The Best Room at ... Santo Mauro, Madrid

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A couple of months ago, Madrid, the crackling capital of Spain, was even busier than usual. President Biden was in town on an official state visit during which he met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the local royals, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Elsewhere, the actor Diego Luna was performing in a one-man show called "Every Time We Say Goodbye Better" that recalled the early work of his Y Tu Mama Tambien director Alfonso Cuarón and the artists Tom Jones and Wilco were performing at the annual public performances of the Real Jardín Botánico. At The Prado, a major exhibit on the unheralded Goya contemporary Paret had opened and a career retrospective of the work of the American Alex Katz was on view at the Thyssen Museum (through September; Paret closes Aug. 12). In the middle of all this hubbub, a new hotel of royal provenance was getting its sea legs in the tony neighborhood of Chamberí, not too far away from the American embassy once led by James Costos (husband to interior designer Michael Smith) and now in the hands of Julissa Reynoso. Here, Philipp Weghmann, vice president and global brand leader of Marriott's The Luxury Collection, tells us about the newest addition to the family.

Tell me about the signature suite at Santo Mauro. What makes it special?

Santo Mauro is housed in the former residence of the Duke of Santo Mauro. Located in the main palace, guests can check into the duke’s Royal Suite, which once served as the original duke’s bedroom. The walls are covered in a green velvet and the space features bold florals as well as the original lighting fixtures, which hang from the high ceilings. Designed by Lorenzo Castillo, the suite features two king bedrooms, a separate living room, and marbled bathroom. The room also boasts an incredible garden view overlooking the terrace below. Staying there feels like you are tucked away in your own special corner in the heart of Madrid.

What is the starting rate for the suite, and what kind of guest packages can you build around it?

The starting rate for the Duke’s Royal Suite is 4,500 euros, plus tax. Guests can work closely with the concierge team to set up private experiences both on-site and at some of Madrid’s most famous cultural attractions. The hotel can even arrange for a private carving experience with Cinco Jotas to discover the gastronomic pleasure of the world’s finest Ibérico ham.

Even if this suite is the best at the hotel, it's a fairly small property with only 49 rooms. Tell me what distinguishes each of them.

One of the most unexpected parts of this hotel is that no two rooms are exactly alike–from the interior design to its layout. Entering one room you may find bold green patterned wall-coverings and a matching headboard while just next door you might be met with a brush blue with a dramatic canopy bed or a more subtle plaid with velvet green curtains. Not only does this enhance the feeling that you are a house guest of the Duke’s, but it allows for a sense of surprise and delight at when you turn the key and unlock your stay.

What is one feature of the hotel that you think first time visitors will find surprising?

Castillo ensured this next chapter of the building’s journey honored its Spanish heritage through décor that reflects the hotel’s remarkable history and location in the heart of Madrid. I think guests will be struck by the opulent design details and masterful layering of patterns and textures. The lobby boasts a dramatic staircase and I always find guests peaking over the hallway balconies down to the floors below. Plus, Santo Mauro is also the only hotel in Madrid to have a soundtrack composer. The property worked with Goya Award-winner Lucas Vidal [best-known for his collaboration with the Spanish auteur Isabel Coixet] as its in-house musical director.

Are there any special experiences guests should ask her for when they arrive?

The hotel’s Casilda cocktail is not to be missed! Served daily in the hotel’s Gresca Wine Bar, the cocktail is named for the Duchess of Santo Mauro and is made with vodka, Campari and a chestnut syrup made from the hotel’s century-old chestnut trees, still found in the garden. They were a favorite of the duchess and thus the inspiration for the cocktail was born.

Santo Mauro is the former home of the Duke of Santo Mauro. Tell me a little bit about the property’s history.

With its French-influenced design and architecture, the hotel is made up of three buildings set in the most sophisticated private garden in Madrid, with fountains and terraces shaded by ancient chestnut trees. Many of the public spaces pay homage to the building’s past. For instance, the Red Room reflects pure French Classicism. The main restaurant, housed in the duke's former Library, features walls filled with books from his original collection. The building has had many lives, even briefly serving as the Canadian embassy before ultimately being transformed into a hotel.

What makes the neighborhood nearby so special?

The traditionally aristocratic district of Chamberí is set away from the more bustling parts of the city while remaining very central. The more residential feel to the neighborhood allows guests to feel like they are stepping out from their own palace as they walk the quiet neighboring streets. Chamberí has some of the city’s most exceptional architecture and is home to great tapas restaurants and traditional, small shops where you often find more locals than tourists.

What sights, shops, and restaurants near Santo Mauro should visitors check out this year?

Be sure to visit the Sorolla Museum, take in a flamenco show at the Teatros del Canal, and stop in to the Andén 0 Metro Station, an exhibition space in a restored tube station. A morning walk down through Parque de El Retiro is always a perfect way to start the day in Madrid.

What’s in store for 2022 and 2023. I hear a spa and gym are on the way.

The final phase of the hotel’s renovation will include additional guest rooms as well as a spa and gym on the lower level of the main palace. The hotel also recently opened is outdoor terrace and garden for dining.

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