Hotel of the Week: A Madrid Institution Is Restored to Its Former Glory

The Palace, once host to the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, is ready again for a turn in the spotlight

April 11, 2025

Cupola details. Photo: Adrian Tomadin Photography

Madrid is not a city that lacks for beautiful architecture. In fact, one of the lures of the Spanish capital is the wide range of styles seen within city limits: the mark of the Habsburgs and Bourbons is evident, as well as famed buildings from the likes of Minoru Yamasaki and Jean Nouvel.

It’s little surprise, then, that many of Madrid’s historic hotel properties are also some of its most notable from a design perspective. One of the best-known is certainly The Palace, the sprawling, Beaux Arts property commissioned by King Alfonso XIII that opened in 1912. With an enviable location in Barrio de las Letras, the hotel has played host to a nearly revolving door of luminaries, with everyone from Picasso to Dalí to Hemingway being once-frequent visitors. It’s also played a supporting role in Spain’s history more than once. “The Palace has served as a hospital during the Spanish Civil War; a meeting place for spies, diplomats, and those in exile from Europe during WWII; it was the site of the first Chinese embassy in Madrid; and a safe venue for the government during the 1981 attempted coup,” says Pablo Flores, general manager of the hotel.

Reception area. Photo: Courtesy of Marriott International

But 2025 marks a new phase in the storied property’s history: last month The Palace reopened under The Luxury Collection flag and after an extensive, two-year, Є80 million restoration in which nearly every part of the building was touched. For the exterior, the hotel hired the firm of Ruiz Larrea Arquitectura, who rediscovered not only the hotel’s original “warm beige” terracotta color, but also multiple floral adornments on the facade which hadn’t been visible for decades.

The largest undertaking for the interior renovation was a similarly daunting project: the restoration of The Palace’s famed iron and stained glass rotunda, originally designed by Eduard Ferrés i Puig and created by celebrated glaziers Mauméjean. The complex process of repairing the massive dome involved removing all 1,456 glass pieces, which were then restored by over 100 specialists, some working on-site at a makeshift studio, and others in a specialized atelier in Barcelona. The result, which is best admired in late morning, while partaking of the hotel’s excellent breakfast buffet, is like something out of a fairytale castle. Ocean blue panes and rose garlands kaleidoscope and glow above your head. Adding to the magic is a glass palm tree chandelier, which has been restored to its original location under the dome.

The 27 Club. Photo: Courtesy of Marriott International

Similar attention to detail has also been paid to the 470 guest rooms and suites, which were designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán. The guiding principle for these spaces was the history of the hotel itself: “It’s a century-old building that has witnessed the passing of great personalities of Madrid society, royalty, politics, and culture,” says Rosa-Violán. “Over the years, it has become a refuge for intellectuals and artists, a place where stories, experiences, and anecdotes have left an indelible mark.”

The design team translated this creative and colorful legacy into details like hand-painted wallpaper inspired by the lush, green spaces of nearby El Retiro Park, and mosaics on the bathroom wall that show an aerial view of the Royal Botanic Garden. But this didn’t preclude the spaces from also feeling homey: touches like marble fireplaces and wool carpets printed with delightful, mythical creatures ensure the guest floors still have a residential, welcoming feel.

The hope, of course, is that the hotel continues to be a lively, hospitable place both for visitors and locals. “Now, after a reinvigoration grounded in considered heritage interpretation, The Palace Madrid is ready for a new salon of travelers, while remaining cherished by generations of local Madrileños,” says Flores.

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