Picture its elegant white facade. The ME Madrid Reina Victoria stands before you a testament to Madrid’s rich history. This isn’t just a hotel. It’s a storybook.
Originally the site housed the palace of the Counts of Montijo and Teba a gathering place for Madrid’s elite. Built around 1811 by architect Silvestre Pérez it buzzed with high society. Later it became home to the Military Casino. But in 1919 the palace was demolished. In its place arose the Edificio Simeón a project by architect Jesús Carrasco-Muñoz y Encina.
The building a blend of eclectic and modernist styles opened as Almacenes Simeón a popular department store. It was a marvel of its time using iron and reinforced concrete. The design took inspiration from Antonio Palacios’ work on other grand Madrid department stores. Administrative delays stretched the construction from 1919 to 1923. For seven decades it served as both a store and a lodging house.
Did you know it was nicknamed the “Hotel of the Bullfighters”? During the San Isidro fair matadors would get ready in its rooms before their performances at Las Ventas. Legend says Manolete himself favored room 220. After the store closed in 1986 the lower floors transformed into a hotel. In 2006 it reopened as the ME Madrid Reina Victoria under a new brand.
Marvel at its glazed balconies and the immense pinnacle a medieval-inspired turret. Those large windows overlooking the plazas were once the department store’s display windows. The building centers around a covered octagonal courtyard. Today the hotel is a luxurious retreat. It even boasts the highest terrace bar in the city. Step inside and let the elegant interiors transport you to a time of grandeur and glamour. The legacy of the ME Madrid Reina Victoria is unforgettable.