Four Seasons Madrid Serves Luxury, Culture And Culinary Innovation

As travelers flow through the streets of Europe this summer, one question worth asking is: what are they looking for? Presumably, the inspiration and stimulation enticing New World people to the Old World for two centuries spur their travels today: art, culture, food, philosophy, fashion, architecture, and other links to history eternally unreachable back home. While Europe’s great capitals all make a case for meeting this pinnacle pursuit of Maslow’s hierarchy, Madrid’s distinct synergy of deep regional identity with international standards of hospitality and culinary prowess makes it a compelling destination right now. Serving as a microcosm of this synergy—a city in hotel form—stands the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid.

History, Art & Renovation

In 2020, the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid debuted on Calle de Sevilla in the heart of downtown. The hotel is part of a larger complex of seven buildings stitched together to include residences and the Galeria Canalejas, a fine dining and luxury retail destination.

Despite its proximity to the central square of Puerta del Sol, the property’s most iconic building, identified by its dramatic rotunda, stood empty for years. The grand structure, dating to 1887, served as the Spanish headquarters for El Palacio de la Equitativa, or the Spanish headquarters of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. In May 1922, Banco Español de Crédito, better known as Banesto, moved in, after renovating the building to suit the business of banking with details like marble columns that now form part of the hotel lobby. The building served as Banesto’s headquarters until 2004 when Banco Santander purchased the former and vacated the building.

In 2012, city leaders declared the abandoned structure a cultural heritage monument and sold it for development into a luxury hotel. Construction began in 2013 and cost €530 million and seven years of labor to open, partly due to the meticulous renovation of the original façade by Madrid-based architects Estudio Lamela. Today, the space has been reimagined to cater to modern travelers and savvy Madrileños without diminishing its historical essence, a feat that’s evident upon arrival.

I stayed at the property in late July, immediately smitten with the hotel after entering the dramatic double-height lobby. Abuzz with guests sipping cocktails, the bar stayed busy at all hours of the day, testament to the sumptuous room’s inviting atmosphere. A bold contemporary sculpture by American artist KAWS provided a focal point while underscoring the hotel’s commitment to the arts, notably in a city filled with masterpieces. I would later discover that the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid houses a major collection of Spanish artworks, showcasing nearly 1,500 paintings, graphic works, photographs and sculptures. In complement to the larger-than-life-size KAWS characters, the stained-glass ceiling created by Spanish artists Maumejean, caught my attention as it underwent mesmerizing chromatic shifts throughout the day.

In fact, prior to gutting the buildings, renovation teams removed over 16,000 artifacts for painstaking restoration, many of those pieces reincorporated into the hotel. Items include marble columns and pillars, railings on staircases, wooden doors, fireplaces, and antique door handles. Though a variety of design teams were employed throughout the project, efforts coalesced into a seamless vision.

Blending modern and historical components, the public spaces are imbued with an elegant color scheme, featuring rich copper tones, deep graphite blue, and iridescent whites. I detected the subtle reference to Spanish haute couture through colors like olive green, saffron, and shades of gold.

Accommodation

After check-in, staff escorted me to a spacious Deluxe Sevilla, a category with room sizes ranging from 45–50 m2 (484–538 square feet.) Hotel accommodation spans 200 well-appointed rooms replete with solid walnut floors, marble and chrome finishes, and plenty of mirrors.

Room categories include Deluxe Rooms, Premier Rooms, Grand Premier Rooms, and a selection of suites. The Deluxe Rooms, averaging 430 square feet, offer a calm aesthetic with plush furnishings and contemporary decor. Premier Rooms size up to around 484 square feet. Grand Premier Rooms, hitting closer to 540 square feet, feature ample living areas that give guests the experience of pied-a-terre in the city.

Guests with bigger budgets should consider the suites, some of the largest in Madrid. Categories include the Junior Suite, One-Bedroom Suite, and the Royal Suite, a palatial apartment of 4305 square feet. The suites offer expansive living spaces, elegant bedroom quarters, and lavish marble-clad bathrooms, embodying the epitome of refinement.

Food & Beverage

Though Madrid’s restaurant scene has never been better, guests should leave a night open to drink and dine at the Four Seasons Madrid.

Start with sips in the lobby bar, then graduate to the creative libations at Isa. This sophisticated cocktail spot on the second floor up the grand staircase reads like the lovechild of a Japanese izakaya and bordello with its manga-inspired menu and sushi bar service blended with velvet upholstered chairs and mood lighting. The current concept lays the menu out in four episodes where the central chapter, Himiko Lab, lists the most experimental creations such as Yogurt, a cocktail based on Roku gin, lacto-fermented strawberry, re-distilled lemon thyme and coconut water.

El Patio, an all-day dining venue, serves an array of Mediterranean and international dishes. Its spacious and airy atmosphere is perfect for casual meals or business lunches.

The hotel’s signature dining experience, however, is Dani, helmed by acclaimed Spanish chef Dani García.

Located on the seventh floor, this prestigious yet informal roof top brasserie boasts indulgent views over some of the city’s key landmarks. Its lively atmosphere, brilliant service and eclectic high-end menu give the hotel a genuine asset in the luxury dining space.

An elegant but decisively colonially inspired terrace created by iconic Swedish design studio Martin Brudnizki provides plenty of color before giving way to outdoor views that enchant.

Dani García is a legend in the Spanish restaurant world. Hailing from Andalusia, his restaurant Smoked Room, in Madrid, debuted in the Michelin Guide with two stars, a recognition that no other restaurant had achieved since 1936. He has since developed his business empire to include venues all over the world.

The brasserie menu offers a range of seasonal ideas but compliments them with a roundup of the dishes that have defined García’s career. Whether oxtail ravioli or crochet hake, there are plenty of intriguing insights into the plates that have solidified his reputation as one of fine dining stars of Spain. No visit to the brasserie would be complete without tasting the legendary nitro tomato with green gazpacho and shrimp tartare.

The wine list brings together some of Spain’s most exciting producers and partners them with a broad international selection. The knowledgeable sommelier on hand, which was Diego Carballido the night I dined, guides guests through a comprehensive selection, with no shortage of choice on the Champagne and Sherry front.

During my visit, we started with a welcoming glass of fizz to sunset cityscape views. Naturally, the occasion called for half a dozen oysters with selections from the ‘raw bar’ to follow. Red tuna ‘descargamento’, a signature dish from 2015 made of crayfish and prawn noisette tartar was a hit, alongside the Gazpacho (dried tomato, green bell pepper, baby shrimp tartar), Dani’s 2007 triumph and a dish that continues to be one of his strongest career references. To finish, cuttlefish with shiso and Iberian ham juice and a beautifully marbled Wagyu Kagoshima, both delivering a deliciously intense finale. Carballido expertly matched wines by the glass throughout the night.

Amenities

The Four Seasons Madrid offers numerous amenities, most notably its spa. The services featured include traditional Spanish and international therapies from body wraps, facials to massages. Fitness enthusiasts, or those who’ve overindulged in gastronomic pleasures, can make use of the state-of-the-art fitness center. The property houses one of the best hotel gyms I’ve seen, and the indoor pool set within a glass atrium, begs for a dip post-workout.

The Four Seasons Madrid provides a selection of meeting and event spaces for business travelers. These elegantly appointed venues are equipped with audiovisual technology and can accommodate various types of gatherings, from intimate board meetings to grand social events.

Location

The Four Seasons Madrid’s convenient location puts guests steps away from numerous attractions. The Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, and Retiro Park are all within walking distance. In short, Four Seasons Madrid provides the perfect base for travelers on a quest for culture, gastronomy, art, architecture in the ultimate pursuit of self-actualization.

Four Seasons Madrid, C. de Sevilla, 3, 28014

To experience Along The Way and the art collection at Four Seasons in depth, the concierge team can arrange a personalised tour, explaining how these unique treasures capture the personality of today’s Madrid. For more information, contact 910 88 33 33 or email madrid@fourseasons.com.