Madrid Mi Amor: A Summer Getaway in Plaza Mayor

Madrid made the perfect choice for a long weekend summer escape—vibrant, full of culture, and buzzing with energy. We based ourselves right in the heart of the city at the Pestana Plaza Mayor Boutique Hotel, and it couldn’t have been more ideal. Tucked inside the historic Plaza Mayor, the hotel offers a unique blend of location and tranquility. While the square outside is always alive with music, chatter, and color, the moment you step into the inner courtyard—home to a charming restaurant—it feels like a peaceful retreat. The rooms are beautifully designed and fully soundproof, offering a quiet haven after a day of exploring. One of the highlights was the Roman-inspired spa, a hidden gem within the hotel perfect for unwinding. The small outdoor swimming pool overlooking Madrid’s rooftops was a nice touch too. Just a short stroll away is the Mercado de San Miguel, where we indulged in delicious tapas and soaked up the authentic flavors of Madrid. I really enjoyed having breakfast every morning in the open air of the courtyard, something I find rare with small boutique hotels. There were also little seating areas around the reception area where we could relax before our room was ready or after checkout. All in all, if I ever come back to Madrid, this is the hotel I would choose again!

Accommodation Tip: We stayed at the Plaza Mayor Superior room with a balcony facing the historical square and it was magical! As mentioned, while the square is quite busy during morning and night, the rooms were completely soundproof. This made it perfect to either choose to blend with the action or have a quiet room stay and enjoy the view. The Spa and pool are open to hotel residents within specific hours free of charge.

Excursion Tip: To start with you really do not need to get too far from the hotel as the little streets surrounding the Plaza Mayor Square are filled with cafes, restaurants and little boutique shops worth a couple of hours of strolling. We really loved the Mercado de San Miguel, a historical 100-year-old market located just a few meters from the hotel. I will not recommend what to eat as it was EYE CANDY. I wanted to eat half the place. Another recommended spot was the “Museo Nacional del Prado”, a famous art museum. The true tip here is to take a guided tour with an art expert. It is a whole different experience getting an in-depth view and understanding of the art than just strolling on your own.

As a day trip out of Madrid, we decided to venture out to the ancient city of Toledo. It’s about a 1-hour ride from Madrid and while there is public transport we opt for a private transfer and guide in the beautiful walled city. Toledo is known for the medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments in its old city and while we did not luck out with the weather (a horrifying heat wave) we could find shelter in the secluded allies and beautiful religious structures around. I can totally understand why the city is sometimes called the “Jerusalem of Spain”.

Culinary Tip: Many cities offer food tours to get a closer taste into the local cuisine. We registered to a 3 hour  “Tapas tour with tastings and drinks” in the evening time. This not only covered dinner for us, but was so much fun tasting local delicacies and well getting a good buzz from all the different types of Sangria!