The Hat Madrid

Sleeping cheaply a hundred metres from Plaza Mayor

The Hat is on Calle Imperial, between Plaza Mayor and Calle de Toledo, about four minutes' walk from the arcades and six from Puerta del Sol. It is a hostel with the air of a small hotel: it has private doubles, loft doubles, apartments and dormitories of 4, 6, 8 and 10 beds, with and without bathroom, and women-only rooms, which always have a bathroom inside. For a weekend without a car it is practical: La Latina is eight minutes' walk, the Royal Palace eleven and the Prado about twenty.

It does not publish fixed prices: you see them in its booking calendar according to date and room. Sheets are included; a towel can be rented for €3 and a locker padlock for €2. Breakfast, in the rates that include it, is served from 7:30 to 10:30, with coffee, toast, fruit and yoghurt.

The rooftop and what goes on below

At the very top there is a covered terrace with views over the rooftops and domes of the centre, with a bar, cocktails and a menu of dishes to share; it also opens to outside guests, who can book a table for lunch or dinner. Reception works 24 hours, there is a washing machine and dryer, an iron and a hairdryer, and the staff organise outings to meet people and see the city.

If you travel with children, only minors accompanied by adults are admitted, in a room with a private bathroom, not shared with other guests.

Arrival, departure and luggage

Check-in is from 15:00. If you arrive earlier, they keep your suitcase free in a locker room. After check-out, storage is free until 14:00 and then costs €3 per person. Late check-out depends on occupancy and has a small charge that reception will tell you. There is no car park of its own, but an arrangement with one 1.2 km away.

From the airport, metro line 8 takes you to Nuevos Ministerios; there you take Cercanías to Sol and walk six minutes.