B&B Hotel Madrid Fuencarral 52

The entrance to the Hotel Sidorme Fuencarral 52 is easy to overlook in the hustle and bustle of the Fuencarral pedestrian zone. In the sleek, gray lobby, the check-in counter offers the first glimpse of the vertical wooden slats used as a design element throughout the hotel. The smart check-in machine is a welcome convenience, and the stairwell -- bright with hanging strings of LED lights -- offers a slower but prettier ascent than the elevator. On the fifth floor, there’s a pleasant self-serve coffee bar, with light wood and sage walls and green plastic seats. The small rooftop terrace overlooks the tile roofs of Madrid. It’s super stylish, with clever design touches like living walls and white fiberglass furniture that looks like modern art.

Located in one of Madrid’s trendiest neighborhoods, the Hotel Sidorme Fuencarral 52 is an easy walk from the shopping of Gran Via and many of the city’s biggest sights. It’s a buzzing, energetic place with a young vibe. The Chueca neighborhood, Madrid’s gay district, is chock-full of popular restaurants, lively cafes, and nightlife hotspots, though homesick Americans might make a beeline for the Starbucks across the street. Gran Via is one of the main thoroughfares in central Madrid, so expect crowds and traffic day and night. The subway, bus, and train are nearby, but most sights are within walking distance (and sometimes hoofing it is the fastest option). From the hotel by foot, it’s nine minutes to Gran Via, 14 minutes to Cibeles, 15 minutes to the Prado National Museum and to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, 17 minutes to Retiro Park, and 19 minutes to the Royal Palace of Madrid. It’s a 20-minute drive to Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Smart and minimalistic, the rooms at the Hotel Sidorme Fuencarral 52 have sparse white furniture and walls of light gray or brick. Those that face the street have doors that open onto Juliet balconies; wooden shutters and double-paned windows keep out the sounds of this late-night neighborhood. Some standard rooms are quite small, even by European standards, and some of these have sinks right next to the bed, an unconventional layout not everyone likes. Pure white beds are on raised platforms -- watch your shins! -- and instead of headboards, they back against floor-to-ceiling wooden slats. This clever design element hides the bathroom in some rooms, which means light from the bathroom shines into the bedroom. Instead of closets or armoires, rooms have metal racks with hangers and white shelves. The 32-inch flat-screen TVs hang over simple, white fiberglass desks and chairs. Under the desks are glass-door minibars with complimentary water and programmable safes. Bathrooms have white counters and hairdryers; shaving kits and toothbrushes are a thoughtful touch. Showers – there are no tubs -- have attractive distressed wood walls and two showerheads: rainfall and handheld. All rooms come with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

As a smaller boutique-style property, this hotel isn't flush with features, but it does offer a few pleasant touches to add to guests' comfort. On the fifth floor, the hotel has a pleasant self-serve cafeteria area that’s open 24/7. Here guests can enjoy free coffee, tea, juices, and fruit, get a snack from the vending machine, or use the microwave. A flat-screen TV hangs above the white tables and green chairs, and the many windows let in a lot of natural light. The small rooftop terrace has funky white fiberglass furniture and views over the tile roofs of Madrid. The smart check-in machine in the lobby is handy, and while there’s no breakfast, guests awaken to a bag on the doorknob with juice, fruit, and a small pastry -- a nice perk. One child under 12 can stay free in each room, and the hotel has free Wi-Fi.