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.

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.

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. 

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.