Our History
Inaugurated on October 1st, 1861 under the reign of Queen Isabella II, La Fonda de los Príncipes was one of the first and most luxurious accommodations at Puerta del Sol.
La Fonda de los Príncipes marked a milestone as the first grand hotel inaugurated at Puerta del Sol after the major urban reform that transformed the square into the nerve centre of Madrid.
Our building, Puerta del Sol 11, was purpose-built to be a luxury hotel. La Fonda de los Príncipes offered never-before-seen luxuries in Madrid: an elevator, central heating, bathrooms on every floor, and a first-class restaurant.
Sadly, all the historic accommodations in the square have disappeared except for two: La Fonda de los Príncipes and the former Gran Hotel de París. La Fonda is the only one that has provided accommodation continuously for over 160 years.
What also has not changed is what made La Fonda de los Príncipes famous: its balconies with the best views of Puerta del Sol. Henry Blackburn described in 1866 his afternoons observing the lively square.
The name changed over time — from hotel to Gran Hotel de la Paix, then Gran Hotel Americano, then Pensión Americana (where Jorge Luis Borges stayed), and finally Hostal Americano.
In 2024, the hostal changed hands to recover its glorious past. After more than 18 months of renovations, on January 5th, 2026, La Fonda de los Príncipes was reborn, honouring its original name.
Welcome to La Fonda de los Príncipes, the only accommodation that has survived at Puerta del Sol for over 160 years.
"Entirely refurnished, with its four facades and 120 balconies overlooking the street, with its exceptional location at the most central point of Madrid, it offers travellers all the conditions of comfort and luxury they could desire."
— Biblioteca Nacional de España, July 1876
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