A little piece of Brooklyn in Madrid, the only You Atocha fuses both cities’ hipster vibes, creating a unique property. the building itself sets the scene perfectly, once an 1800s apartment block, today providing the warehouse-esque, industrial scale needed to deliver an exciting urban escape. this is further amplified by Lázaro Rosa Violán’s theatrical interior design – exposed brick, concrete and pipes are juxtaposed with bold, statement, contemporary, stage-set décor, bringing to life the spirit of what it means to be a 21st-century traveller.
The hotel is paradoxically a ‘large boutique property’; with over 200 rooms it really shouldn’t qualify as a boutique, but everything was executed as if it were. The hotel’s staff is dedicated to attentive, yet unfussy service and the attitude is casual, but never short of impressive. Entering our room was like coming home to a city apartment, a contemporary space bathed in natural light, with wood floors, leather furnishings, balcony views of Atocha station and a soundtrack of city traffic.
Breakfast is somewhat of a treat, served at the YoUniverse restaurant at penthouse level, with a terrace offering wonderful vistas of Madrid. If you’re not a morning person, their lazy Sunday brunch, served in the same space, is also spectacular, featuring an Italian influenced buffet.
The brand also has a playful side, with a calendar of curated experiences for guests throughout the year, from masquerade cocktail parties, to urban picnics and art tours. For Madrid Pride, the hotel goes all out to celebrate with parties and themed brunches. The added bonus? The hotel is part of Preferred Hotels and Resorts, the collection of upscale, gay-welcoming properties across the world.
