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AIRE Ancient Baths will transform Canalejas into a wellness retreat
AIRE Ancient Baths will open a large luxury spa next to Puerta del Sol, occupying the lower floor of Galería Canalejas. The project transforms the complex’s former dining space into a 2,200-square-metre wellness centre, with an investment of 21.5 million euros.
The opening marks a clear shift for one of the most visible commercial enclaves in central Madrid. The place that until two years ago housed the Food Hall will leave dining behind to focus on an experience more connected with rest, relaxation and personal care.
The new centre will have independent access from Calle Alcalá. Its proposal will be inspired by Greek and Roman baths, with the usual AIRE Ancient Baths hallmark: spaces of calm, historical ambience and circuits designed to disconnect from the rhythm of the city without leaving the centre.
The brand already operates in cities such as New York, Chicago, Toronto, London and Copenhagen, always with a similar idea: to restore distinctive buildings and turn them into urban refuges for wellbeing. Its arrival in Madrid reinforces a trend that is increasingly visible in major capitals, where luxury is no longer measured only in shopping or gastronomy.
The agreement with OHLA, owner of the commercial area of Galería Canalejas, marks a new stage for the complex after the closure of the dining space. The arrival of AIRE Ancient Baths seeks to bring activity back to an area located beneath the Four Seasons hotel and surrounded by luxury shops.
The project may also change the type of public that comes to Canalejas. In addition to tourists and shoppers, the new spa aims to attract Madrid residents seeking a special experience in the centre, whether as a plan to unwind, a gift or a brief escape within the city itself.
Galería Canalejas has spent years adjusting its offering since reopening, in an environment where hotels, premium retail, offices, visitors and residents coexist, crossing daily between Sol, Alcalá and the Carrera de San Jerónimo. Replacing the food hall with a spa shows how the complex continues to seek its place on Madrid's luxury map.
The arrival of AIRE Ancient Baths sends a clear signal about central Madrid: landmark spaces no longer compete only to sell, but to offer time, calm and experiences that are hard to find in daily routine. In an area marked by noise, haste and tourism, a large spa beneath Canalejas may become a very carefully calculated pause.