Review of De Las Letras Hotel & Restaurant, by Jo Hathaway

The De Las Letras is a cool, calm, design boutique hotel in a listed building that takes its proud architectural place on the Gran Via, in Madrid's the old literary quarter. Perfectly placed for the art triangle of the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia museums, it is also a minute's walk from some of the best shopping that Madrid has to offer. From the pillow menu in your room to the Japanese snacks on the rooftop terrace, boutique hotel De Las Letras offers comfort, class and modern Spanish chic.

De Las Letras has many facets and just about everything you could need or 'fancy' in a boutique hotel - whether you're using it as your base for exploring the area and its shops, tapas bars and museums, or don't feel like leaving the building.

The restaurant on the ground floor will keep you happy all day - from the huge and very high-quality breakfast buffet (extra, but worth every cent) to the afternoon teas and newspapers and on into the evening. For dinner, the restaurant serves excellent Japanese and Spanish dishes, and has a cool, airy jazz-club feel that blends into its later-night DJs.

If you want to start your evening at the top, try sipping a cocktail or two on the roof terrace, looking out across Madrid's clattering classical skyline from the bar there, and immerse yourself in a little laidback Spanish glamour as you sit and nibble on sushi with the eclectic mixture of residents and non-residents, sat at glass tables and on soft white sofas. On a hot night, the cool water mist that sprays from the walls will relieve even the most bothered, hot tourist.

Between the two you can find a peaceful library with free Internet access, and various sizes and styles of meeting rooms for business purposes.

In the basement of the hotel, the spa is a twinkling-tiled subterranean treat, and - though there's no swimming pool - a great spa pool, steam room, sauna and waterfall showers will keep you relaxed and contented. If you are staying in one of this boutique hotel's superior rooms, access to the spa is included in the price.

The boutique hotel has 103 rooms which are spacious and clean-lined and span six floors. The rooms with balconies overlook the hustle and bustle of Gran Via but once the floor-to-high-ceiling moulded windows are closed and your linen curtains are billowing over them, you will find your bed a quiet retreat.