A new luxury establishment has just landed on Gran Vía street. It is the new Brach hotel, from the Evok Collection chain, which opened its doors on December 16 in the heart of the capital, at number 20 on the most famous street in Madrid.
This exclusive French brand has chosen the capital to open its second accommodation outside of France - the first one is located in Venice - and has settled in a seven-story building constructed between 1919 and 1922 by the architect Jerónimo Pedro Mathet Rodríguez. The building has been restored by the prestigious designer Philippe Starck, who has combined nostalgia and modernity with Spanish elements inspired by the 1920s and 30s, but with a French touch.
The Brach hotel rises in a historic building where the Masserano Palace was located, the residence of the French writer Victor Hugo when he was a child. The block has also been home to several illustrious tenants such as the Alfonso family, a famous saga of photojournalists whose studios were located in the building between 1939 and 1990.
The establishment consists of 57 rooms, including four suites, where warmth and the character of a home are sought. The new luxury does not seek to impress but for the client to find a cozy atmosphere and feel at home.
"Brach goes far beyond the hotel because it embodies a lifestyle, a modern nostalgia, and a literary universe inspired by Spanish poetry. Brach's luxury is not shown, but felt. Each element is selected for its ability to evoke sensations and offer a unique experience," says Emmanuel Sauvage, the CEO of Evok Collection.
One of the cozy rooms of the new five-star hotel.
Each room is designed to tell a story, and around the leather headboard of the beds, there are different sketches along with travel notes, as if it were the diary of an imaginary protagonist. The idea is to take an emotional journey where Starck has imprinted his personal touch with details like the seahorse-shaped wall sconce.
"I love the seahorse symbol. This truly fantastic animal is extraordinary and was ideal to illustrate the spirit, the mind games, and the surprises found throughout Brach Madrid," highlights Starck.
Tribute to the cafes of the 1920s
The five-star hotel also features a restaurant that pays tribute to the great cafes of Madrid in the 1920s and a cocktail bar. For this reason, it is decorated with mahogany-covered walls, braided leather ceilings, and brasserie mirrors, which are the emblem of the place.
These tilted mirrors deconstruct the space in an angle game and create a chaotic effect, turning the restaurant into a work of art in itself, as declared by the designer.
The menu is created by chef Adam Bentalha and is inspired by the Mediterranean with touches of the Middle East. The dining room also incorporates the use of fire and grill, with a charcoal oven that allows roasting and sharing large pieces of meat.
In the heart of the restaurant is a small vintage pastry shop, inviting guests to enjoy coffee along with delicious French pastries such as lemon and meringue tarts or creamy flans.
One of the spa treatments.
One of the highlights of the Brach hotel is the spa, called La Capsule, which boasts 400 square meters dedicated to personal well-being. The space offers a fusion of advanced technologies and traditional practices designed to rejuvenate both the mind and body.
It features a 20-meter long pool and offers workouts, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, guided ice bath, infrared sauna, and massages.
This new accommodation adds to the vast hotel offer on Gran Vía street, where standout hotels include The Principal - a five-star hotel with one of the best rooftops in Madrid - and Cristiano Ronaldo's Pestana CR7. Another major project on this street is the one undertaken by the Paraguas group in the Metropolis building, where they plan to build restaurants, a small hotel, and a private club.
The rooftop of one of the private suites.