Casino de Madrid – A Remarkable Landmark in the Spanish Capital

The building was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, and it’s an example of neoclassical architecture , housing an impressive collection of art and antiques. The casino continues to be a point of reference in the cultural and social life of the city, maintaining its reputation as one of the most exclusive and elegant clubs in Europe.

The Real Casino de Madrid Now

El Casino de Madrid, also known as The Real Casino de Madrid, is a social and cultural club that includes a wide range of entertainment options today. It has game rooms, a gourmet restaurant, bars and spaces for private and corporate events. The building, located on Calle Alcalá, was designed in a traditional style at the beginning of the 19th century as a social club.

It has a stunning access staircase designed by José López Sallaberry and decorated with sculptures by Ángel García Díaz. It also has nine halls, including the famous royal hall “salón real Casino de Madrid”, and rooms for dining, billiards, cards, and a library. The interior is decorated with works by famous Spanish painters and sculptures by Mateo Inurria and Mariano Benlliure.

The building was declared a Monument of Cultural Interest in 1993 (Bien de Interés Cultural) and currently operates as the NH Collection Casino de Madrid. Other than popular landmarks, if gambling piques your interest, you should know that the best online casinos in Spain are worth exploring. These reputable operators are licensed, secure, and provide a diverse selection of games, payment options, and bonuses.

The Casino de Madrid on Calle Alcalá has seen a decline in its cultural and social services due to the decrease in members. However, the building is used for film shoots and television commercials. A service concession company, Gran Círculo de Madrid S.A., is in charge of exploiting the spaces and offering them for conferences, gala dinners, and other events.

The company also finances the restoration works and rearrangement of the building. Among its current services is La Terraza del Casino, a restaurant owned by Ferran Adrià that has a Michelin Star and is renowned for its international gastronomy. The new period is marked by harmony between the casino partners and the services provided by the concessionary company.

Casino de Madrid on Calle Alcalá – History

The Casino de Madrid on Calle Alcalá was founded as a society for recreation of the upper class during a time when the spirit of association was emerging in Europe. It had various locations and names before settling on its current name and headquarters on its current street in 1910. The building was elegantly decorated and offered luxury social services to its members.

The Real Casino de Madrid became a representation of the elite, like the Casino de la Rabassada in Barcelona. However, the institution suffered a decline period in the 20th century and was restructured to include private social activities. El Casino de Madrid was a popular meeting point for the Madrid nobility and high bourgeoisie at the end of the 19th century.

It’s important to differentiate five epochs of the Casino de Madrid, since it changed its location several times across history for several reasons. This was due to the changing political situation of the country, the Spanish Civil War, and the rapid growth of the Society, among other motives. The different epochs that the casino lived through are the following:

Café de Solito

The casino, a social club in Madrid, was initially formed as a gathering of members at the Sólito café located next to the Spanish Theatre. The café was not crowded and was often referred to as “de Solito”. The members sought a quiet environment where they could talk, play games, and discuss current issues in a relaxed and friendly manner.

Calle del Príncipe

Due to the continuous growth of its membership, the casino had to relocate to its own premises on Calle del Príncipe 12. This led to the building the interior decoration remained consistent with the luxurious furniture from its previous site.

Marqués de Santiago Palace

The headquarters of the casino is moved for the third time to the palace of the Marqués de Santiago located at Carrera de San Jerónimo 29. In fact, it was a centre of aristocratic entertainment in Madrid. The building was rented entirely to the casino, and despite its transfer, it continues to be called del Príncipe.

The first sessions of the casino in the Palace date from the autumn of 1848. The casino maintains its public festivals, such as carnivals, dance nights, concerts, etc. During the moderate decade (1844-1854), the casino strengthened its social position in the life of Madrid as political turmoil subsided and years of calm were known.

Café Suizo

After relocating from the Palace of the Marqués de Santiago, the Society moved to Café Suizo, situated opposite the popular Café de Fornos. This decision was based on the spaciousness and elegance of the rooms and the proximity to the previous headquarters. The casino left behind a tumultuous period in its history.

Current Headquarters

In 1902, the Society decided to move to its own building. An international competition was called for architectural projects, and the jury chose the project by Guillaume Tronchet, but it was rejected, and Antonio Palacios’ projects were bought instead. The final project, signed by Luis Esteve, was presented in 1905, and the Casino de Madrid on Calle Alcalá was eventually completed in 1910.

With the arrival of the Second Republic, the casino suffered a strong crisis and was closed by the Republican Left party. During the Civil War, the building was seized to be converted into a hospital, and after the war, it was restored but failed to recover its past splendour. In 1987, the possibility of incorporating women as casino members was accepted.

Members

The Real Casino de Madrid originated as an exclusive leisure space for the upper classes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily catering to men and barring women from membership. Prospective members had to fulfil strict requirements, often through patronage or familial connections, and were typically from the nobility or high bourgeoisie.

“Casinistas” referred to the members of this society, with number partners having decision-making power on the Board of Directors, and temporary partners drawn from the foreign diplomatic corps or government officials who did not reside in the city. El Casino de Madrid also employed a system of servants who were required to obey and serve the partners.

The early servants were organised in a hierarchical system and wore luxurious clothing. The patronage system remains in place today, with business partners added to the typology. Women were only admitted as companions to the dining room or private room until 1987 when they were finally allowed full membership. Consequently, membership has increased since then.

The casino players were involved in various activities, including finance, politics, the military, writing, and professions such as journalism and law. Probably, if they were alive today, they would enjoy the top casino operators in Spain, which offer plenty of games, promotions, mobile compatibility and accept a wide range of payment methods.

The casino was modelled after English Clubs from the 18th century, such as the Boodle’s Club and Brooks’s Club. The interconnection between members created a social network that fostered political debates and introduced members to public life. NH Collection Casino de Madrid is now associated with other clubs worldwide, allowing members free access while travelling.

The patronage system is still in place, and now includes business partners, consisting of four partners who own the legal entity. The leadership of the casino is held by a President, with Alfredo Alvar Exquerra in charge since March 2022, followed by other prominent personalities. Alfredo Alvar Exquerra is a Spanish historian specialised in his country’s modern history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before this blog post about Casino de Madrid came to an end, we wanted to show you a few frequently asked questions. They will help you clarify any doubts you may have. Keep in mind that the answers will jump to the paragraph of your interest. We hope that you find them helpful, see them below: