The Story of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

Following seven years of meticulous restoration and reconversion on a set of seven historically and architecturally valuable buildings, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid opened its doors in September 2020 to offer its guests a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the heart of the city and immerse themselves in its rich history and culture.

Located in the heart of the Spanish capital, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid offers a sophisticated accommodation service based on 200 rooms, 22 private residences, three restaurants each with a particular form of gastronomy, the largest wellness centre in the city, various function rooms and direct access to the most exclusive shopping destination in Madrid — Galería Canalejas — boasting a collection of the most well renowned international luxury brands.

Meanwhile, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is only a stone’s throw from one of the most iconic places in the city — Kilometre Zero —and many of the most popular attractions can be reached on foot from the Hotel, including Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Centre, the Puerta de Alcalá and the Plaza de Cibeles, among others.

The Project

The transformation of seven historic buildings between the streets of Carrera de San Jerónimo, Plaza de Canalejas, Calle de Sevilla and Calle de Alcalá is a project of unique importance for the city and was carefully undertaken to preserve the specific style of each one while giving them all a common identity.  The most iconic of these buildings is the one that was once known as the Palacio de La Equitativa. It was built in 1887 to house the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. The company wanted to set up a Spanish branch in the city of Madrid reminiscent of its iconic headquarters in Manhattan. The project was awarded to the Spanish architect José Grases Riera, one of the most prestigious in the city at the time. Subsequently, in 1920, the building became the new central headquarters for the Banco Español de Crédito and its interior was renovated to meet the business needs of a banking business. For a time, the building also housed the Casino de Madrid. Nowadays, this majestic building is the home of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid.

During the architectural transformation project, more than 16,000 pieces were removed, catalogued and restored. Many of them can now be found in the suites and common areas around the Hotel, such as the impressive green marble pillars with gold-plated capitals that decorate the lobby and the original stained glass window from the old bank.

The architects at Estudio Lamela in Madrid led the restoration project and incorporated more than 3,700 original features into the current infrastructure. The interiors are the result of some excellent work by a team of international designers that includes BAMO, BG Architecture, Martin Brudnizki, AvroKO and Luis Bustamante.

Guest Rooms

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid has 200 guest rooms, considered to be the most spacious in Madrid as they range from 45 to 400 square metres (485 to 4300 square feet). The elegant decoration includes walnut dressing rooms and wardrobes, bathrooms in white, grey and black marble, large windows and balconies or terraces with some outstanding views of city life in Madrid. The distinctive bar area to be found in each guest room boasts some black lacquering with copper decorations and mirrors for a touch of timeless luxury. Each guest room has two plaster cast pieces from the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

In an attempt to respect the original configuration of the buildings while perfectly combining them, the Hotel offers 16 different types of rooms and suites. These include double-height suites to offer highly dynamic spaces not often found in a hotel.

With a total of 400 square metres (4,300 square feet) and double-height ceilings, the Royal Suite offers the most spacious and luxurious accommodation at the Hotel. Its impressive living room was once the private office of the bank’s chairmen and board members at the start of the 20th century. Many of its original features have been preserved today, such as the fireplace, a large mirror in the living room, the wood flooring, the ceiling mouldings and the beautiful balconies. Combining history with the modern era, the Royal Suite now has a sculpted round bath and a wall of Calacatta Vagli Rosato and Onyx Viola marble.

Gastronomy

The renowned Spanish chef and holder of three Michelin stars, Dani García, presents Dani Brasserie; a vibrant and dynamic restaurant with a touch of sophistication where both guests and locals can rediscover the flavours of Andalusian cuisine while enjoying the incredible cityscape views from this space and its unbeatable setting — a rooftop terrace in the heart of Madrid by the acclaimed designer based in London and New York, Martin Brudnizki.

Isa Restaurant and Cocktail Bar an Asian-inspired venue with a street food touch by renowned chef Ignacio Vara is combined with a distinguished selection of wines, sakes and signature cocktails led by head bartender Miguel Pérez. The selection of small dishes of eastern roots is complemented by daring cocktails that are created using innovative distillation techniques with seasonal ingredients to breathe life into an innovative drinks menu that constantly seeks to surprise. In reflection of its commitment to creativity, service and culinary excellence, Isa was recently included in the prestigious Michelin Guide Spain & Portugal 2023 as a recommended restaurant.

El Patio can be found in the exciting Hotel lobby. This cosy space invites visitors to enjoy a menu that includes the great classics with a drink in a relaxed and casual environment. El Patio serves a wide selection of home-made sweets and cakes, freshly ground coffee and teas. It is the perfect place for a coffee or an informal meeting, as well as to enjoy an authentic vermouth before lunch.

Spa

Spanning 1,450 metres (15,600 square feet) over four floors, the SPA at Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is the largest wellness centre in Madrid and offers an oasis of peace to all those seeking balance in body and mind.

The eight spacious treatment rooms, one of them double, are genuine temples to relaxation and where a broad range of massages, body treatments and facial treatments are offered. All these treatments are aimed at the enhancement of wellbeing and can be personalised to meet the needs of each guest.

A 14-metre (46 foot)  indoor swimming pool beneath a glass ceiling can be found on the top floor of the spa, accompanied by a sun-soaked terrace with views of the city and the characteristic tiled roofs of Madrid. The large glass walls allow plenty of natural light to pour in, which is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the many days of sunshine in Madrid.

Guests can enhance their wellness experience with some personalised training at the gym or private sessions from experts in health and wellbeing. Ranging from yoga classes to mindfulness or Pilates, the physical fitness centre at Four Seasons Hotel Madrid offers all the tools you need to stay in shape while away from home.

The SPA also offers a partner therapists program in which renowned experts in the field of health and beauty offer unique treatments for a limited time only to both guests and locals alike, further enriching the wellness offer from the Hotel. The SPA was recently awarded Five Stars by the Forbes Travel Guide.

Art

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid has an impressive collection of original works of art by emerging Spanish artists that includes paintings, photographs, engravings and sculptures, as well as replicas of original works of art that can be found in the National Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, located only a short distance from the Hotel. A large part of this contemporary art collection is the result of a contest that took place between the schools of Fine Arts at the universities of Madrid, Malaga and Seville.

The nearly 1,500 works that make up the private art collection of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid can be found in the guest rooms, restaurants and public spaces throughout the hotel, such as the piece entitled Starry Night by the Catalan sculptor Eduardo Perez-Cabrero, which depicts the constellations representing the human virtues of intelligence, creativity, joy, love, talent, generosity and hope located behind the oval staircase in the Hotel.

Awards

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid has already received more than 25 important national and international awards in reflection of the joint effort, dedication and unwavering commitment from an extraordinary team that works hard every day to offer excellence, a hallmark of this prestigious hotel company. Some of the awards are:

• Forbes Travel Guide, Five Stars Hotel & SPA (2024)
• 2 Stars in Top Cocktail Bars, The Drink Show (2024)
• 2 Michelin Keys, Michelin Keys Awards (2024)
• The World’s 50 Best Hotels, Hotel number #24 (2023)
• Best Cocktail Menu, FIBAR (2023)
• Editor’s Choice Award for Best Club Sandwich, Hotel & Mantel Awards, Conde Nast Traveler España (2023)
• Best New Hotel, Conde Nast Traveler España (2021)