We challenge you to find a prettier apartment overlooking the Royal Palace of Madrid. This place is a real showstopper, with twin Juliet balconies opening over Plaza de Oriente Gardens. Bold, bright and just downright beautiful, it's dripping in character thanks to ornate cornice, traditional shuttered windows and classical furnishing. A riot of elegant colours and patterns, it couldn't be further from modern minimalism if it tried. Once you've arrived and stared out of the window for long enough to take it all in, choose between the two pretty bedrooms – one decorated in calming greens, the other in vibrant terracotta. There's a grand, open-plan living space to keep everything sociable, and a kitchen with everything you'll need for cooking at home. But we suspect you'll be eating out much of the time – it would be rude not to when surrounded by some of the best cafes and restaurants in the city. And with most of the major attractions on your doorstep too, you'll have plenty to see and do. Home truths: *You'll be on the first floor but there's a lift *There's laptop-friendly workspace at the table *Its two Juliet balconies offer stunning views but they're not big enough to stand outside on *The host asks you to get in touch prior to your stay with details of your planned arrival time – if you're arriving outside of office times you'll need to go and collect the key