Just back from a short break in Madrid with 7 lads on a stag.

The emperador is located on Gran Via which is one of the busiest streets in Madrid, Its a 10 storey Hotel with a beautiful rooftop pool. We had 4 rooms for two nights and were lucky with the fact that our rooms were all on the ninth floor and were facing the rear of the building. Traffic on the Gran Via is busy 24 hours a day, so try and get a room at the rear if you want to get some sleep.

The rooms in the hotel are old fashioned, but they still have a lovely feel to it. In its day i'd say it was a pretty impressive hotel. Don't expect a iron in the room (we had to pay 12 euro to get a single shirt pressed there). All the rooms have a digital safe, and i think you have to pay to use them (you need to get a key from reception before you can enter your own code in to it). You also get a tv and mini bar.

Foodwise, it was pretty disappointing, there was only two cereals out for the breakfast buffet, the bacon, sausages and scrambled egg looked like they had been cooked in the last century and the coffee/tea machine is a pain in the --- to use. Its much easier to have a sleep in and go out and get something to eat on the gran via. They have a barbecue every day at the rooftop pool and that too was dissapointing, the meat tasted like rubber and even then 3 of us had to send it back to be cooked properly.

Drinkwise, theres a small bar in the lobby (5 euro for a local bottled beer) and theres also a rooftop bar (4 euro for a glass of draft local beer). Expensive when you consider the fact that most of the irish bars do a bucket of 6 bottles of Corona for 18 euro, and you can get a local beer in a tapas bar for 1.25.

All in all, the only thing that really stands out for this hotel is its location and the swimming pool on the roof. Great to sit out on a hot sunny afternoon

We have just returned from this hotel - On arrival we were impressed - big, grand reception, friendly staff & great location. We were allocated a standard room on the 4th floor. It was a big, spacious, clean room but it was so old fashioned and dark - it had a chocolate brown bathroon suite with a tiny bath and the view was....well, a wall!! We asked to be moved but there was nothing except a Jnr Suite available which we upgraded to at considerable cost. We considered it to be well worth it, the suite was fantastic with great views onto the Gran Via, a huge bed & bath etc,etc!! The breakfast was excellent - absolutely no complaints (something for everyone). The swimming pool and sunbathing terrace are what makes this hotel special and the best place to stay in Madrid, plenty of sunbeds, a snack bar, a big pool with a lifeguard on duty at all times. After a morning sightseeing/shopping its absolutely great to go back and chill out - I felt it provided the best of both worlds! If we were to go back to Madrid I would definately return to this hotel. However, I dont think I'd be enthusing quite so much if I had stayed in the standard room.

My best friend and I stayed here for a short weekend break and we were so impressed with the hotel and i can't believe the bad reviews
Its lovely - has an atrium running through it and they've really made best use of the space.
Reception was very friendly and helpful - some could do with smiling more! the main hotel manager was so sweet. You can even help yourself to a glass of cava and water when you go past!
The rooms were just perfect - quite small bed area but you only need to sleep! We had a lovely balcony overlooking Gran Via which was great.
Best bits - the free mini bar (all soft drinks and beer) - what a complete result!! never had that before.! AND the reclining beds - could not believe this fab addition - we couldn't stop gloating in our excitement for ages !!!
Breakfast was really great- lots of cold meats, cheeses, fruit, pastries galore and you could have eggs if you wished. And even a glass of Cava again! Only small gripe was not having any juicy tomatoes!!
re: Madrid -the location is just perfect to walk to the main city areas - and Gran Via is the main shopping area - we were quite disappointed with shopping but still managed to spend!!
Go to Cheuca - which is a small walk from hotel - its the gay scene but has the coolest bars and restaurants
Madrid great for a weekend break - there's no pressure to sightseeing if you just want to relax and tour buses are best way to get around. Food and drink - you can't fault and really really reasonable prices.
Metro is also very cheap - 1 euro to get to airport!!!
Go to Retiro Park too - beautiful on a Sunday. Beware that a lot of store shut on Sundays.
Also if your spanish is non existence take a translation book - most people don't or chose not to speak English!!
Would definitely go back to hotel and Madrid again
Suki

We stayed at this hotel for four nights. The location is good, right in the middle of the City Center. Our room on the first floor was above the Kitchen. There was constant noise all night long. There was no view except piping and a dirty alley. The staff was pleasant. When we arrived there was no A/C in the room. The staff agreed to move us to the 3rd. Floor, but there was no hot water. We moved back to the 1st Floor and there was no hot water there either. The engineer came to the room and told us that we had to run the water for 10-20 minutes and it would become hot, which it did. There was a sticker on the wall telling us to conserve water. The rooms are spacious but the furniture is old and the wall paper on the walls is peeling off. Frankly, this was probably the worst hotel that we have stayed at in Europe.