An iconic building in Madrid is set to be transformed into an exclusive club and boutique hotel in 2026, featuring 19 bedrooms, seven gastronomic spaces and a rooftop terrace.
The Edificio Metrópolis is a French Beaux-Arts style landmark located at the junction of Gran Vía and Calle de Alcalá.
The Metrópolis was inaugurated in 1911 for an insurance company, though it now stands as one of Madrid’s most famous and photographed buildings.
While its interior is closed to the public, visitors flock to marvel at its stunning neo-renaissance exterior, which includes a black slate dome, a winged victory statue and gold detailing.
This year, the building will begin a new chapter as Club Metrópolis, which will house a 6,000 m2 an exclusive private club, a 19-room boutique hotel and seven gastronomic spaces.
The project aims to recapture the historic property’s original splendour 115 years after it first opened its doors.
After five years of development, the venue will also feature a rooftop terrace and an annual calendar of 200 member events, establishing it as one of Madrid’s most unique new landmarks.
Though Club Metrópolis is yet to open to the public on 21 January, its membership application quota has already been met, and a waiting list has since been launched for those interested in becoming members.
The Edificio Metrópolis is an iconic landmark located at the corner of Gran Vía and Calle de Alcalá in Madrid
On 21 January, the building will begin a new chapter as Club Metrópolis, which will feature 6,000 m2 an exclusive private club and a 19-room boutique hotel
Once open, the club hopes to position itself as benchmark on the international circuit of private clubs under the umbrella of Grupo Paraguas, as reported by Spain Travel News.
It comes as Madrid was revealed as the second-best-value short-haul destination for 2026, in KAYAK’s 2026 What The Future (WTF) Report.
On average, flights to the Spanish capital cost £101.
It was beaten on price by Dublin, which has average return flights costing just £93, making it the cheapest place for Brits to head for a mini break.
In its report, KAYAK found that nearly 66 per cent of holidaymakers plan to take several mini trips this year.
These mini escapes deliver the same refresh in half the time – and need far less planning.
The share of flight searches for one to four-day holidays has increased by eight per cent within the last year, while the use of #weekendgetaway increased by 60 per cent on TikTok.
KAYAK’s findings have been made up of combined insights from a survey of 14,000 holidaymakers, including 2,029 UK ‘next gen travellers’, social and cultural research, and expert commentary.
The project aims seeks to recapture the historic property’s original splendour and establish it as one of Madrid’s new unique landmarks
The report also found how much of an impact AI is having on travel planning.
Some 31 per cent of UK respondents say they now trust an AI recommendation more than friends or social media, while 32 per cent confess they trust AI’s picks because it pulls advice from millions of sources.
Matthias Keller, Chief Product Officer, KAYAK, commented: ‘In 2026, AI will become an even more powerful, invisible engine behind travel, anticipating what travellers need before they ask and removing friction at every step.
‘The future of travel isn’t just smarter; it’s more human and personalised, with technology enhancing the experience along the way.’
