Matute 11

Clean and modern décor? Check.
Free and reliable WiFi? Check.
Toilets that run on electricity? Check. Wait a second — huh?
This floor of «apartments» is actually a renovated hostel that was recently acquired in the summer of 2011. It is by no means a luxury accommodation, as the stone tiled floors and sparse lay out belie its former true nature.
However, the new management has done a fine job of updating the décor and installing sleek, new appliances and modern, IKEA-​esque furniture. Brightly coloured accent walls and contemporary wall decals and drawings give the space a comfortable and bright feeling, and the full-​body length shower head unit also imparts a fleeting sense of luxury as well.
Unfortunately, the walls still remain thin and can be an issue if you have noisy neighbours. Although they try to enforce a «quiet in the hallways» policy, you can still hear people walking down the hallways and opening/​closing doors. One night we had a particularly loud group in the room across the hallway, and even with both of our doors closed, we could hear every laugh and cackle in the early hours of the morning.
The fact that the toilets run on electricity only really becomes an issue when the power goes out. And how often does that happen, might you ask? Well, it happened once in our 3 night stay, but happens often enough that they give you a spare key to use in case the power goes out and the swipe cards for getting in the front door are non-​functional.
Otherwise, the location is great and puts you in close walking distance to most desirable sights, or at least to a metro station. It felt like a safe part of town that was never deserted nor concerning, and a good option to consider if you don’t mind giving up the frills of a hotel for a better price.