Gran Melia Fenix is grand and luxurious, with a fab central location off Plaza de Colón. Expect traditional decor and deferential service as standard, but choose the 'Royal Service' floor for a more intimate boutique hotel-style stay. It has express check in, a private lounge and a calm, adults-only environment.

The facilities

Dine on Spanish cuisine in fine surroundings at the Epoque by Gran Melia restaurant and the Cafe del Fenix all year round. In summer, the Terraza del Fenix is open for drinking and snacking. Epoque is great for sampling the best of traditional Spain, while the Cafe del Fenix lets you snack to the sound of live piano music.

Alquimia Specialist wellness centre offers massages and sauna treatments, as well as exercise machines for gym bunnies. Business folk make use of the four meeting rooms with top-class AV equipment and free Wi-Fi.

The rooms

214 guestrooms all have grand decor: think stripey wallpaper, ornate headboards and swag curtains galore. Bang & Olufsen TVs bring things up to date, though, as well as high-speed internet access and CD players. Etro toiletries and pillow menus will satisfy discerning tastes.