Travel Guide: Madrid's Mad Cool Festival in July

July in Madrid pulses with an electric energy that transcends the capital's already intoxicating summer rhythm. The Mad Cool Festival returns for its eighth edition from July 10 to 12, 2025, transforming the Iberdrola Music venue into a sonic playground where musical legends and emerging artists converge under the Spanish sun. This isn't merely a festival—it's a cultural phenomenon that has rapidly ascended to become one of Europe's most coveted musical experiences, a three-day symphony of sound that resonates long after the final encore.

MAdrid at night. PHoto Credit: PocholoCalapre, iStock / Getty Images Plus

The 2025 lineup reads like a curator's dream: Olivia Rodrigo, Kings of Leon, Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams, Nine Inch Nails, Alanis Morissette, and Weezer headline alongside Iggy Pop, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Justice, Glass Animals, and St. Vincent. This year introduces an exciting new dimension with Brunch Electronik x Mad Cool on Sunday, July 13th, bringing top-tier electronic music to extend the festival's sonic journey.

The magic of Mad Cool lies not only in its stellar curation but in its setting—the spacious Iberdrola Music Venue provides breathtaking views and state-of-the-art stages that frame performances against Madrid's golden hour light. For those seeking elevated experiences, VIP passes grant access to exclusive entrances, privileged terrace viewing of the main stages, relaxation areas, and bar service at reduced prices—the perfect balance of festival energy and refined comfort.

Palaces and Penthouses

After the festival lights dim, the speakers fall silent, and the crowds disperse, Madrid's luxury hospitality scene is replete with offerings that rival those of any European capital. The city has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with a new generation of five-star properties setting unprecedented standards for sophisticated accommodation.

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid stands as the crown jewel, remaining the only hotel in Spain to earn Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards for both the hotel and spa. Housed within seven historic buildings dating back to 1887, this property offers 200 guest rooms and suites alongside a private art collection featuring over 1,500 pieces. The grand lobby reveals 3,700 restored artifacts, including original teller counters, stained glass, and gilt-topped green marble columns from the banks that previously occupied the space.

Matthew Healy from the band The 1975 perfoms on stage at Madcool Festival on July 13, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Photo CRDIT: Javier Bragado, WireImage / GETTY IMAGES.

The showpiece of Madrid’s most prominent four-level wellness center features a 14-meter indoor swimming pool beneath a glass skylight, creating an environment flooded with natural light, and the full size of the pool. The eighth-floor sun terrace affords vistas over Madrid's rooftops to the rolling hills beyond, while eight treatment rooms and spacious relaxation areas complete the spa experience. Rooms come stocked with local touches, including jamón Ibérico and vermouth in the minibar. At the same time, the rooftop Dani Brasserie, helmed by celebrity chef Dani García, serves Spanish cuisine with stunning city views.

For those drawn to contemporary elegance, Thompson Madrid by Hyatt opened in September 2024, situated along Calle de la Montera, and offers 175 luxurious guest rooms and suites, as well as a rooftop bar and pool. The property perfectly captures Madrid's modern sophistication while maintaining intimate boutique sensibilities.

The recently restored Palace Hotel (formerly the Westin Palace) reopened in March 2025 as a Marriott Luxury Collection property, featuring 470 elegant guest rooms and suites situated across from the iconic Neptune Fountain. This centenarian icon has been meticulously renovated to blend Belle Époque grandeur with contemporary luxury.

Temples of Gastronomy

Madrid's culinary landscape has evolved into one of Europe's most dynamic scenes, with 28 Michelin-starred restaurants calling the city home as of 2025. DiverXO holds the singular distinction of three Michelin stars, while Deessa, Smoked Room, Paco Roncero, DSTAgE, and Coque each boast two stars.

At the pinnacle stands DiverXO, where chef Dabiz Muñoz has redefined luxury dining standards with his "Flying Pigs Cuisine"—a dreamlike culinary journey that earned him the title of World's Best Chef in 2024. The single tasting menu invites guests on a spectacular journey across global cuisines, with dishes bearing whimsical names like "Galician lobster waking up on the beaches of Goa," featuring lobster slow-roasted in a tandoor with buffalo milk skin, lobster head vindaloo, and lobster claw panipuri, all presented on an elephant. His "drunken crabs partying in Jerez" combines blue crab, cooked in a traditional Chinese style, with kimchi ice cream and wild strawberries—the crabs being an invasive species that DiverXO serves to help eradicate from Spanish waters.

The restaurant's theatrical interior, designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, features flying pigs on the walls—a tribute to Muñoz's childhood ambition, when his father told him, "Pigs would fly" before he owned a restaurant where people queued around the corner. Giant ants symbolize the teamwork required to execute this avant-garde experience, where each dish is served on smooth, white ceramic plates that resemble edible paintings.

Church of La Sagrada Familia from Antoni Gaudi at golden hour. Barcelona, Spain. Photo CREDIT: Eloi_Omella, istock / Getty Images Plus

At the legendary Mandarin Oriental Ritz, chef Quique Dacosta's Deessa has earned two Michelin stars in just two years, bringing his renowned three-Michelin-starred Valencian expertise to Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art. Set within the sumptuous Alfonso XIII salon with marble floors, enormous crystal chandeliers, and views across the Ritz garden, Deessa offers two tasting menus: "Histórico Quique Dacosta" featuring signature dishes from his Dénia flagship, and "Contemporáneo QDRITZ" with creations exclusive to Madrid.

Standout dishes include the Dénia prawn with chard tea and prawn emulsion, creamy rice with squid and smoked paprika from La Vera, and Galician red mullet served with its sauce, saffron, and a twelve-month Galmesano cheese emulsion. Chef Dacosta's narrative unfolds as "a tale of sea and land," showcasing elegant dishes that explore Mediterranean and Extremadura flavors with uncompromising technical precision.

For a more intimate experience, Corral de la Morería combines world-class flamenco with Michelin-starred dining in just four tables for a maximum of eight guests. The restaurant boasts one of the world's largest sherry collections, featuring bottles dating back to the 19th century. After dinner, guests can enjoy Spain's most authentic flamenco performances in the legendary venue, which has attracted the biggest stars in flamenco history.

Beyond the Stage

Madrid rewards those who venture beyond conventional luxury with experiences that capture the city's refined cultural essence. Jacada Travel offers bespoke private tours through the 'Golden Triangle of Art', including the world-renowned Prado Museum, featuring works by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco.

Art enthusiasts can arrange private tours at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, where the museum opens exclusively for small groups led by private guides through one of the world's finest private art collections. The Reina Sofía Museum also offers exclusive private tours for discerning visitors.

For shopping connoisseurs, Madrid Experience offers specialized shopping tours led by personal shoppers who guide guests through the city's most premium boutiques and exclusive local designers. These curated experiences showcase Spain's impressive array of luxury brands alongside renowned local artisans, featuring a range of traditional crafts and contemporary Spanish design.

"Hasta Luego"

Madrid in July offers a rare convergence of musical excellence and sophisticated luxury, where festival euphoria seamlessly transitions into the serenity of five-star hotels. The city's rhythm accommodates both the energy of Mad Cool's crowds and the refined pleasures of Michelin-starred dining, private museum tours, and palatial accommodations.

Madrid awaits, ready to soundtrack your summer with equal measures of musical magic and luxurious refinement. Whether you're drawn by the festival's stellar lineup, the city's culinary renaissance, or the allure of its newly minted luxury hotels, Madrid presents a compelling case for July indulgence. The memories of standing before Kings of Leon as the Spanish sun sets, then savoring innovative cuisine at DiverXO, followed by a peaceful morning at the Four Seasons spa, create a tapestry of experiences that exemplify the sophisticated traveler's ideal summer escape.

To make your journey as seamless as the adventure itself, trust Air Charter Guide to provide comprehensive and up-to-date flight booking information, ensuring every step of your travel is smooth and stress-free. Madrid is waiting, so let Air Charter Guide help you get there.