BRACH Madrid: One Editor's Review of this 5-star city escape
I'll be the first to admit that, when booking a long weekend in Europe, where I stay is often an afterthought — the result of a last-minute booking that I'm guaranteed to reframe as a ‘good deal’. But 48 hours under the BRACH Madrid roof and I'm converted: destined for a life of opulent weekend jaunts that recharge the soul… and shrink the contents of the joint bank account (sorry boyf).I'm advocating for regular doses of luxury; something BRACH Madrid delivers in an understated manner. Not once did we feel out of place in our jeans or jumpers, which mirrored the knitted Lacoste uniform of the team.The designer, Philippe Starck, chose to skip the predictable combination of marble and cream, widely considered to symbolise ‘you’ve escaped’. Instead, this unique member of the Evok Collection — its first outside France — almost swaddles you on entry, the combination of burnt reds, mango-wood furnishings and leather fittings coalescing to create a cosy, obviously Spanish retreat.Instinctively, I thought ‘70s. But Starck says it shares his vision of the 1920s and 30s — and I guess that’s somewhat evident in the Art Deco details decorating the bed linen and bathroom ceramics.Yet, during my stay, I was taken to various points in time. Ascending the staircase, admiring its Romanesque railings, I couldn't ignore the fact that this seven-story building had a history far longer than mine.Then it was onto the early 1900s, courtesy of the well-worn leather boxing gloves and accompanying photos decorating our media unit. There's no need to visit one of Madrid's many, many museums, thanks to the hotel's collection of artefacts decorating each space.And heading down to the breakfast nook, come co-working space and restaurant, the banker's lamps brought me right back to Starck’s favoured decade.
