Over the last five years, Madrid has experienced a wave of luxury hotel openings that has changed the city’s landscape, especially in the center and around the art triangle. The reopening of the historic Mandarin Oriental Ritz in 2021, following the most extensive renovation in its history, has been joined by major international arrivals such as Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, Rosewood Villa Magna, JW Marriott in Canalejas, The Madrid Edition, and Thompson Madrid, as well as more recent additions such as Brach Madrid on Gran Vía. Now, a new opening in a historic building is joining the mix.
The former Azucarera, located on Calle Ruiz de Alarcón and surrounded by the Prado triangle, is about to embark on a new life as a luxury hotel with one of the most exclusive gastronomic spaces in Madrid. Mercer Hotel Madrid 5* Gran Lujo is moving into what was once the headquarters of the Sociedad General Azucarera de España, a building dating from 1905 designed by Enrique María Repullés y Vargas, architect to the Royal Household and designer of the Palacio de la Bolsa, now protected in the General Catalog of Protected Buildings for its heritage value. The project, developed by RCCyP Arquitectura in coordination with the Directorate General of State Heritage, has worked on the idea of preserving as much of the building’s architectural memory as possible while adapting it to the standards of a contemporary five-star hotel.
The philosophy of the establishment is summed up by its founder and CEO, Pedro Molina, who defines Mercer Madrid as an exercise in “quiet luxury” fueled by the pursuit of beauty and excellence, focusing more on subtleties than ostentatious displays. This idea translates into 61 rooms and suites decorated by interior designer Andreu Carulla with oak floors, walnut woodwork, Rosavel granite bathrooms, and a palette of natural tones. Some rooms retain their high ceilings and original moldings, while others feature terraces with views over the Jerónimos neighborhood. The hotel completes its offering with a spa with sauna and heated pool, gym, private events room, and a rooftop with a pool and solarium reserved for guests, as well as a terrace open to the public with privileged views of downtown Madrid.
A new luxury hotel in a historic building in Madrid
Editorial credit: Mercer Hotel Madrid 5* Grand Luxury
At the heart of the project is La Sociedad Gastronómika, Mercer Madrid’s restaurant, run by Eneko Atxa, chef at Azurmendi, awarded three Michelin stars and a green star. His cuisine in the capital maintains the hallmarks that have earned him international prestige: a commitment to sustainability, seasonal produce, a strong link to the region, and a contemporary reinterpretation of tradition.
The gastronomic space is divided into three areas, all with limited capacity: an open kitchen for only 12 diners, an adjoining room for 24 people, and a private dining room with a capacity for 16. There is also another nod to the history of the building: La Azucarera, the hotel’s cocktail bar designed by Javier de las Muelas, creator of such iconic bars as Gimlet and Dry Martini, presided over by a large U-shaped bar that invites guests to linger into the night with signature drinks on the ground floor of the building.