Just a decade ago, a cosmopolitan friend lamented that Madrid lacked an outstanding luxury hotel. She had complaints about all the big-name contenders. In the years since, though, much has changed. The 153-room Ritz got a shot in the arm from its new owner, Mandarin Oriental; Four Seasons opened a 200-room property after seven years of construction; and other palace hotels like the 76-room Principal and 78-room Urso have earned high ratings from us.

But of course, I’m always in search of hideaways. When our flight schedule required us to spend a night in the Spanish capital following our Morocco trip, I had the Travel Office book us the intimate 46-room Heritage Madrid Hotel, set in a Belle Epoque building on the northern fringe of the city’s most fashionable barrio, Salamanca.

A bellman was quick to take our bags and lead us to the gem of a lobby, where check-in was prompt and considerate. Before long, we were ensconced in our seventh-floor corner Junior Suite.The room’s modern décor, by renowned designer Lorenzo Castillo, wowed us from the start. Bold chevron patterns on the bed and floor, along with geometric wallpaper in an unusual color scheme of ambers, grays and greens, played well with the rich marquetry of Louis XVI-style antiques. The deft use of mirrors expanded the sense of space, and two sets of French doors opened to a Juliet balcony and a separate terrace. Unfortunately, the galley-style bath, with double sinks on one side and a tub on the other, was an extension of the bedroom and lacked a door for privacy. Though the Junior Suite was small and above a busy thoroughfare, it was quiet and provided a peaceful night’s sleep — exactly what we needed between days of air travel.