✨ At The Sun Places we know that luxury is much more than a commercial transaction; it is an experience, a lifestyle, a way of understanding the city.
That's why we invite you to discover Madrid Luxury District (MLD), the association that has revolutionised the Madrid Golden Mile.
Founded in 2018, Madrid Luxury District brings together the main national and international luxury brands located in Madrid, with the aim of transforming the city into a world-class destination for high-impact tourism, comparable to Paris, London or Milan.
The Sun Places invites you to immerse yourself in this universe of exclusivity, staying in our Luxury Apartments in Madrid in the heart of the Madrid Golden Mile.
Madrid Luxury District is much more than a merchants' association. It is a city project, a strategic alliance between the world's most prestigious brands and public administrations to turn Madrid into a global showcase for luxury, culture and exclusive experiences.
Its epicentre is Ortega y Gasset Street, but its influence has spread to the entire Salamanca District and beyond.
Walking through the streets of the Madrid Golden Mile and knowing that behind every shop window there is a brand that is part of Madrid Luxury District is to understand the transformation that the capital has experienced in the last decade.
The Sun Places wants this experience to be part of your stay.
Madrid Luxury District was born at a key moment for the city. The Spanish capital was beginning to arouse the interest of the major international luxury groups, but it lacked a platform that would unify efforts, give coherence to the Madrid luxury narrative and project a unique image abroad.
That was when a group of visionary brands decided to take the step. Below, we tell you its fascinating history, its founding and current partners, its most outstanding events and its impact on the city.
📜 History and foundation of Madrid Luxury District
The history of Madrid Luxury District is deeply linked to the career of its founder, Inmaculada Pérez Castellanos. A lawyer by training and a fashionista by vocation, Inmaculada is the daughter and granddaughter of merchants and has spent more than three decades advising major international brands on their establishment in Madrid.
Her experience in the "soft landing" of luxury brands in the city was the seed of a larger project: to create a platform that would give coherence, narrative and community to Madrid luxury.
Thus Madrid Luxury District (MLD) was born, an association that began on the Ortega y Gasset axis (the historic Golden Mile) and which has now opened up to other areas of the city such as Salesas and Justicia, expanding the map of Madrid luxury without losing its essence.
The association was officially constituted in April 2018, although its public presentation took place on 6 December 2018 at an event held at the Lavinia wine shop and restaurant, at 16 José Ortega y Gasset Street.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid, which demonstrates the institutional support for the project from its inception.
In the words of its founder, the aim was always clear: "to help the Ortega y Gasset area reach its true potential", because "Madrid is in fashion" and "we want to collaborate so that this is not just a passing fad, but something sustainable over time, as is the case with Paris and London".
Madrid Luxury District was established as a non-profit association, a space for meeting, collaboration and commitment between partner brands.
👥 Founding partners and current members
The founding partners of Madrid Luxury District were known as "the twelve brave ones", a group of brands that believed in the project when many considered it impossible.
These founding partners included Bvlgari, Chanel, Dior, Dinh Van, Entredós Antigüedades, Jimmy Choo, Lavinia, Loro Piana, Nicol´s, Oliver Peoples, Tiffany & Co., and the consultancy Pérez Castellanos as an honorary partner.
Currently, Madrid Luxury District is made up of 16 partner brands that represent the best of national and international luxury. These include:
- Bless Collection Hotel Madrid
- Santo Mauro, Luxury Collection Hotel
Although initially the association was made up exclusively of international brands, over time it has opened up to national brands and luxury experiences beyond retail, such as five-star hotels and emblematic gastronomic establishments.
This growth reflects Madrid Luxury District's vocation to be a comprehensive ecosystem of Madrid luxury.
🏛️ Presidents and management structure
The presidency of Madrid Luxury District has fallen to prominent representatives of the luxury sector. The first president was Daniel Vicente Nicolás Miras, representing the third generation of Nicol's, one of Madrid's historic jewellers. Under his mandate, MLD laid the foundations for its cultural and commercial revitalisation strategy.
Subsequently, the presidency was assumed by Jordi Cantós, who led the association during the organisation of emblematic events such as the first Xmas Market in 2021.
Later, Estefanía Bascuñana served as president, highlighting the unique character of Ortega y Gasset Street as a space that creates experiences for citizens through shopping, gastronomy and exclusive hospitality.
The vice-presidency has been held by figures such as Juan Manuel Belver, who has been a regular spokesman for the association.
The management structure of Madrid Luxury District is agile and action-oriented, with a clear vocation for service to its members and collaboration with public administrations.
The founder, Inmaculada Pérez Castellanos, remains the soul of the project, acting as founding partner and main driver of MLD's strategic vision.
🎯 Objectives and vision of Madrid Luxury District
The objective of Madrid Luxury District is ambitious: to place Madrid on a par with the great European luxury capitals. As its founder explains, "I carry luxury and commerce in my heart.
Before, the traveller arrived in Madrid attracted by its museums and gastronomy, today luxury shopping is part of the plan". MLD seeks to "attract quality tourists and collaborate between brands" to achieve its ultimate aim: "to place Madrid at the level of the great European capitals".
The specific objectives of Madrid Luxury District include:
- To turn the Ortega y Gasset area into a "socio-cultural hub, a canvas on which things happen", with cultural, artistic and sporting events for locals and tourists.
- To attract high-spending tourists and position Madrid as a world-class shopping destination, on a par with Paris, London or Milan.
- To promote strategic synergies between partner brands, public administrations and other cultural and tourism agents.
- To work on the improvement of the urban environment (trees, street furniture, cleanliness) as spokespersons for the district before the City Council.
The founding president, Daniel Nicolás, explained at the time that the project is not limited to shopping tourism: "It is a city project, in which we sell our district, but also Madrid.
It is about turning this area into a socio-cultural hub, a canvas on which things happen".
For her part, Inmaculada Pérez Castellanos insists that "we want excellent, exclusive, aspirational brands, but above all that offer unforgettable experiences".
🎭 Exclusive events of Madrid Luxury District
Madrid Luxury District has made the organisation of cultural and social events its hallmark. These experiences, many of them free and open to the public, have energised the Golden Mile and attracted thousands of visitors. The most outstanding include:
- Madrid Luxury Art: Exhibition of large-format sculptures in Ortega y Gasset Street and in the associated boutiques. In its fourth edition, dedicated to the sculptor Baltasar Lobo, it brought together seven large-format sculptures in the public thoroughfare and twenty small and medium-sized ones inside the establishments.
- Xmas Market: Christmas market inspired by those in the main European capitals, which in its fifth edition brought together more than 60 brands of crafts, design, decoration, flowers, art and gastronomy, with live carols and charitable activities.
- Christmas lighting: One of MLD's first actions was to sponsor a special lighting display on Ortega y Gasset Street with illuminated cherry blossom trees, which has become an annual tradition.
- Exclusive gatherings: MLD organises private evenings to strengthen ties with international communities, such as the meeting with the Mexican community in Madrid, which brought together representatives from the business, diplomatic and cultural spheres.
- Cultural activities: The association collaborates with events such as ARCOmadrid, Madrid Art Week, and has organised street exhibitions coinciding with major cultural events.
These events have been made possible thanks to collaboration with institutions such as Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid, as well as with private sponsors and cultural entities such as AGM Group Art.
🎭 What Madrid Luxury District represents for the city and The Sun Places
Madrid Luxury District represents the consolidation of Madrid as the luxury capital of southern Europe. It has managed to transform a high-end commercial area into an experiential destination, where shopping is accompanied by art, music, gastronomy and exclusive events.
The association has managed to involve public administrations in a common project, demonstrating that luxury and culture can go hand in hand to generate wealth and international projection.
For The Sun Places, being part of the Madrid Luxury District ecosystem is a natural extension of our philosophy of offering complete luxury experiences.
That is why our Luxury Apartments in Madrid are located in the heart of the Madrid Golden Mile, just a few steps from Ortega y Gasset Street, Serrano Street and Velázquez, and from the events organised by Madrid Luxury District.
Furthermore, MLD is connected to other major events and places in the capital that we have explored in other articles: Madrid Luxury Music, The Art Mile, Vogue Fashion Night Out, and of course, the haute cuisine of the Michelin Starred Restaurants in Madrid. All of this makes the Madrid Golden Mile a unique destination in the world.
✨ The perfect plan with The Sun Places to discover Madrid Luxury District
Friday: Arrival and first immersion.
- In the afternoon, a walk along Ortega y Gasset Street to admire the shops associated with Madrid Luxury District
Saturday: Shopping and art day
- In the morning, you tour the boutiques of MLD brands (Cartier, Bulgari, Celine, etc.)
- Lunch at La Duquesita or at Lavinia
Sunday: Relaxation and farewell.
- Brunch at Rosewood Villa Magna (one of MLD's partners)
- A final walk along the Madrid Golden Mile to buy a final treat
Ready to discover Madrid Luxury District on the Madrid Golden Mile with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact us and let us organise your perfect getaway.
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville, Luxury Apartments in Cádiz, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Luxury Apartments in Córdoba.