Madrid has another heavyweight hotel on its hands. Nobu Madrid opened its doors in early September, becoming the brand's fifth Spanish property after San Sebastián, Barcelona, Marbella and Ibiza. Where San Sebastián is boutique and Barcelona is bright and airy, the Madrid outpost goes dark and moody — a hotel explicitly designed around the evening, right down to the DJ spinning in the downstairs cocktail bar by 8pm.
The timing is no accident. Madrid has been on a luxury hotel run in recent years: the Four Seasons opened during the pandemic, followed by the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Rosewood Villa Magna and the EDITION. The city is expected to account for 17 percent of Spain's new five-star hotel openings in 2026 alone, and Nobu wants a slice of that.
Location-wise, it's hard to beat. The hotel sits on Calle Alcalá between Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta del Sol, in the corridor of luxury that cuts across the east of the centre. The Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza — Madrid's famous Triangle of Art — are all less than a ten-minute walk away, as are Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor and the boutiques of Salamanca.
There are 50 rooms and suites, one of Nobu's largest Spanish properties, though compact corridors keep the feel boutique. The signature look is all Japanese minimalism: medium-toned woods, textured walls, deep green accents. Four suites occupy the top two floors, with the two-bedroom Nobu Suite at the top, complete with a terrace roughly the size of a standard room. Practicalities are covered — Nespresso machines, minibars stocked with Spanish wines, and 24-hour room service from the Nobu menu.
The restaurant spans three levels, linked by a sculptural light installation dubbed "the cocoon," with interiors by Studio Gronda. At the top you'll find an eight-seat sushi bar and open kitchen serving the greatest hits — black cod, crispy rice, signature tacos — plus dishes created just for Madrid. The Lobby Bar handles aperitivos, while the speakeasy-style Cocktail Bar below runs DJs Wednesday to Sunday with a hi-fi system and a vinyl collection. Up on the rooftop, cocktails and small plates come with one of the better views in the city.
Amenities include a gym, a small wellness centre with massage treatments, and an indoor pool — a slightly curious choice, given it's too small for laps and no help in Madrid's fierce summer. A sauna might have served the post-party crowd better. Still, the hotel seems built for guests who stay out late and need a soft landing the next morning.
For travellers, Nobu Madrid slots neatly into a city break that mixes world-class museums by day with the Spanish capital's famously late nights. Book it for the food and atmosphere rather than the pool, and ask for a room on an upper floor to escape the noise of the bars below.
