Located quite literally in the heart of the Spanish capital, only a few steps from Kilometre Zero, which marks the geographical centre of the country, The Madrid EDITION is opening as a new destination at the epicentre of one of the world’s hottest cities…
Following the launch of The Barcelona EDITION in 2018, The Madrid EDITION, opening in preview phase in March 2022, is the city’s first luxury lifestyle urban resort. The hotel’s design – under the ever-watchful eye of Ian Schrager Company – is an unlikely combination of the refined elegance, purity and simplicity of British architect John Pawson and the artistry, spirit and originality of Paris-based François Champsaur. These two completely different and opposite approaches and attitudes juxtapose against each other yet successfully co-exist side by side making The Madrid EDITION a complete surprise and a totally unexpected result that is entirely unique.
“It’s about creating an original and new kind of gathering place for both locals and visitors alike.” – Ian Schrager, EDITION Hotels.
True to brand, the design embraces Schrager’s vision and ethos for an understated elegance while showcasing the innovative and elevated experience, ethos and exceptional luxury service that EDITION is known for with two restaurants, each helmed by a world-class, award-winning chef, three unique bar concepts, exciting nightlife and entertainment, a magnificent outdoor pool located on the rooftop with jawdropping views of Madrid’s cityscape, a wellness and spa facility, and a series of spectacular meeting and event spaces drenched in natural light.
“Madrid, for us, is a truly world-class capital,” said Ian Schrager, the visionary pioneer of the boutique and lifestyle hotel concept, EDITION hotels, and PUBLIC hotels. “It’s just a beautiful city that marches to its own beat and goes its own way.”
The hotel will shelter 200 beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, including multiple connecting units for groups of friends and families, as well as an exclusive selection of rooms with private terraces. This innovation and creativity, long associated with Ian Schrager, together with Marriott International’s reputation and operational expertise results in a distinct, original and unique offering that captures the essence of Madrid’s spirit, traditions and energy.
“This is not just a hotel. It’s much more than merely a place to sleep. It is a true hub of popular culture, entertainment and social interaction that is a microcosm of the best of Madrid and that perfectly captures the city’s spirit and essence,” said Schrager. “It’s about creating an original and new kind of gathering place for both locals and visitors alike.”
True to form, Schrager has worked his magic and pulled out all the stops with a meticulously crafted concept that brings a true sense of individuality to the hotel. It features recognised culinary concepts by chef partners Enrique Olvera, whose restaurant Pujol is one of the top ten World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Diego Muñoz, who led acclaimed restaurant Astrid Y Gaston in Lima to victory as the best Latin American restaurant in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Two world class great chefs like that in the same hotel is absolutely unprecedented. There is also a unique specialty cocktail bar, Lobby Bar, and a concept on the rooftop terrace that remains unrivalled in Spain.
The building itself, which sits on Plaza de la Descalzas with evocative views of a 16th-century royal monastery, is clean-lined and modern, embellished only by a decorative 18th-century baroque portal, designed by Spanish architect Pedro de Ribera, and which was salvaged from an adjacent building. From here, you can access the hotel’s signature restaurant, while its main entrance, around the corner, features an explosion of greenery and a seductive copper canopy that leads to a dark fired oak-lined space anchored by a spectacular sculptural spiral staircase that ribbons fluidly to the lobby on the upper ground floor above.
Image caption: The signature Shrager spiral staircase, seen here in the entrance to EDITION Dubai, will again be a feature in The Madrid EDITION. | Image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks
As with all EDITION hotels, the lobby is the beating heart of the hotel while the great personalised service is its soul. Here, under an undulating ceiling, the Lobby Bar is a dynamic and sociable space offering a new kind of gathering place for the city’s most discerning residents and visitors, dressed in a mix of custom-made bespoke furnishings and pieces by well-known designers arranged in intimate seating groups. This includes Jean-Michel Frank sofas and armchairs, recycled bronze stools from Maison Intègre, rope-covered chairs by Christian Astuguevieille, and a shapely pool table which designer Emmanuel Levet Stenne sculpted from a single slab of white Bianco Neve matt marble. Behind the hand-crafted scalloped copper bar is a backlit caged bottle display and, as ever, there is a strong emphasis on warm, indirect lighting, which has been thoughtfully considered to give the room a warmth, softness and approachability while illuminating key pieces under direct spotlight.
Image caption: Warm backlit lighting as seen in the bar of EDITION New York will feature in the public spaces in EDITION Madrid. | Image credit: EDITION / Marriott International
On the lower ground floor, the entertainment venue is a cool after-dark spot which, when it opens later this year, will rival Madrid’s legendary nightlife in a glamorous setting defined by a gold polished plaster wall and a back-lit onyx bar with a leather base. The full-length red velvet curtain behind the stage has been embroidered with copper thread in a traditional Spanish pattern, while the black-fringed velvet chairs have been inspired by toreador’s hats. Also, on this floor is the fully-equipped gym and wellness facility, a cosy and intimate space clad in dark timber and embellished with antique baroque candelabras. There are five treatment rooms, one with a private steam suite, alongside a menu of treatments, including the signature mud bath, that use products from Spanish brand Natura Bissé.
Moving up to the fourth floor, the roof is the hotel’s sanctuary overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you will find Oroya, the restaurant helmed by Peruvian Chef Diego Muñoz. In a relaxed, convivial greenhouse-like setting framed by a blackened steel cage clad with climbing plants and coloured glass panels that cast bright patterns across the room, the restaurant serves a relaxed tapas menu with family-style sharing plates that tell the story of Peru’s cultural history with influences from Spain, Africa, Italy, China and Japan. These can be washed down with Pisco-led cocktails like the famous Pisco Sour and Capitan, or a glass of wine from a menu curated by sommelier Julio Barluenga.
Outside, against exhilarating city vistas, Oroya’s terrace is a seductive garden in the sky featuring a fireplace and a vine-covered pergola beneath which sits a bleached teak bar and rattan bar stools, alongside a long oak table, perfect for lazy lunches with friends and family. Also on the roof is Madrid’s biggest rooftop pool. A place to see and be seen, this is the spot to sip cocktails and snack on small bites from one of the 60 sunbeds while admiring quintessential views of Madrid’s red rooftops against the backdrop of the setting sun.
Also on the fourth floor, in a prime spot with west-facing sunset views, are two of the largest Penthouses in the capital. Both are arranged as duplexes with glorious views of architectural landmarks from the bedrooms on the upper floor, while the lower floor comprises the living area as well as a butler’s kitchen. The Madrid Penthouse, is a sprawling private sanctuary perched above the city’s rooftops with an unrivalled panoramic terrace and a private infinity outdoor pool surrounded by lush greenery.
Completing the hotel’s offering, is a series of flexible meeting and events spaces, all with natural light, latest technology, including a large light-filled two-storey ballroom, three studios with dividing walls for bespoke setups, a conference room and a breakout area designed to feel like a living room. Together with the brand’s legendary service, The Madrid EDITION is a dynamic extension to an ever-evolving city with a true zest for life already coursing through its picturesque streets.
Main image credit: EDITION Hotels / Marriott International
