Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

"For years madrileños avoided the streets around Puerta del Sol, complaining about the decay of a once-grand downtown barrio that had also become a monstrous building site. But since the Four Seasons opened its doors in September 2020, the complaints have turned to compliments. Standing proudly on the corner of calles Sevilla and Alcalá, the Canadian group’s first Spanish property has sailed onto the Madrid hotel scene with all guns blazing, promising to grant the neighborhood a new lease on life. The city’s two traditional contenders in the top-end stakes, the Palace and Ritz, must be quaking in their Penelope Chilvers. Part of a large project including private residences, a retail ‘gallery’ and gastro-market, the hotel has preserved the building’s ornate 19th-century stone façade (check out the elephant heads) and grand interiors such as the double-height lobby with its ivy-green marble columns, Alpujarra carpets and stained-glass roof. You won’t find cutting-edge here, but there are no rough edges either: this is grown-up stuff. Everything breathes quality, from the solid walnut floors and gray-flecked Volakas marble of the rooms to their faultless sound-proofing and refreshingly user-friendly lighting systems. But there’s also a delicate touch in the design that seems just right for an age that has tired of glitz. Service manages the deft trick of being both briskly efficient and charmingly Spanish. In the top-floor restaurant, genial chef Dani Garcia does his New Andalucian thing to fabulous backdrop views of monumental Madrid. The Four Seasons sets the bar high, but clears it without breaking a sweat. —Paul Richardson"

"The Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, awarded Two MICHELIN Keys, features the Food Hall Galería Canalejas, a gastronomic space with a variety of bars and restaurants offering both local and international cuisine." - The MICHELIN Guide

"Housed in a striking 19th century building, the Estudio Lamela-designed Four Seasons Hotel Madrid has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike since opening in September 2020, landing coveted spots on our It List in 2021 and World’s Best Awards in 2022 and 2023 for its regal design and refined service." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Why book? This new-wave hotel offers proof that opulence and discretion needn’t be contradictory. It exudes serious class, but also understated character. The competition among Madrid hotels is stiff, but in a matter of months the Four Seasons already has the tightly geared rhythm of a hotel that’s been around for years, not months. Set the scene Standing as it does within a few steps of the Puerta del Sol, a major visitor hub, you’d expect locals to stay away. In fact the opposite has happened: while international tourism faltered, a madrileño clientele has taken the hotel to its heart, giving it the proper Spanish flavor of a local landmark. The backstory In a project of fearsome complexity and eye-watering expense, seven historic buildings (including various bank HQs and a newspaper office) were melded together to form Centro Canalejas, a powerhouse of luxury containing a commercial ‘gallery’, gastro-market and 22 private residences, plus the new Four Seasons. Coming from a large global chain you might expect a certain corporate sameness in the hotel. In fact it has style and personality in spades. The rooms Even the fussiest will be hard-pressed to find fault with them. Solid walnut floors, marble and chrome, plenty of mirrors; this is grown-up glamour. Ditto the brands you’ll encounter (Hermés amenities, Villeroy & Boch china, Roederer champagne). Best of all, sound-proofing throughout the hotel is state-of-the-art—a serious plus in a neighborhood still rife with construction sites. Food and drink The hotel’s main culinary mise en scène is the clubby and colorful locale on the top floor where chef Dani Garcia offers his personal take on southern Spanish ingredients and techniques: his langoustine carpaccio with pine nuts, payoyo cheese and ajo blanco ice cream with a Pedro Ximénez reduction is Andalucía on a plate. Try it with an aged manzanilla pasada from the extensive sherry list. Failing that, a room-service platter of 100 percent acorn-fed iberico ham and a bowl of chilled gazpacho will do nicely. The spa At over 15,000 square feet over three floors, this is said to be Spain’s largest urban spa. The heated rooftop pool, glassed over for year-round use, is a place of calm and wide-screen urban views. The neighborhood The streets around Puerta del Sol, though ripe for improvement, harbor some of the city’s most alluring sights: the Real Academia de San Fernando (don’t miss the Goyas) is just across the street, the Prado a ten-minute stroll away. In this slice of old Madrid classic restaurants (Lhardy, Terraza del Casino), historic bars (Casa Labra) and heritage food shops (Casa Mira, for the best turrones) are legion. In a welcome sign of positive change in the barrio, a new branch of Javier Bonet’s super-cool Sala de Despiece restaurant is imminent. The service Pitch-perfect and utterly professional, amiable and un-starchy, with a true Spanish flair. Chief concierge Raul Bermejo organizes visits to guitar and fan workshops, and private tours of the Prado. For families Both children (and small dogs) are welcome, but the hotel feels aimed largely at a mature client who likes everything to be just so. Eco effort The hotel has a Gold certification from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for building quality and sustainable practices. One quibble: the room-service option thoughtfully offering ‘earth-friendly takeaway packaging’ turns out to be no more than a set of compostable cutlery. Anything left to mention? The artwork at the Four Seasons is a particular treat. Displayed in rooms, corridors and public spaces are more than 2000 works by young Spanish artists curated by Paloma Fernández Iriondo. (A pity they’re mostly unlabelled.)" - Paul Richardson

"Four Seasons Madrid, both of which are among the finest hotels in the city."