Within the heart of Madrid’s Barrio de Salamanca, and overlooking two of the district’s most compelling streets — Calle Hermosilla and Calle Lagasca — is the new 64 bedroom hotel, TÓTEM.
Set in a grand building that dates from the 19th century, it’s undergone a large restoration to bring it up to modern day standards, and beyond; contemporary touches and refined elegance, whilst retaining original touches like that imposing staircase. There’s five floors, and each room features huge windows with views over either a bright courtyard, or the surrounding leafy streets — oak furniture, black marble bathrooms, and ceilings with original plaster work complete the swank appeal.
Barcelona-based design house Corium masterminded the interiors, whilst touches of local Madrid life are apparent throughout the hotel: chocolates from fifth generation chocolatier Matias Lopez, and amenities by Hand Made Beauty (TÓTEM being the first hotel in Madrid to carry these organic, natural products).
Set to open in the autumn is the restaurant, Hermosos y Malditos (Beautiful and Damned), which is inspired by the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of the same name and headed up by the guys behind hugely popular pop-up, Table By…; where top chefs from around the country brought regional specialities to the table for a month at a time, new interiors and installations changing the scene with each menu.
