Central
location within walking distance of several major sights
Elegant rooms with retro
design elements; some with small balconies
Breakfast buffet with hot
and cold items, can be taken in room for a fee
Laundry and dry cleaning
services available
Free cribs for
families with small children
Free Wi-Fi throughout
No public areas aside from breakfast room and cramped lobby
Glass doors on Standard Room bathrooms
compromise privacy
Breakfast not included in all room rates
Extra fee for in-room breakfast
The Hotel Francisco I is in the desirable Astrias neighborhood, near the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor, on the largest pedestrian street in Madrid's city center. Its 65 rooms, which have retro charm, are especially stylish for a budget hotel, and some include Juliet balconies that look out on the street. Aside from a quirky design-driven breakfast room and a cramped lobby, the hotel lacks any true common areas -- or frills -- which keeps it from ranking higher on the pearl scale. Many major Madrid landmarks are within a 15-minute walk. Guests looking for more
on-site features in a similarly central location might want to check out the Catalonia Gran Via,
which has a small pool but also higher rates.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A classical setting on a large pedestrian street, but little in the way of public spaces
Housed in a 19th-century building, the Francisco I has a narrow lobby with marble floors and mirrored walls that looks busy and feels
cramped. There aren’t any places to sit and linger over coffee or a
drink -- or any windows to gaze out of, for that matter. This is Madrid, though,
so there are tons of cafes right outside the hotel’s front door.
The lobby functions purely as a check-in area, and the hotel’s only other public area is its
breakfast room, which manages to combine Magritte levels of surrealism with
rustic, Tudor architectural flourishes to create a space that is charming in an absurdist way, with Gothic-style chairs, wooden beams, and giant
silverware sculptures. Guests here are predominantly tourists, including
couples and families.
Location
Extremely central -- many major sights within walking distance
Situated on Madrid’s
ever-bustling Calle Arenal pedestrian street, this hotel is as central as it
gets. Nearly every major sight is within walking distance, and the
Opera and Puerta del Sol metro stations are within a four-minute walk. The Golden Triangle, home to the city’s
most famous museums (the Thyssen-Bornemisza, Reina Sofia, and Prado) is a
15-minute walk to the hotel’s east, while the Royal Palace and Catedral de
Almudena are five minutes to the west on foot. The Plaza Mayor is within a two-minute walk. The immediate area is filled
with shops, restaurants, and bars -- Chocolateria San Gines, a 24-hour spot famous for hot
chocolate and churros, is three blocks away. Guests
can take the metro from Puerta del Sol to Madrid-Barajas International Airport in about 45 minutes, using
Cercanias trains and the metro; by taxi that trip takes up to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Stylish rooms with streamlined decor and retro accents
The hotel’s contemporary
guest rooms have attractive features with retro accents and polished furnishings, making
them bright, welcoming, and memorable for their budget status. Standard
Rooms are cozy, and dominated by the warm walnut tones of an accent wall with
recessed lighting that doubles as a headboard, while slate-gray shag rugs give texture to light-wood laminate floors. Glass doors on the closets and bathrooms add a contemporary vibe to the spaces, and all rooms include large wall-mounted
flat-screen TVs, key-access safes, desks with Lucite chairs, heating, and
air-conditioning, and firm beds with brown bed runners and
striking orange-and-brown throw pillows. Bathrooms are refined with large vanities, contemporary fixtures, chic gray tiling,
walk-in showers, and toiletries. Guests should keep in mind that bathrooms in
Standard Rooms are largely visible to the rest of the room, separated only by a
sheet of glass that is frosted in some places but completely see-through in
others. Family Rooms with extra beds have rustic design elements, such as exposed
ceiling beams and brick-lined port windows, though the large marble bathrooms
look a bit dated when compared with the Standard Rooms'. The hotel is continuing
renovations on its upper floors in 2015, and though there no construction noise at night or in the morning, guests might want to inquire about this when booking.
Features
Daily breakfast buffet and free Wi-Fi, but little else
The hotel's biggest downside is its lack of public areas besides the cramped lobby and the breakfast room.
The breakfast buffet includes hot and cold choices, but it's only included in certain room packages. In-room breakfast is available for an added fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the 24-hour front desk is
available to book excursions and tours.
Laundry services can be arranged upon request, and the hotel provides free cribs to families with small children.
