THE PALACE HOTEL, MADRID
A Grand Hotel for a Changing Madrid
Since 1912, The Palace Hotel, Madrid has stood at the heart of the city, witnessing and becoming part of its cultural, social and artistic life. From celebrated writers and artists to royalty, scientists and world leaders, generations of remarkable guests have shaped its story.
Following an extensive restoration and its return to The Luxury Collection in 2025, The Palace begins a new chapter while preserving the character, craftsmanship, and stories that have defined it for over a century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Madrid was becoming an increasingly international destination. King Alfonso XIII recognised the need for a grand hotel capable of welcoming a new generation of travellers and introduced Belgian entrepreneur Georges Marquet to the vision.
Marquet acquired the site of the former Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli, and construction began in March 1911. Just 18 months later, on October 12, 1912, The Palace opened its doors.
With 800 rooms, a private bathroom and a telephone in every room, it was among the largest and most modern hotels in Europe. In 1914, Madrid City Council recognised it as the city's best building.
WITNESS TO HISTORY
The Palace has never simply observed Madrid's history. It has been part of it.
Across more than a century, its rooms, bar and grand public spaces have witnessed moments of cultural discovery, political change and international intrigue.
THE ROARING TWENTIES
1920s-1930s
The Palace became a meeting place for Madrid's artists and intellectuals. Federico García Lorca, Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí were among the figures associated with the Palace Bar, beneath the Dome.
A HOTEL IN WARTIME
1936-1939
During the Spanish Civil War, The Palace was transformed into a military hospital. Its glass Dome provided natural light for surgical procedures when electricity was unavailable.
A WORLD OF INTRIGUE
1940s
During World War II, The Palace became a meeting point for foreign agents, international travellers and journalists.
A NIGHT IN HISTORY
1981
During the attempted coup of February 23, The Palace became a temporary base for journalists and political figures. More than 200 national and international journalists occupied the hotel that night.
THE HEART OF THE PALACE
The Dome: A Symbol of Madrid Since 1912
One of Madrid's most distinctive architectural landmarks: The Palace´s monumental glass dome. Designed in 1912 by architect Eduardo Ferrés i Puig and created by the master glassmakers Maumejean, the Dome is made up of 1,875 individual panes of glass.
Its recent restoration combined traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology. Every pane was carefully dismantled, catalogued and restored to recover its original colours, while the supporting structure was renewed for future generations. The restoration also returned the iconic palm-shaped chandelier to its original position beneath the Dome, restoring an important part of the space's historic character.
A CENTURY OF EXTRAORDINARY GUESTS
For more than a century, The Palace has welcomed artists, writers, scientists, performers and statesmen from around the world. Their stories remain part of the hotel's living heritage.
PABLO PICASSO
Picasso stayed at The Palace in 1917 while working on stage designs for the Ballets Russes during their performances in Madrid.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
A frequent visitor to The Palace Bar, Hemingway immortalised the hotel in "The Sun Also Rises", capturing the atmosphere of its legendary bar.
RESPECT FOR THE PAST
The Palace's most significant transformation in generations was guided by a simple ambition: to preserve the character of the original building while creating a new experience for today's guests.
Ruiz-Larrea Arquitectura led the architectural restoration, while internationally renowned interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán reimagined the interiors.
Together, the project brings historic architecture, contemporary design and Madrid's artistic spirit into dialogue.
Original marble, historic tapestries, architectural details and the restored glass Dome remain part of the experience, while new interiors draw inspiration from the Belle Époque and the vibrant spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
2025: THE NEW CHAPTER
After more than a century at the heart of Madrid, The Palace entered a new era in 2025, returning to The Luxury Collection as The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid.
The restoration celebrates the building's heritage while introducing a contemporary expression of hospitality, design and comfort.
The result is not a reinvention of The Palace's identity, but its continuation: a historic Madrid landmark evolving for a new generation of travellers.
More than a century after opening its doors, The Palace remains a place where Madrid's stories unfold.
From its historic architecture and legendary Dome to its rooms, restaurants, bars and gathering spaces, every stay becomes part of a story that began in 1912.
The Palace Hotel, Madrid. A landmark with a story still being written.
A Landmark since 1912
