“We look forward to welcoming you!” The WhatsApp message posted unexpectedly 24 hours before our arrival for Four Seasons Madrid.
It was from Claudia, part of the hotel’s guest experiences, looked at our arrival time and offered our help with taxis and hotel and spa bookings.
Our requests were simple – if possible an early check -in. Of course, this was granted when we walked the next day through the extensive doors manned by men in three -piece check suit and top hats.
I have very high expectations – and rightly. The Four Seasons Madrid was the only Spanish hotel to appear in the prestigious world’s best 50 hotels this year. So is that Spain‘s best hotel? I’m here to find out.
The hotel was opened in September 2020 during the pandemic highlight and provides “a sunbeam for the city in the midst of the negativity,” the hotel’s general manager said at the time.
Madrid’s most expensive and luxurious hotel now encompasses seven buildings of the 19th century that were previously the headquarters of banks and newspapers.
The graceful facades and original features were carefully preserved and jumped during the eight years, € 530 million renovation, and there are now 200 rooms, ranging from ‘guest rooms’ to ‘presidential suites with terraces’, along seven storeys.
We were taken from the beautiful foyer, where couples drink to espressos along stacks of Hermes and Dior bags, to our room, which is on the second floor.
Harriet Sime, travel head, look at the Four Seons Madrid – the most expensive and luxurious hotel of the city
The decorated facades and original features of the hotel were carefully preserved and jumped during the eight years, € 530 million overhaul
We are in an attic suite located over two floating with rising ceilings with double height. These are all solid walnut floors, earthy colors, upholstered heads, luxury bedding, marble ensu and chrome finishes.
We reap fruit, olives and cheese as we crawl around. There is a formal foyer and closet to hang coats next to a marble bathroom with his and his sink and a deep bath.
The master bedroom has Four Seasons’ signature extremely comfortable bed with so many pillows we lose and a big TV. A few steps below are the lounge area, where we find a second TV, a Lavazza coffee machine, a desk, dining table, sofa and armchair. At 1,130 square feet, the suite is larger than our London apartment.
We spend the best in our room in the afternoon before we drive away and go down to Isu, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant.
We devour delicious plates of Nigiri, Sashimi and salmon that have been charred by our waiter in front of us while drinking luxury cocktails. It is a high point, but in no way pretentious and is the best choice of Japanese food I’ve ever tasted.
The next day we get up early to explore one of my favorite cities while waking up. Madrid has no draw. While Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Rome has the Coliseum, Budapest has the Danube, Madrid has comparable to offer little in terms of Blockbuster -sigtseing.
But this is the atmosphere and simplicity in every day’s life that I love here so much; The giant-down dogs playing in the parks (Madrid is one of the most dog-friendly cities I was already), the tables grouped outside trendy coffee shops in beautiful squares.
For years, Madrid has been a city that is strange without luxury hotels. But just like the pandemic hit, construction started on a string of high -end hotels. Villa Magna reopened as a palisander, Ritz reopened as an Oriental and trendy properties of Mandarin, including Brach Madrid and Madrid edition, came up across the city.
Harriet is welcomed in her 1,130 m² suite with a variety of Spanish cheese and wine
The Four Seasons is located in the middle of the center, just a few minutes walk from Puerta de Sol
The Four Seasons is located in the middle of the center, just a few minutes walk from Puerta de Sol, the busy, main shop street. It is not my favorite place in the city (comparable to Soho in London), but it is unbeatable.
Just a short walk is Retiro Park, where we are on our way one afternoon to explore some of his 350 hectares before resting under the shade of a giant tree.
The evening, before dinner, we go to the vast spa that is over four levels and about 15,000 square feet. We jump straight into the 46 -foot sparkling heated roof pool, which has been transferred for the whole year. Despite the fact that the hotel feels buzzing and busy, we have the whole thing for half an hour.
Just after watching on our last day, we go to Dani’s restaurant on the seventh floor. The Brasserie restaurant, created by Spanish fame chef Dani Garcia, serves traditional Andalusian cuisine and specialties in Michelin star and is open to breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We are taken to a table on the vast terrace overlooking terracotta roofs and a pleasant architecture in that classic Spanish limestone.
Tables of cleverly dressed tourists, residents and business people surround us, while staff serves in bright green chinos and threads with drinking aperol spritz.
Is it really the best hotel in Spain?, We book about bowls with delicious gazpacho, pasta and salads.
It may be the aperol that speaks, but we conclude that it must be absolute. I can’t think of a better urban hotel in the world. The Four Seasons Madrid is a triumph and one that is really worth splashing for a special occasion.
