Room Mate Óscar

Room Mate Óscar is a lively design hotel on the Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, the main square of Chueca, the heart of LGBTQ+ Madrid and one of the city's best areas for bars, restaurants and independent shops. It belongs to Room Mate, a Spanish hotel group known for colourful interiors and a friendly, informal style.

The hotel has a range of room categories, from standard and deluxe rooms to triples, junior suites, mini suites and suites, so it works for solo travellers, couples and small groups of friends. Interiors are bold and playful, with bright colours and contemporary furniture, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal. The location means you rarely need public transport in the evening, as dozens of bars and restaurants are within a few minutes' walk.

The highlight is La Terraza de Óscar, the rooftop terrace. It offers 360-degree views over the rooftops of Chueca and the centre, Balinese beds for lounging, and cocktails, and in summer there is a pool. On warm evenings it becomes one of the area's popular places for a drink, so it can be busy and lively; if you are staying, it is worth going up earlier in the day for a quieter moment in the sun.

The hotel suits travellers who want to be in the middle of the action. Chueca is full of bars, cafés and restaurants, the shops of Calle de Fuencarral are a few minutes away, and Gran Vía is just to the south, with its theatres and department stores. It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet retreat, as the square and surrounding streets are busy at weekends and during festivals such as Madrid Pride in summer, when the neighbourhood is at its busiest.

Chueca metro station on line 5 is a few minutes' walk away, and Gran Vía station, on lines 1 and 5, is around five minutes south. From there it is easy to reach Sol, the Royal Palace and the museums. The Mercado de San Antón, a modern food market with a rooftop terrace, is close by, and the Museo del Romanticismo and the bars of Malasaña are within a short walk.