The small, family-run 2-star Hostal Margarita (recommended in Let's Go! guide) has 7 clean, basic rooms in its location on Gran Vía, a major thoroughfare in Madrid, a short distance from the Puerta del Sol. From this unbeatable location you can easily walk to the lively Plaza España, pedestrian Preciados shopping street, Puerta del Sol, Palacio Real and the cathedral. Make the most of the fantastic tapas bars, where you can have a beer and a tapa and then move on to the next place. Nearby Malasaña area has loads of hip little bars and tapas joints.
Mayrit on C/Bernardo López, 11 try the Barbadillo wine from the South of Spain, the fantastic jamon ibérico (exquisite cured ham worth the price), canapes and small sandwiches. Bufalino caffé on C/de la Puebla, 9 offers spectacular empanadas (Galician tuna pies) pasta and salads. La Ida on C/Colón, 11 has fantastic traditional tapas, great music and the bar is packed at night. From here you have great night places like the Speakeasy and closer to the centre, El Sol and Joy Eslava nightclubs.