First Look: Iberia’s New Emerald Lounge Sorolla at Madrid Barajas Airport

Iberia Airlines just launched the brand-new, ultrapremium Emerald Lounge Sorolla in Teminal T4 at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) this September.

As airlines and credit card companies continue to open and renovate lounges, Iberia wasn’t one to be left out. The carrier hadn’t opened a new airport lounge since 2017, so I was excited to hear the airline was stepping up its game with this glamorous new space. It seems that, in anticipation of its 100th anniversary in 2027, the airline is following the growing trend of investing in premium experiences for travelers.

The luxury lounge is part of a €6 billion ($6.9 billion) strategy, the 2030 Flight Plan, which also includes the incorporation of up to 25 new Airbus A350s, A321XLRs, and A330neos, and the renovation of 100% of the cabins on the airline’s long-haul aircraft (we’re looking forward to that) over the next few years.

Upgraded Points was invited to visit the brand-new lounge. Here’s everything you can expect from the new space, including what it’s like inside and how to enter.

Location

As soon as you exit security in T4 in Madrid, you’ll likely spot Iberia’s Dalí Premium Lounge ahead, but this isn’t the airline’s new lounge. Instead, turn left and continue past the Burger King, and you’ll then see the glowing letters on the lounge.

Lounge

The 9,600-square-foot lounge has a capacity of up to 128 and is divided into sections ideal for working, relaxing, drinking, dining, and even sleeping or showering. It was designed by architect and industrial designer Patricia Urquiola, who won Spain’s 2025 National Design Award.

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The lounge has distinct areas for different activities.

One of the lounge’s most interesting aspects is the fact that it doesn’t really have any traditional walls. It’s been seamlessly incorporated into T4’s architecture with its wavy high ceilings and colored columns. Ceilings are high, and the walls are made of frosted glass and clear glass panels, continuing up with netting to the ceiling, overlooking gates J53 and J52 and the airport’s expanse beyond.

Although it doesn’t have traditional runway views like many airport lounges, much of the lounge is bathed in Spanish sunshine during the daylight hours, rolling in from the high ceilings and glass walls, and it feels set away from the hustle and bustle of the main airport, even though it’s also sort of right in the middle of it all.

In line with Iberia’s general focus on celebrating the brand’s Spanish roots, the lounge’s furniture is 100% Spanish-designed. As I mentioned before, the lounge is separated into different seating areas. There’s a spot for dining, a circular bar ideal for hanging out with a coffee or cocktail, a smaller room with bar seating, pods best for relaxing or quietly working, and areas for groups or families that want comfortable seating with tables.

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You could stretch your feet out or work.

Although the lounge isn’t massive, the spaces ensure that there’s something for everyone, and because it’s filled with light and has high ceilings, it feels spacious. There are floor and table chargers (USB and standard power outlets) throughout the lounge, so it’s easy to charge devices.

I was with my family when I entered the lounge, so we spent time relaxing in the comfortable seating and in the dining area. Without my kid, I definitely would have settled in at the more private pods — or perhaps a seat at the bar if I were with friends.

Food and Beverages

The first thing I noticed about the gastronomic selection was that it was very Spanish, which made me happy. Iberia is a Spanish legacy brand, and many travelers who visit the country love that Spain, despite its high tourism levels, manages to maintain a strong focus on its local food and culture.

When I arrived, it was still snack and tapas time, around noon. This meant Serrano ham sandwiches, gazpacho, and tapas such as blood sausage, chorizo, Padrón peppers, Spanish olives, and croquettes, as well as some fresh salads and other snacks.

The small Serrano ham sandwich on a crusty baguette with olive oil was so flavorful that I wanted another, but when I went back to the buffet, it was lunchtime, so the sandwiches had been replaced with codfish, pasta, and a braised pork cheek so tender and flavorful that I ate the entire thing in just moments.

And the desserts. Oh, the desserts! I limited myself to just a slice of almond cake, a famous sweet treat from Galicia, but the mousse, cakes, flan, and crema Catalana, a Spanish-style crème brûlée, all looked delicious.

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A close-up of flan and other desserts.

I practically had to drag my son away from the white chocolate and milk chocolate fountains, where you could dip fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, melon, and more) into the flowing confection.

According to staff, the lounge serves breakfast then switches to snacks and tapas until lunchtime. After lunch, the food menu goes back to tapas again until around 8 p.m., when dinner is served (the same menu as lunch).

You could grab soft drinks and water for yourself, and the bar offered cocktails, like a Negroni or an espresso martini. The only thing that felt slightly off-brand was the Porn Star Martini, which I found odd as one of the 5 main cocktails offered in the otherwise highbrow space.

The bar also served 6 wines. For white, you could choose from chardonnay, verdejo, or albariño (my personal favorite), and for red, Toro, Rioja, and Ribera, plus bubbles. I appreciated that most of the wines were Spanish, though instead of offering cava, the lounge had Champagne, which you could get at the bar or at the small Champagne stand where you first entered the space.

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The circular bar is gorgeous.

There was also a small stand with lemonade, nuts, chips, and violetas, a floral hard candy popular in Madrid.

Amenities

Besides the various seating areas, bar, and buffet, the lounge also had a few showers that you could reserve access to at the front desk. The shower rooms were fully stocked with slippers, towels, and small toiletries. Bathrooms featured products from Spanish brands Lowe and my personal favorite, Cereria Mollá 1899 (they make the best soap and candles). You could also use lockers for luggage or other items if needed.

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The nap rooms were quiet and inviting.

There were also 2 small nap rooms with single beds and benches to store luggage. I was only taking a quick midday flight to Paris from Madrid, but these would be amazing if you were flying in on a red-eye from the U.S. and then heading elsewhere in Europe or Spain after a layover. You can also reserve these rooms at the lounge’s reception desk.

Service

From the moment I walked in to the moment I left, service was amazing. I worked with the Iberia press office to access the lounge, but none of the staff members, except the person who checked me in, knew I was press. The bartenders were friendly, and staff members were constantly walking around picking up plates and glasses and asking me if I needed anything. One of them brought me a coffee, and I noticed them speaking to other guests and asking them if they needed anything.

I appreciate that Iberia is focusing on customer service, because luxury isn’t limited to just the hard product. Friendly and helpful treatment can go a long way in a lounge, especially if your flight is delayed or you’re jet-lagged during a long layover.

How To Access the Emerald Lounge Sorolla

Business-class travelers have to head to other Iberia lounges, as the Emerald Lounge Sorolla is reserved for Oneworld Emerald, Iberia Platino, Platino Prime, Infinita, Infinita Prime, and Singular members. Technically, the lounge is for those traveling on short- and medium-haul flights boarding from areas H, J, K, and M, but you could try to enter the lounge before going to T4S for non-Schengen flights. Just make sure you leave plenty of time to get to your gate afterward, as you still have to pass through customs and take the train.

Final Thoughts

The opening of the sophisticated Emerald Lounge Sorolla signifies a few things. The first is that Iberia is focusing on premium experiences, and I can’t wait to see how the airline upgrades its business class (or perhaps we’ll see the addition of first class?).

The second is the emphasis on maintaining and highlighting its national heritage. Iberia is the flag carrier of Spain, and I’m thrilled to see that, on the cusp of its centenary, the brand is focusing on its roots, from the name of the lounge (Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida was a famous Spanish artist) to the cuisine, wine, and even design of the space itself.

I can’t wait to return to this lounge (Oneworld Emerald status, I’m coming for you!) and, as a Spanish resident whose home airport is Madrid-Barajas, I’m also looking forward to seeing what comes next from Iberia — especially in the premium space.