Berlin, April 21, 2015 – Shout it from the rooftop! Madrid has fallen for its newest darling, The Principal Madrid. Only two months after Design Hotels™ Original Pau Guardan’s latest vision opened, the flagship property of his Único Hotel Group is locally lauded as the new high altitude hotspot of the Spanish capital. Bridging the gap between guests and Madrileños, The Principal Madrid sets the scene for visitors to be absorbed by the city’s social spirit. www.theprincipalmadridhotel.com
“Pau Guardans has become a hit – fusing New York-esque views, Madrilean flavor and an incredible dining experience,” states Spanish Condé Nast Traveler. “The new ‘where to be seen’ spot of Madrid,” says Spanish Vogue. And El País Semanal, the weekly lifestyle supplement of Spain’s biggest newspaper recommends The Principal Madrid as “the best hotel to enjoy the city’s legendary sunsets.”
A Unique Angle on Life Below
“Madrid’s Gran Vía has long been worthy of a five-star property of this caliber,” says owner Pau Guardans. “Enjoying the most iconic avenue in the city from a terrace lined by olive and cypress trees, and taking in the best views of the historical center is a true privilege. It’s like having your own sky-high garden in Madrid.”
It is here that locals converge for an after-work or pre-theater drink, a meeting point for Madrid’s notorious nightlife. The multitude of watering holes on Madrid’s Gran Vía is testament to a long and thriving tapas and cocktail culture. Right in tune with this fine tradition, the bar at Ático is the newest spot where mixologists are expert at more than martinis. DJs set the tone indoors, and at La Terraza one level up, guests can also enjoy their drinks in the open-air and catch the day’s last rays.
Gran Vía Grandezza
Housed in a palatial 1917 Spanish Renaissance-style building, The Principal Madrid joins Hotel Único Madrid and Grand Hotel Central in Barcelona as Pau Guardans’ third hotel – a man at the forefront of a movement in modern Spanish luxury. “Unifying the three hotels is the historic essence of the buildings and a shared spirit as landmarks of urban lifestyle. The Principal Madrid has that feeling of a contemporary home yet it’s catering to all the needs a modern traveler may have, with special mind paid to luxurious details. An instant classic in style and charm,” says Guardans.
Behind the palatial façade, the interiors celebrate the grand scale of this historic building with high ceilings, iron railings, large windows, and columns, while mixing in eclectic furniture that embodies a New York loft aesthetic. The overall result is one of welcoming exclusivity, at once a private home and a hotel. At Ático (Spanish for penthouse) on the hotel’s light-flooded sixth floor there are plenty of spaces for guests to mingle. It’s a city sanctuary perfect for afternoon tea or cocktails. The gastronomy is overseen by the renowned chef Ramón Freixa, whose restaurant in sister property, Hotel Unico Madrid, has already earned two Michelin stars. Views of the city’s ornate rooftops can be enjoyed any time of year from La Pergola, its rattan roof and hinged glass walls showcasing a new spin on rustic Mediterranean aesthetics as well as from the rooftop terrace La Terraza.
About Único Hotels
With Grand Hotel Central in Barcelona, Pau Guardans created his first of three hotels in 2005, which are unified under the name Único Hotels. The eponymous luxury Hotel Único Madrid opened in 2011, followed by The Principal Madrid in January 2015. All three hotels are members of Design Hotels™. www.unicohotels.com