Lonely Planet Review
Everything here oozes exclusivity, from the address - an elite patches of Madrid real estate - to the mansion that is the finest in a barrio of many. The Santo Mauro fills three buildings of a former palace (one part of the hotel is a converted stable) and offers discreet elegance and warm service that makes guests feel they're staying in a private home.
Rooms are suitably lavish, but what really sets this hotel apart are its perks, like the beautiful Arabian-style indoor pool. The hotel's tiny restaurant is housed in the former palace library, and shelves full of books stretch to the ceiling around the diners. David Beckham may be derided for many things, but the fact that he chose to make this his home while searching for a house after his move to Real Madrid certainly suggests a high degree of taste. We too were seriously tempted to move in when the delightful staff told us, 'is your house'. Sigh. The renovations which were carried out in 2005 only made this legendary hotel even better than it already was.
Review by author
Anthony Ham