Room Mate Oscar

Bright lights and neon nights: urban cool in Madrid's downtown

Arriving at Oscar, I was pleasantly surprised by a flurry of excitement and the flash of cameras. Sadly, this furore was not caused by me, but by a young Spanish popstar who happened to be checking out at the same time, a gaggle of girls surrounding him as he posed for photos. In the small but glamourous, nightclub-esque lobby, with its enormous red perspex chandeliers, futuristic reception booth and aluminium-clad walls, the scene did not seem out of place.

The latest addition to the Room Mate family (it opened in late 2007), Oscar provides a great crash pad for bright young things enjoying nocturnal Madrid. With a neon-lit bar and restaurant next door, and lots of trendy drinking dens and eateries nearby, it's in the heart of vibrant, buzzy Chueca: just the place where a young popstar might hang out. At the end of the night, corridors of ever-changing coloured light and neon room numbers lead you to fun bedrooms, that are cleverly and quirkily designed. With a good breakfast served until noon (and beyond), you can enjoy Spanish nightlife to the full. Just watch out for the paparazzi.

Highs

• The relaxed breakfast in the eccentric breakfast room, watching Madrileños go about their business from the huge windows above street level
• Design-mag rooms that inspire you to go home and refurb your own bedroom
• Great location close to bars, restaurants and shops, and 15-20 minutes' walk to the Retiro park and museums

Lows

• Noise travels easily from the corridor to your room, so clattering cleaners can be heard from some of the rooms in the morning
• Décor is fun but cheap - Room Mate plan to refurb often to keep the hotel fresh and exciting
• Often inappropriate and too loud piped music in dining area at breakfast