Like its nearby rival, the Ritz, the Westin Palace Madrid Hotel was built by King Alfonso XIII (in advance of his marriage to Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) to entertain famous personalities and royalty. First opened in 1912, it is housed in a beautiful "Belle Époque" building and is known as the gran dueña of Spanish hotels. A grand marble entrance and swing doors lead onto the spacious lobby area, which is dominated by a stunning glass dome and is sumptuously appointed in the baroque style, with Italian murals, large palm trees and hand woven carpets. The 455 spacious, sound proofed guestrooms feature classical décor, complemented by moulded plaster accents, elegant wall coverings, mahogany furniture and the justly celebrated Westin Heavenly Bed. All are well equipped and exquisitely maintained, as are the en suite bathrooms with tub/shower combos. The hotel also boasts two restaurants: the Asia Gallery and La Rotonda. The former serves highly regarded Cantonese cuisine in an elegant and exotic space, where rich silk materials combine with Chinese style furniture to create an unbeatable dining experience. The latter, situated beneath the glass dome, is renowned for its grand lunch buffet, featuring such delicacies as pickled quail salad and grilled sea bass. There’s also a top-floor gym, which commands expansive views over central Madrid.