Hostal CC Atocha

The receptionist was nice and helpful, and they let me leave my bags there before check-in since I arrived early. My room had a private bathroom that was clean with great water pressure, though it was super small. A lovely little spot, close to the train station and subway, so I'd recommend it.

The staff were marvelous, attentive, and engaging. The location is excellent for Atocha station and Museo del Prado, with lots of welcoming restaurants nearby. I picked the hotel for its convenience to Atocha. My room was small but very clean. The bed was extremely firm, the fitted sheet didn't fit, and there were no washcloths. I'd recommend it only if you're traveling with little luggage.

We stayed one night as a couple in August while passing through. We knew when we booked that this was a hostel, not a hotel. The room was what you'd expect for the price: clean, simple, small but functional, and the bed was comfortable. The air-conditioning and TV were great, and the WiFi worked well. The bathroom was awkward because there was no privacy door. The shower was okay, but its head kept turning and wouldn't stay in the holder. There's a small convenience store one block away. We'd told the hostel when we were arriving, but our train got us there a little early, at 1315hrs. They were VERY strict and made us wait outside on the street with our suitcases. There was no reception area to wait in and nowhere to leave our bags early. We couldn't enter until EXACTLY 2pm, when the codes came via WhatsApp. You need codes for three doors before you reach the hostel. The elevator works, but it's slow. An attendant was at the check-in desk from 2pm to 5pm. The receptionist kindly lent us a train pass until we bought our own. The poor service was frustrating, and we're unlikely to come back or recommend it. Make sure you're comfortable with your travel companion given the bathroom setup.

The apartment is modern, and the room was bright, clean, a good size, and had a comfortable bed. There are lots of places to eat nearby. It's about a 10-minute walk from Atocha train station. Self check-in uses a pin code from the main entrance right through to your room. The front desk is only staffed during office hours.