Madrid has quietly stepped out of Paris and London's shadow. With over 30 five-star hotels, more than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants and a UNESCO-listed boulevard, the Spanish capital is pitching itself as continental Europe's most exciting high-end short break — and it's only about two and a half hours' flight from London, with far better weather.

Where to stay depends on your flavour of luxury. The InterContinental Madrid on Paseo de la Castellana has hosted Hollywood stars and heads of state for over 70 years; the Ava Gardner Suite is a 97-square-metre space with the private terrace where the actress once held late-night parties. The Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Spain's first grand luxury hotel when it opened in 1910, was restored by French designers Gilles & Boissier and now glows under the glass dome of its Palm Court. The Four Seasons merges seven historic buildings and boasts the city's largest spa — four storeys, including a diamond-dust-and-damask-rose massage — plus a rooftop with 360-degree views. The 1912 Palace Hotel, championed by King Alfonso XIII, sits steps from the Prado in the Golden Triangle of Art.

The real luxury, though, is access. Hotel concierges can arrange out-of-hours tours of the Prado at 8:30am or after 8pm, when you can stand in front of Velázquez's Las Meninas without the crowds. Similar private visits at the Thyssen-Bornemisza can even include the restricted restoration department. At Teatro Real, the Real VIP Experience gets you into the Royal Box, backstage through costume workshops, an aperitif of Laurent-Perrier overlooking the Royal Palace, and a private box for the show.

Then there's the eating. DiverXO, chef Dabiz Muñoz's three-Michelin-star restaurant, leads a starred scene that includes Dani García's 14-seat Smoked Room and the seafood temple Desde 1911. Curiously, landlocked Madrid is considered Spain's best fish market thanks to the Mercamadrid distribution network. But locals will tell you the better experience is el tapeo: bar-hopping for croquettes at Bodega de la Ardosa, huevos rotos at Casa Lucio, cod fritters at Casa Labra and gambas al ajillo at La Casa del Abuelo.

Round out the days with shopping — designer flagships at Galería Canalejas and the Salamanca district, plus heritage workshops under the city's 'Hecho en Madrid' seal, like Capas Seseña, making bespoke wool capes since 1901 — and an evening of authentic flamenco at Cardamomo or Torres Bermejas, where performers are inches away in vaulted brick cellars. Between it all, the city is surprisingly green: some 200 parks cover nearly a quarter of Madrid, including El Retiro and the plane-tree-lined Paseo del Prado.

Five days is enough to sample all of it, and the mix of grand hotels, private cultural access and old-school taverns makes Madrid a strong pick for travellers who want luxury without the queues.