Located on a charming square in the heart of the historic center, the Plaza Mayor caters to travelers who only want a clean room with a private bathroom within walking distance of major attractions. The hotel is housed in a small 200-year-old building which still retains many of its original architectural details, including exposed brick walls and arches, wooden beams, and lovely thin wrought-iron columns. Aside from the historic touches, interiors are basic and generic throughout, with laminate floors, and simple wooden furniture. The lobby is one of the few common spaces here, and features little more than a row of red armchairs placed along large windows overlooking a narrow side street. A wooden screen separates the lobby from the cafe, which has a lively vibe in the morning with guests and locals constantly coming in and out of the bar.

The hotel is located on a charming square across the street from famous Plaza Mayor and in the heart of the historic center. The street is busy during the day with buses, cars, delivery trucks and tourists, but becomes a little quieter at night. There are tons of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops within a couples of blocks of the hotel, and the hotel is equidistant from two metro stations, including Sol, a major public transport hub with access to regional trains, three metro lines, and buses. This location is particularly convenient for tourists looking to explore the city on foot, as most major attractions are just a short walk away. Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, and the cathedral are all less than 10 minutes from the hotel, and Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza, and Cibeles can be reached in about 15 minutes. Puerta de Alcala and Retiro Park are a 20-minute walk away. It is a 25-minute drive or 35-minute metro ride to the airport.

The hotel has a total of 41 rooms, including singles, doubles, and twins of different sizes and styles. All are clean, but a few are small, and decor is basic and dated throughout, with thin bedspreads (sometimes with prints straight out of the '80s), and simple wooden furniture. Laminate floors and old-style rotary phones (in some units) are nice touches, but rooms are more functional than stylish overall. Standard amenities are a little above other budget hotels, and include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, free safes, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Units on the top floor seem to only get lukewarm water in the shower sometimes, and a weak Wi-Fi signal. Clean bathrooms have either showers of shower/tub combos with glass folding screens, wall-mounted hairdryers (except a few rooms), and liquid soap in large containers. Light sleepers may want to request a higher floor, as street-facing rooms may get some traffic noise.

Housed in the former attic, the hotel's only suite features exposed wooden beams, a contemporary bathroom with colorful mosaic tiles, and a small balcony with wonderful city views. 

A decent breakfast buffet with hot and cold items is served every morning in the cafe, located off the lobby and popular also among locals for its inexpensive set breakfast deals. Some rates include the buffet, but room-only guests can also pay for it at front desk. While there is no full business center on-site, the hotel offers a computer in the lobby for guest use. There is also a meeting room housed in a cute historic cellar, complete with exposed brick walls and a vaulted ceiling. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.