The Best Room at ... Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
Our column "The Best Room At" offers a glimpse inside some of the most charming, luxurious, and iconic properties around the world.
Madrid is a city where history lives side by side with the modern age. It’s apparent when you amble through the Buen Retiro, snack on tapas along the Plaza Mayor, or check into the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, which opened in 2020 on the city’s storied Calle de Sevilla.
The property—part of a complex that also includes residences and the newly opened dining and luxury retail destination Galeria Canalejas—is located in a former bank and insurance office that dates back to 1882 but has been carefully designed to accommodate the expectations of contemporary travelers as well as in-the-know Madrileños. Visitors can congregate in the spacious lobby bar, which boasts a KAWS sculpture and a stunning ceiling that changes colors throughout the day, or on the rooftop where chef Dani García’s eponymous restaurant is open for everything from breakfast (get the huevos rotos!) to late-night cocktails. In between, it’d be smart to visit the spa—the largest urban wellness center in Spain—or take a dip in the pool before your siesta.
Here, Adrian Messerli, Regional Vice President and General Manager, shares his thoughts on what makes the property among the city’s finest, which room he’d always pick to stay in, and how guests can make the most of their visit to Spain’s capital city.
What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?
Our Royal Suite is a complete disconnect with the rest of the design of the hotel. This bank was so important for Spain, the president of the bank almost ran the country from his office, so we’ve made that office the Royal Suite of the hotel. It’s been restored to how it might have looked in 1882, and is today the largest suite in town, perhaps even in Spain. However, the room I think I like the most is our Penthouse Suite. It’s so unique because it’s right beneath the Dani Rooftop [bar and restaurant,] and it has two terraces on each side of the room. It’s one bedroom and very residential, and from each balcony you see the Puerta del Sol clock tower. It’s something nobody else gets. One is the grandest, the other is where I think I feel most at home.
How much does it cost per night?
The Royal Suite begins at €25,000 per night. The Penthouse Suite begins at €6,800 per night.
How would you describe the guests and the vibe at the hotel?
Luxury is our love language, but we want it to be approachable. The design of the property brings in such sophistication, in part by preserving the history of the build. A lot of what was recovered in renovation has been put back in a meaningful way, like all the brass that was used when the building was a bank. There are guests who come in and remember our lobby as being the place where they opened a bank account, and we wanted to preserve that but also bring in that modernity. We’ve made the spaces vibrant places for people from all over our city and all over the world to come together. The architect for the project was Estudio Lamela, BAMO designed the public areas and rooms, Martin Brudnizki designed Dani, and our gastrobar Isa was designed by AvroKO.
What feeling about the city do you hope to impart to guests?
The city has always been world class when it comes to culture, food, and heritage. Today, we’re making Madrid a must-visit European destination, like London, Paris, or Milan. People have long been very knowledgeable about Barcelona and Marbella, but not everyone realized what an attractive destination Madrid is. We’re able to offer a kind of luxury hospitality that will attract those people. In the lobby, we also serve homemade vermouth out of the barrel, which is a local favorite.
What is one thing about the hotel that you think first time visitors will find surprising?
We really celebrate the character of Madrid. When people come in, we want them to feel at home. Especially in a place like Spain, which can be a little stiff, we want to be approachable and let guests be themselves. We’ve also been able to create a destination within a destination, having luxury shopping and a food hall with 15 restaurants available at Galeria Canalejas without leaving the building.
What’s a local attraction that you always recommend to guests?
The Prado Museum is always important to go see—it has the largest Goya collection in the world—as well as the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Reina Sofía Art Centre. The art here is spectacular. But more than anything, I love to go to restaurants. I made a goal to go to all 14 of the Centenario restaurants, which have been operating in their current concept for more than 100 years. It’s not always grand luxury, but you really learn about the culture of Madrid and can see how it was 100 years ago. Even if you don’t visit all of them, it’s something you need to experience.
You Might Also Like
