Chueca

Room Mate Oscar

★★★★★

Room Mate Oscar is the hotel for travellers who want to stay in the middle of Madrid's most vibrant neighbourhood. It stands on the Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, the square at the heart of Chueca, the district north of the Gran Vía that is the centre of the city's LGBTQ+ life and one of its liveliest areas for eating, drinking and shopping. Room Mate is a Spanish brand of design hotels with a friendly, informal style, and Oscar is one of its signature properties: bright colours, playful furniture and a contemporary look throughout, from the lobby to the rooms. Room types range from standard and deluxe doubles to triples, junior suites and suites, so there is a choice for couples, friends and small families. The great attraction is the rooftop terrace, with 360-degree views over the rooftops of Chueca and the Gran Vía and a pool that can be used in summer. It is a sociable place for a drink and a swim, and it hosts events. Breakfast is a continental buffet with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, served until midday, which suits a city where people dine late and go out later. The hotel is dog-friendly, has free wifi, laundry service and meeting rooms, and holds the Green Key sustainable tourism certificate. It has no parking, but there are special rates at nearby car parks. The location is excellent: Chueca and Gran Vía metro stations are close by, the Mercado de San Antón and dozens of tapas bars, restaurants and cocktail lounges are within a few minutes' walk, Malasaña is just to the west, and the Gran Vía and the Puerta del Sol are a short stroll south.

Who it suits: couples and friends who want nightlife, restaurants and shopping on their doorstep; LGBTQ+ travellers looking for a welcoming base in the heart of Chueca; design lovers; and travellers with dogs. It is not the quietest choice: Chueca is lively, especially on weekend nights and during Madrid Pride at the end of June and beginning of July, when the area is the centre of the celebrations. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the square.

Living in it: use the rooftop pool in summer, but expect it to be busy on hot weekends. The late breakfast is perfect after a long night out. Explore the Mercado de San Antón for a casual lunch or a rooftop drink, and walk to Malasaña for vintage shopping. For culture, the Prado and the Thyssen are about twenty minutes away on foot, and the metro links the area to the rest of the city. Check whether breakfast is included in your rate, as it varies by booking.

Value: rates are in the middle range for central Madrid, good value for the location and the rooftop pool, with higher prices on weekends and during Pride and major events. Madrid does not currently charge a tourist tax. Choose it for a colourful, sociable stay in one of Madrid's most fun neighbourhoods.