Hotel Abalu

A fun, friendly and tastefully bling design hotel a few blocks from the buzzing Gran Via

This retiro urbano, tucked between the traditional housefronts of Calle Pez, is like another planet. Slip past the pink armchaired reception-cum-beauty-bar and you enter a land of tentacled mirrors, white-leather spaceship chairs, outrageous chandeliers and beds floating on a sea of blue neon. It's all rather bling, but tastefully so - owner Antonio and his partner Luis are responsible for the fabulous décor and they run the place with masterful ease, helped by their friends and his mother (it used to be the family hostal).

Bedrooms are split between the old patio interior and a newer building, well muted from the sounds of Madrid. Some are pure white, others bright pink or concrete-grey, but all boast designer furnishings (Mies van der Rohe chairs, eggshell bathtubs), clever lighting and innovative use of space. Junior suites even get Jacuzzis and in-room cinema. Breakfast is a buffet in the muralled cafeteria or something sweet at a nearby churreria, tapas bars are on hand and it's only 5 minutes' walk to Gran Via, or 10 to the Royal Palace.

Highs

• This is perfect for those who appreciate designer style but don't need the space (or cost) of a luxury hotel
• You're only minutes from the Gran Via, Madrid's main thoroughfare, and its boutiques, bars and cafés
• You'll get friendly, efficient service from Antonio and his his team - restaurant recommendations, tips on the hottest bars and 24-hour reception
• Other offerings include Shiatsu massages, Reiki, WiFi and a simply vast Presidential Suite with no fewer than 3 toilets

Lows

• Some of the older 'standard' rooms are pretty small, especially the single rooms
• Antonio and Luis have made the best of the space available, which means you might find toilets in cupboards and showers in the middle of rooms - not the best if you're travelling with anyone else than your significant other
• Some areas are a little shabby when you look closely (broken tiles, wonky cupboard doors, torn wallpaper)
• Some rooms overlook the internal courtyard, which means they can feel quite dark (but have little street noise)
• It's not the smartest of neighbourhoods and feels a bit dodgy at night - when we last visited there were a few broken windows on nearby shopfronts