Hola Madrid! A feast of culture, food and fabulous events spaces
Last month I was invited to jet off to Madrid to see what Spain’s capital city has to offer. Flying business class direct from London Heathrow with Iberia, I touched down in Madrid in a little under two hours.
Here, me and a group of fellow event agents were met by DMC, Another Konzept, who had arranged a jam-packed program of events to showcase this fabulous city.
I was lucky enough to be staying at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid, a luxury five-star hotel and one of the most iconic buildings in Madrid. This Belle Époque palace, located in Madrid’s famous Golden Triangle of Art, has hosted an impressive list of legendary guests including royalty, top dignitaries and other famous faces from around the world. The hotel has undergone a stunning restoration and now boast three restaurants and three bars, overseen by celebrated Chef, Quique Dacosta.
There’s a choice of 100 elegant and luxurious rooms and 53 spacious suites. And the attention to detail is second to none, from the delicious selection of fruits and sweets and personalised water bottles awaiting me in my room, to the pillowcases embroidered with my initials.
We were given a grand tour of the hotel and its restaurants and bars, fitness and wellness facilities and event spaces. The largest of which is the Royal Ballroom, with capacity for 250 theatre style, a stunning backdrop for prestigious events, parties, launch events, meetings or fashion shows. Large, high windows flood the room with natural light and offer views toward the Prado Museum, while a richly decorated ceiling and magnificent parquet flooring add to the glamour.
The Salón Felipe IV accommodates 100 guests’ theatre-style and is a fabulous venue for business meetings, social functions and special occasions, having been carefully restored to its former glory. Real Academia is a smaller, more intimate space for up to 40 guests in a banquet setting and 50 cocktail-style. The hotel also boasts a 10-person private dining room, known as ‘Countess Masslov’ after famous spy, Mata Hari, who used the nickname when staying at the hotel back in 1916
We were given a grand tour of the hotel and its restaurants and bars, fitness and wellness facilities and event spaces. The largest of which is the Royal Ballroom, with capacity for 250 theatre style, a stunning backdrop for prestigious events, parties, launch events, meetings or fashion shows. Large, high windows flood the room with natural light and offer views toward the Prado Museum, while a richly decorated ceiling and magnificent parquet flooring add to the glamour.
The Salón Felipe IV accommodates 100 guests’ theatre-style and is a fabulous venue for business meetings, social functions and special occasions, having been carefully restored to its former glory. Real Academia is a smaller, more intimate space for up to 40 guests in a banquet setting and 50 cocktail-style. The hotel also boasts a 10-person private dining room, known as ‘Countess Masslov’ after famous spy, Mata Hari, who used the nickname when staying at the hotel back in 1916
"We finished the tour at the beautiful al fresco El Jardin del Ritz with a champagne reception, a wonderful spot for a pre-dinner drink.”
We finished the tour at the beautiful al fresco El Jardin del Ritz with a champagne reception, a wonderful spot for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner was at Deessa, the hotel’s signature restaurant, which overlooks the Ritz Garden. There’s a choice of two degustation menus, plus a hidden Chef’s Table where we feasted on a delicious five-course dinner, complete with wine pairings. After dinner, we headed to the bar for cocktails.
Our second day in Madrid began early with a walking tour with super knowledgeable guide, Belem. What a fantastic way to get to know and really experience the city. Belem took us to meet, Javier Sanchez Medina, an artist and restorer who specializes in making mirrors and animal heads using natural materials such as bamboo, wicker and rattan. We also visited famous cape maker, Casa Seseña, whose hand-stitched capes have been worn by a longlist of famous names, including Picasso, Hemingway, Hillary Clinton, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Catherine Deneuve and King Juan Carlos himself.
Next stop on our whistle-stop cultural tour was a trip to a guitar workshop for a step-by-step guide on how this famous instrument is made – amazingly it takes 45 days! A well-deserved lunchbreak was at the Mercado de San Miguel, a wholesale food market where we feasted on some delicious tapas and sangria, before strolling to Chocolateria Sangines to sample its renowned churros with chocolate sauce, a mouth-watering delicacy it has been serving since 1894. Dinner that evening was at the beautiful Luzi Bombón, a modern brasserie serving a variety of Mediterranean dishes.
Our second day in Madrid began early with a walking tour with super knowledgeable guide, Belem. What a fantastic way to get to know and really experience the city. Belem took us to meet, Javier Sanchez Medina, an artist and restorer who specializes in making mirrors and animal heads using natural materials such as bamboo, wicker and rattan. We also visited famous cape maker, Casa Seseña, whose hand-stitched capes have been worn by a longlist of famous names, including Picasso, Hemingway, Hillary Clinton, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Catherine Deneuve and King Juan Carlos himself.
Next stop on our whistle-stop cultural tour was a trip to a guitar workshop for a step-by-step guide on how this famous instrument is made – amazingly it takes 45 days! A well-deserved lunchbreak was at the Mercado de San Miguel, a wholesale food market where we feasted on some delicious tapas and sangria, before strolling to Chocolateria Sangines to sample its renowned churros with chocolate sauce, a mouth-watering delicacy it has been serving since 1894. Dinner that evening was at the beautiful Luzi Bombón, a modern brasserie serving a variety of Mediterranean dishes.
"It was here we enjoyed our last lunch, more delicious tapas, before heading back to Madrid Airport for the flight home.”
Our final morning in Madrid was spent just a short walk from the hotel, at the Museo Nacional Del Prado, widely considered to house one of the best collections of European art from artists such as Goya, El Greco, Rubens and Titian. Here we had a guided tour of some of the collections. A stunning building, the museum also has event spaces for hire.
Other unique venues we visited included Platea Madrid, a 6,000 square metre event space, comprising eight halls catering for up to 1,200 attendees, as well as Pateo de Leones, a large restaurant in the heart of the city with an outside terrace and private event spaces. It was here we enjoyed our last lunch, more delicious tapas, before heading back to Madrid Airport for the flight home.
Thanks to the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, All About Flights and Another Konzept DMC for organising this fabulous trip and showing us just some of what Madrid has to offer. If you would like to know more about Madrid as a destination for your next event, please get in touch. We’d love to tell you more.
Other unique venues we visited included Platea Madrid, a 6,000 square metre event space, comprising eight halls catering for up to 1,200 attendees, as well as Pateo de Leones, a large restaurant in the heart of the city with an outside terrace and private event spaces. It was here we enjoyed our last lunch, more delicious tapas, before heading back to Madrid Airport for the flight home.
Thanks to the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, All About Flights and Another Konzept DMC for organising this fabulous trip and showing us just some of what Madrid has to offer. If you would like to know more about Madrid as a destination for your next event, please get in touch. We’d love to tell you more.