The Hat Madrid
Plaza Mayor address with a rooftop that catches the Palacio Real sunset
Design-forward 9.0-rated hostel one block from Plaza Mayor, famous for a proper rooftop bar that catches Madrid sunsets over Palacio Real. Female dorms, private twins with balcony, shared kitchen, walk-everywhere location.
The Hat Madrid sits on Calle Imperial, a three-minute walk from Plaza Mayor and about eight from the Prado. The building was renovated as a hostel in 2014 and looks the part — exposed brick, industrial lighting, mid-century furniture in the lounge rather than the usual plastic-and-pine setup. It attracts a slightly older crowd than Generator or Ok Hostel (couples, solo travelers on 4-to-7-night stays, freelancers), and the atmosphere is correspondingly quieter: social, not stag.
The rooftop is the signature. Open 19:00-01:00 with Madrid-priced cocktails (€8-10), an unobstructed southwest view that catches the Palacio Real silhouette at sunset, and a DJ on Friday and Saturday evenings. It is open to the public but hostel guests skip the queue. That rooftop alone is worth a night.
Rooms split between 4-, 6-, and 8-bed mixed dorms, a 6-bed female dorm, and private twins (some with balcony). All have air conditioning that actually works in July, reading lights, plug sockets by every bed, and lockers. Bathrooms are shared but clean, with separate shower stalls and proper water pressure. Breakfast is €5 add-on (continental) and the shared kitchen is fine for a pasta-and-wine evening.
- 01Rooftop bar is a genuine asset, not a marketing term — sunset over the Palacio Real skyline is the Madrid view most hotels charge €25 for
- 02Central without being in the Sol circus — Plaza Mayor is 150 m, but Calle Imperial itself is quiet at night
- 03Design quality is a notch above the price point — exposed brick, proper furniture, industrial lighting
- 04Private twins with balcony are priced below equivalent Sol hotels and include the rooftop perk
- 05Female-only dorm option with a women-only floor — rare at this tier in central Madrid
- 150 m from Plaza Mayor
- Rooftop bar with sunset view over Palacio Real
- Female + mixed dorms, private rooms with balcony
- Design-focused interiors, not a party-house aesthetic
“Nice hostel, very central and clean. The rooftop is the real draw — went up at sunset three evenings in a row.”
“Loved the rooftop bar and the welcoming staff. Dorm was spotless and the beds were more comfortable than I expected for a hostel.”
“Location is perfect, design is lovely, staff went out of their way with restaurant recommendations that were spot on.”
- Plaza Mayor3 min walk
- Puerta del Sol6 min walk
- Mercado de San Miguel4 min walk
- Palacio Real10 min walk
- La Latina metro5 min walk
- Prado Museum15 min walk
