cabin with a rain shower. In terms of amenities, there are more than enough luxurious towels.

As well as hand soap and body lotion at the washbasin, you will also find a box with care products such as a toothbrush, ear sticks and a razor with shaving foam. At the bath and in the shower you will also find shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

Breakfast at La Braserí restaurant

Hotel Montera Madrid serves breakfast in the La Braserí restaurant on the 9th floor. Breakfast is available daily from 6:30 to 11:00. The cost is €34 per person – definitely on the high side. For this you can order from the menu or use the buffet. Fortunately, as a Hilton Honors Gold member I benefit from free breakfast.

Upon entering the restaurant we were guided to a table. This time on the terrace in the Spanish morning sun – a lovely way to start the day.

We ordered the Benedict Cor Montera and The Beet Sandwich. Both dishes tasted very good. The Eggs Benedict with salmon were wonderfully soft and the sauce was not too overpowering. And the beet sandwich did not disappoint, partly due to the spicy blue cheese and rocket. 

As if that wasn’t enough, we also had a look at the breakfast buffet. The buffet is neatly presented around the chic bar. It is not massive, but there was quite a lot to choose from. Items included homemade granola with nuts, fresh fruit and yoghurt or milk. Various types of (Spanish) bread and pastries were avaialble too, as well as a range of Spanish meats and cheeses.  

As for drinks, the buffet offers a choice of various types of fresh fruit juice, milk and spring water (also carbonated). It is also possible to order tea and coffee at your table. 

Dinner at La Braserí restaurant

On the day of arrival we enjoyed a delicious dinner, also at restaurant La Braserí. The style of La Braserí follows the rest of the hotel with prints of Madrid symbols and Spanish history. 

We enjoyed an excellent Spanish meal, with a matching wine. The salad of Spanish tomato and tuna with basil pesto and finely chopped onion was absolutely delicious. The fried artichoke with sea salt is one of the tastiest I have ever eaten. The Spanish omelette was also very tasty. The main course with sea bass was relatively a bit disappointing, but perhaps that was due to comparison with the other high-quality dishes. The Spanish cheesecake for dessert made the dinner complete. 

The service in the restaurant was fine, but not special. It seemed a bit hesitant and they forgot a thing or two. Due to the sudden rain, many guests wanted to move from the terrace inside, and that seemed to be at the expense of the friendliness of the staff.

Hotel facilities

In this review of Hotel Montera Hotel Madrid I will of course also discuss the facilities. I have already mentioned the restaurant for breakfast and dinner.

On the 10th floor you will find the popular rooftop bar El Cielo de Chicote. You can reserve a table for the restaurant and the rooftop bar via the concierge desk next to the reception.

On the 10th floor there is also a swimming pool with sunbeds. I was a bit disappointed with this, as it is a small shallow pool.

Great to cool off on a hot summer day, or to read a book in the sun, but a swimming pool suggests something more to me. The swimming pool is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. 

What was also a disappointment was the fitness room on the first floor. Although it is open 24/7, the gym is very small in terms of surface area and has not much more to offer besides a treadmill and a home trainer for cycling. Moreover, it was very warm in the gym.

I therefore decided to go for a run in the green El Retiro park, which is about a kilometre from the hotel. 

If the pool or gym is not for you, the hotel offers the possibility of a massage in the room. This must be booked in advance at reception.

The hotel also offers WiFi for all guests and visitors. The WiFi is accessible by surname and room number. But it is also possible to connect via an access code. The WiFi connection is fast and stable. 

Finally, there is also a private airport transfer possible. The hotel offers various options to travel to or from the airport by luxury car. This costs €70- €100 one way, depending on the car.