Founded in 1610 as a coaching inn beside the newly built Plaza Mayor, this is the oldest continuously documented hotel building in Spain — now a modern 4-star.
Posada del Peine ("Inn of the Comb") opened in 1610, during the reign of Philip III, as Plaza Mayor itself was being completed — travellers arriving by horse would find, unusually for the era, an actual comb chained up for guest use, which is where the name comes from. The inn operated for centuries, closed in 1970, and reopened in 2004 as part of the Petit Palace group, blending original 17th-century elements — wooden beams, brick walls, the historic facade clock — with modern boutique-hotel comforts.
About as central as Madrid gets: literally steps from Plaza Mayor, two minutes from Puerta del Sol, close to Mercado de San Miguel and the Palacio Real.
Travellers who want unbeatable, walk-everywhere positioning and a genuine slice of Madrid history, without paying five-star luxury prices — this sits in the 4-star, mid-range-plus category rather than the very top tier.
The hotel offers free bicycle rental and free buffet breakfast, and some rooms sleep up to four to six guests — worth checking if you're travelling as a family or small group.