Generator Madrid
200-bed Gran Vía machine with a rooftop hot tub and daily DJ
Wonderful
12,150 reviews
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Compare prices for Generator Madrid in Madrid
82%
Solo travelers
84%
Would stay again
91%
Made friends here
2 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
Generator Madrid is the flagship big-box hostel in town: Gran Vía-adjacent, 200 beds, rooftop hot tub, a proper DJ bar on the ground floor, and a bar crawl with actual scale. You trade intimacy for reliability — the front desk does not remember your name the way Ok Hostel's does, but you will find a group on night one without trying. Pick it if nightlife is your first priority and you want to be on the metro into Sol, Chueca, and Malasaña within minutes. Skip it if you want a chill rooftop with a view (The Hat wins there) or early sleep (the Saturday-night bar volume reaches the 3rd floor).
🎯 Insider Tips
- 1The rooftop hot tubs fill by 17:00 in summer — the 10:00 opening slot is genuinely empty and is the move if you want the view without the crowd.
- 2Happy hour 2-for-1 cocktails are honored at the rooftop bar too, not just the ground floor — climb up for the €5 gin-tonic window from 18:30.
- 3The 4th-floor female dorm is the quietest in the building — the DJ bass from the ground floor fades by floor 3.
- 4Bike rental (€12/day) is actually competitive for Malasaña-Retiro-Lavapiés — the bike paths on Calle Arenal + Paseo del Prado are wide and safe.
🔥 Why We Love It
Rooftop hot tubs are a rare find in Madrid at this price point
Happy hour 18-20 with 2-for-1 cocktails and a DJ — rest of the bar starts buzzing by 21
Gran Vía metro is a 1-minute walk and gets you anywhere in the city
Malasaña bars (Calle del Pez, Plaza del 2 de Mayo) are 2 blocks away for post-hostel drinks
En-suite bathrooms in every room including dorms — unusual at this size
📖 The Full Story
Generator Madrid occupies a full-block building on Calle San Bernardo, a minute's walk from Gran Vía metro and another two from Plaza de España. Two hundred beds spread over six floors, a rooftop terrace with two hot tubs and a bar, a restaurant running long hours, and a ground-floor bar with a DJ booth that fires up from 18:00 most nights. It is a machine, not a boutique — but the machine works and attracts the Erasmus, Interrail, and pub-crawl-first crowd in volume.
Rooms range from 4- to 8-bed mixed dorms (plus a female-only floor) to private doubles and twins. Every dorm bed has USB charging, a reading light, a stocking-net for valuables, and a private locker. Bathrooms are en-suite in all rooms, air conditioned, with serious water pressure — for a 200-bed property, the bathroom count is impressive.
The social engine runs on its own. Happy hour at the bar from 18:00 to 20:00 (2-for-1 cocktails), daily bar crawl leaves at 22:00 hitting Malasaña, Tuesday karaoke nights, Thursday ladies' night, Friday/Saturday DJ residencies. Bike rental from reception. Walking tours daily at 10:30. Nothing is required, but almost every solo traveler uses one of these as their first-night unlock.
✨ The Vibes
💬 What Travelers Say
Karolina
🇵🇱 Poland · April 2026
“It was clean, the beds were comfortable, the staff was very helpful. Rooftop hot tub was an unexpected highlight.”
Caldwell
🇺🇸 United States · April 2026
“Incredible location, friendly staff, and great atmosphere, lots of places to hang out without leaving the building.”
Aparna
🇺🇸 United States · April 2026
“It was very central to everything and easy to get around, additionally the staff were so helpful and gave great recommendations, especially Denise at the front desk.”
Judith
🇦🇺 Australia · April 2026
“I really liked having a bar, restaurant and laundry facilities within the building. The hostel was quite crowded and I didn't hear any noise whatsoever once I shut the dorm door.”
📍 What's Nearby
Gran Vía metro station
1 min walk
Puerta del Sol
8 min walk
Plaza del 2 de Mayo (Malasaña)
7 min walk
Plaza de España
6 min walk
Palacio Real
12 min walk
Chueca district
9 min walk
📋 House Rules
- •Check-in from 14:00, check-out 11:00
- •Minimum age 18 for dorms
- •ID + card required at check-in
- •Rooftop hot tubs open 10:00-22:00
- •No smoking inside; rooftop smoking area only
From
€34/night
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Room Types
Bed in 8-bed mixed dorm
€28
Most social option, en-suite bathroom
8
Bed in 6-bed female dorm
€32
Women-only floor, en-suite bathroom
6
Bed in 4-bed mixed dorm
€38
Quieter, still en-suite
4
Private twin room
€95
Two beds, en-suite, air conditioned
2
🏠 Amenities
Don't sleep on this one
Generator Madrid is one of the most popular hostels in Madrid. Beds fill up fast, especially during peak season. Lock in your dates now.
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