Recently completed a 2 night stay here and was pretty dissapointed. Admittedly it was during a very busy time in town (every 5 star or even upscale hotel booked up a week in advance) but I experienced so many service issues that this was probably my worst hotel stay in 2025 so far.

First the positives - I really liked the decor throughout and the atmosphere of the public spaces - intimate but grand at the same time. It's the type of design I would appreciate in my own home so that was a good start. Check in was polite and efficient, but due to full occupancy booked and received a City View King as a Globalist on a Prive rate (~500 eur a night). Room was compact but well designed and facing the Plaza - only missing a proper work desk but impossible to acomodate given the size. But high quality materials, bedding, etc. throughout.

But things started going downhill from there:

Terrible water pressure in the shower (overhead and handheld) and dirty drain smell. The handheld was fixed promptly, but the overhead wasn't despite multiple requests.

Rooftop bar - went up there for a drink on the first evening and it was staffed by one bartender working at a snails pace with about 20+ guests. Absolutely impossible to get a drink so I left and went downstairs to grab a quick dinner.

Restaurant dinner - absolutely one of the worst meals I've had in Spain. I had to use up my hotel credit but in retrospect wouldn't come back even if it was free. Boring uninspired menu, indifferent service, poorly carved jamon, overcooked fish served by itself with no sides on the menu, etc.

Restaurant breakfast - absolute chaos on both mornings with insufficient seating for guests - plenty of people standing around waiting for tables. Eventually I figured out (on my own) that the lobby was being used as an overflow area and ordered there. Food itself was fine - basically an antipasto platter, fruit bowl, and eggs to order. Service was ok, not rude but not at all attentive.

Lobby bar - was closed at 11 pm on night 2, midweek. I couldn't believe it, this is Madrid?

Location - On Plaza Carmen a nice square in a busy part of town and probably well located for tourists. However, main entrance has no direct vehicular access which I found strange given the hotel does have a door on the street side which is blocked off. (To be fair - the very good bell staff are aware of the situation and do watch the corner with hawk eyes and immediately run up when guest vehicles approach). Personally, I'd rather be in Salamanca, but had no choice given the availability situation.

Conclusion - hard product has potential, but let down by mismanagement and understaffing. Moral of the story - book further in advance at the Villa Magna.