Hostal El Pilar

They were very helpful

Location perfect

nothing As a single traveller, coming to Madrid for a professional meeting, this was one of the worst hotel experiences in my life. The room size was less than that of a prison cell, and the showercabin was so small you could not even tirn around. Combine this without AC and window or even a vent, you can start to imagine the nightmare, but don't worry you will not be able to slerp at all with all the corridor noise and the paper thin walls. Places like this should not only be illegal, but is also what gives Spain and Madrid undeserved bad reputation. - no windows, no AC, no ventilation - tiny bed made for children or midgets - impossible to use small shower - leaking wc water faucet making a lake on the floor after each use - extremely noisy - smaller than a solitary confinement prison cell - long black hair on floor and under the bed

Location is excellent Nothing

location is fantastic, of course This may be an acceptable hostal for someone traveling alone who does not need anyone else to remain safely in the room. However, I would not recommend it for couples or families. In our case, it was one parent traveling alone with two children. The main issue was the room door. The only way to lock the room was with the key; there was no separate way to secure the door from inside. At first, the front desk told us that there was only one key available for the room. For one adult with two children, this was going to create a serious practical safety problem. For example, if the children needed to rest in the afternoon and the parent needed to step out briefly to reception or to a nearby supermarket, the options would have been: leaving the room unlocked, locking the children inside with the key, or taking the only key and creating a safety hazard. None of these options is acceptable. When we asked for a second key or another solution, the response was not helpful. The explanation about whether another key existed also changed during the discussion. Even worse, when the front desk called the owner in front of us, she described the situation as if we were planning to abandon our children alone in the room. That was not true and felt extremely dishonest. Our point was exactly the opposite: because of the key/door situation, we did not feel that the children could safely remain in the room even briefly. We offered to pay for the first night and leave for another hotel, but the hostal refused. We then contacted Booking.com customer service. I am grateful to Booking.com, because they took the situation seriously and overrode the hostal’s refusal to let us leave after one night with a refund for the unused nights. Overall, based on our experience, I would not stay here again and would not recommend it to couples or families with children, despite the fantastic location very close to Puerta del Sol.

Location and conditions

Wifi and cellular signal were really poor.

Location was excellent. Furnishings may need an upgrade and replace shower curtain to half glass. But overall our stay was good. The gentleman at the desk was very helpful and nice. Shower curtains, were stained and uninviting.

Near the center

Staff, specially Alfredo was an excellent and professional host. Also, the daily cleanliness of the room. And location was also good. The headboards were not fixed

All good but some rooms without window or balcony

I loved the location, the cleanliness and the two male staff. They were kind and informative

I had a pleasant stay at Hostal El Pilar. The biggest highlight is the location — it’s right in the center of Madrid, just steps from Puerta del Sol, making it very convenient for sightseeing, restaurants, and transport. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The facilities are simple but good for a short stay, and the daily housekeeping was appreciated. It’s a great budget-friendly option if you want to stay in the heart of the city. The only downside is that the rooms can be a bit basic and sometimes noise from the hallway or street can be heard. Overall, it’s great value for money and I would stay again.

Location value

I missed having a small refrigerator in the room

Hence it is in the city centre you can hear the noise outside. If you are not use to noise you will not be able to sleep.

It was in a great Central location and staff were very kind and helpful. The area can be very dangerous at night. This does not have to do with the hotel directly, but if checking in late at night, be very aware of your surroundings walking to the hostal.

Easy location. Comfortable.

Excellent location - right in the center of the city near Sol station, very lively and safe at night. Walking distance to museums, opera, shops and restaurants. Lovely property - the room was very tiny, but it was perfect for my needs. Very kind staff, clean premises - clean sheets and bathroom, good shower pressure. It was a perfect choice for my short stay in Madrid. I was visiting in the middle of February so the room was cold as the heating didn't work. The air in the room was very damp and moist. It wasn't a big issue for me as my stay was short.

Location The curly lady at the receptionist is really mean.