Europe is not suffering from a shortage of tasteful new hotels, but the new Brach Madrid—a Philippe Starck–designed hotel in the middle of the city’s Grand Via—is distinguished by its personality. Graffiti is scratched into the corners of walls, which are decorated with maps, old photographs, books, and watercolors.The hotel sits inside a seven-story building with a dazzling white stone façade that was built between 1919 and 1922 by architect Jerónimo Pedro Mathet Rodriguez. Stepping through the doorway, visitors are greeted by uniformed staff, who promptly spring to attention and point the way to the hotel’s bar, restaurant, and pâtisserie. Dinner at the restaurant is not to be missed. Start with a Brach martini, which pairs Gin Mare with Manzanilla sherry rather than vermouth. Finish with a soft murmur of the local saying “De Madrid al cielo”—from Madrid, next stop heaven. —Mary Lussiana
The Arts Intel Report
Explore Madrid
THE ROYAL COLLECTIONS GALLERY / MADRID
June 1–27, 2021
May 17, 2021 – Jan 23, 2022
May 19, 2021 – May 8, 2022
May 22 – Nov 21, 2021
June 3 – Aug 15, 2021
June 10 – Oct 10, 2021
June 12, 2021 – Dec 31, 2022
June 9 – Sept 6, 2021
June 8 – Sept 30, 2021
June 3 – July 31, 2021
June 12 – July 31, 2021
June 15 – Oct 31, 2021
June 3 – Oct 17, 2021
Sept 10, 2021 – Feb 20, 2022
Nov 20, 2021 – Feb 27, 2022
Aug 20, 2021 – Jan 9, 2022
June 18 – Aug 15, 2021
June 24 – Aug 8, 2021