Madrid: Brimming with Energy
With new sights to see (and most construction finally completed), Madrid makes for a great summer get-away,
By Gisela Williams
Blame it on Madrid's drive to host the 2012 Olympics or its efforts to compete with Barcelona for tourists. Whatever the reason, the city is brimming with energy. After years of endless construction, new attractions are coming out from under wraps. Last year saw the opening of the Museo del Traje (2 Av. de Juan de Herrera; 011-34-91-549-7150), a wonderful costume museum, and the new wing of the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (8 Paseo del Prado; 011-34-91-420-3944), housing the Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza's Impressionism-heavy collection. In June architect Jean Nouvel's addition to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (52 Plaza de Santa Isabel; 011-34-91-467-5062), home to Picasso's Guernica, will be complete.
Until recently, savvy Madrid regulars agreed that there were only three luxury hotels to book, all of them traditional: the old-world Hotel Ritz (www.ritz.es), a favorite of Carolina Herrera; the Westin Palace Hotel (palacemadrid.com), popular with Americans; and the intimate AC Santo Mauro (achotelsantomauro.com), the discreet choice of Tom Cruise and other celebs. But with the opening of three new properties, Madrid now has designer addresses worth checking into. In the city center is the sleek Hotel Urban (34 Carrera de San Jerónimo; 011-34-91-787-7770; derbyhotels.es), with a golden mosaic-tile stairwell, ancient Buddha heads and a glassed-in roof terrace. The all-white AC Palacio del Retiro (14 Alfonso XII; 011-34-91-523-7460; ac-hotels.com) offers splendid views of Retiro Park. And opening this spring is De las Letras Hotel (11 Gran Vía; 011-34-91-435-7545; hoteldelasletras.com), with 103 contemporary rooms in an early-1900s building.
There are some refreshing newcomers to Madrid's restaurant scene too. While one could always find a great meal at classics like Viridiana and Casa Benigna, there were few chic, innovative spots. But then along came Santi Santamaria's Santceloni (57 Paseo de la Castellana; 011-34-91-210-8840), which has just won a second Michelin star, and La Broche (29-31 Calle de Miguel Ángel; 011-34-91-399-3437), also with two stars, from Ferran Adrià disciple Sergi Arola. Speaking of the fantastic Adrià, locals love his Fast Good joint (23 Calle Padre Damián; 011-34-91-343-0655), which serves fresh fast food on the unusual order of bean salad with duck's liver. And lately Madrileños have gone loco for Asian-fusion cuisine, such as that at the Nobu-inspired Nodo (150 Calle Velázquez; 011-34-91-564-4044) and the upscale Chinese hot spot Le Dragon (2 Calle Gil de Santibañez; 011-34-91-435-6669).
Culinary Madrid may be feeling Zen, but the city is still pijo ("preppy") at heart and very much about who you know. If Prince Felipe wasn't a study buddy at Georgetown, ring up Virginia Irurita and Alonso Alvarez de Toledo, of Made for Spain (011-34-91-310-7070; madeforspain.com), which opens doors for American travelers. The pair can introduce clients to Lorenzo Caprile, one of Princess Leticia's favorite designers; take select groups on shopping sprees; and arrange visits to private gardens and galleries or lunch with an aristocratic vineyard owner in La Rioja. To savor the exciting wines of Spain (tagged "the new France" by many oenophiles), sign up for a tapas-and-wine-tasting tour with Genevieve McCarthy, the knowledgeable American owner of Cellar Tours (011-34-91- 521-3939; cellartours.com).
If you overindulge, detox at the Lab Room (63 Lagasca; 011-34-91-576-0847), a cozy salon and day spa with the feel of a stylish friend's apartment, alongside local beauties like Penélope Cruz.
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