The Hat Madrid
Plaza Mayor address with a rooftop that catches the Palacio Real sunset
Wonderful
4,001 reviews
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Compare prices for The Hat Madrid in Madrid
65%
Solo travelers
94%
Would stay again
72%
Made friends here
4 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
The Hat is Madrid's answer to design hostels elsewhere in Europe — Generator does the scale, Ok Hostel does the service, and The Hat does the look. The rooftop is the real selling point: the Palacio Real sunset view genuinely rivals what you'd pay €25 for at a Sol rooftop hotel, and it's walkable to Plaza Mayor, Sol, and La Latina in under ten minutes each. Specifically pick it if you want a calmer social scene — this is not a pub-crawl house — or if you're traveling as a couple and want a private twin for €95 that beats most hotels in the area. Not the right call for Sol-nightlife-first travelers, who'd be better off at Generator.
🎯 Insider Tips
- 1Rooftop fills up by 19:30 on weekends — go up at 18:45 to grab the SW-facing corner for the Palacio Real sunset, or wait until 22:00 when daytripper tourists clear out.
- 2If you book a private twin, ask for one on the Calle Imperial side with a balcony — the interior ones cost the same but have no view.
- 3Mercado de San Miguel (4 min walk) is beautiful but tourist-priced; for actual tapas go to Bodega de la Ardosa on Calle Colón (15 min walk) and order the salmorejo + tortilla.
- 4The 6-bed female dorm is on the top floor with its own bathroom — the other female option has a shared-floor bathroom. Worth specifying at booking.
🔥 Why We Love It
Rooftop bar is a genuine asset, not a marketing term — sunset over the Palacio Real skyline is the Madrid view most hotels charge €25 for
Central without being in the Sol circus — Plaza Mayor is 150 m, but Calle Imperial itself is quiet at night
Design quality is a notch above the price point — exposed brick, proper furniture, industrial lighting
Private twins with balcony are priced below equivalent Sol hotels and include the rooftop perk
Female-only dorm option with a women-only floor — rare at this tier in central Madrid
📖 The Full Story
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.
✨ The Vibes
💬 What Travelers Say
Ema
🇩🇪 Germany · April 2026
“Nice hostel, very central and clean. The rooftop is the real draw — went up at sunset three evenings in a row.”
Louise
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · April 2026
“Loved the rooftop bar and the welcoming staff. Dorm was spotless and the beds were more comfortable than I expected for a hostel.”
Figueroa
🇺🇸 United States · April 2026
“Location is perfect, design is lovely, staff went out of their way with restaurant recommendations that were spot on.”
Camyla
🇺🇸 United States · April 2026
“Amazing views from the terrace and the breakfast was nicer than I expected for a hostel. Calle Imperial is surprisingly quiet at night.”
📍 What's Nearby
Plaza Mayor
3 min walk
Puerta del Sol
6 min walk
Mercado de San Miguel
4 min walk
Palacio Real
10 min walk
La Latina metro
5 min walk
Prado Museum
15 min walk
📋 House Rules
- •Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 11:00
- •Minimum age 18 for dorms, 16 with adult for privates
- •ID + card required at check-in
- •Rooftop bar closes at 01:00 for neighbors
- •No smoking indoors — rooftop and terrace only
From
€32/night
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Room Types
Bed in 8-bed mixed dorm
€28
Cheapest bed, shared bathroom down hall
8
Bed in 6-bed female dorm
€32
Women-only floor, shared bathroom
6
Bed in 4-bed mixed dorm
€36
Smaller dorm, quieter
4
Private twin with balcony
€95
Two beds, private bathroom, small balcony on Calle Imperial
2
🏠 Amenities
Don't sleep on this one
The Hat 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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