WeAre Chamartín
Madrid Chamartín Railway Station, Calle de Agustín de Foxá, Madrid, Madrid 28036, Spain
Why We Like It
Unless you have an early-bird train leaving Chamartín station and no place else to stay, spend your time and money elsewhere. WeAre Chamartín is in dire need of a facelift; until it makes some significant changes, we can't recommend booking here.
Fodor's Expert Review
WeAre is one of many apartment rental companies that have sprouted up in Madrid in the last few years, offering studios and one-bedroom apartments that accommodate three to five people. Though we cannot recommend the Callao-Ópera or Malasaña offshoots (due to horror stories of unkempt living spaces, missing receptionists, and unforeseen expenses), WeAre Chamartín, located within the eponymous train station at the city's northerly tip, is an echelon above its sister properties thanks to passably clean rooms and an attentive staff.
You Should Know This is a bare-bones hotel suited for travelers in transit or on short business trips only. Vacationers would be wise to look elsewhere.
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Room
No-frills rooms will remind you of IKEA-decorated college dorms—grime, noise, and all. Thin pillows and chipped paint further confirm that WeAre Chamartín is a hotel only worthwhile for last-minute, one-night stays. On the plus side, linens are fresh and clean and upper-level rooms get plenty of natural light.
You Should Know Check-in opens at 1 p.m., and if you arrive early, there's no comfortable place to wait.
Bathroom
Rusty pipes, leaky showers, gunky tubs, and cracked tiles—these are common complaints from guests who have stayed at WeAre Chamartín. Sure, basic toiletries are included in the room, and towels are fresh and white, but you can't put lipstick on a pig.
Lobby
The lobby is bright and surprisingly well-appointed with several seating areas. Front-desk staff can be professional or apathetic, depending on your luck.
Dining
Breakfasts are decent but nothing out of the ordinary with fresh fruit, assorted cereals, and steam-table scrambled eggs.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
At four miles from the city center, you'll be taking the metro (or taxis) to most tourist sites; hop on at Chamartín station (Lines 1 and 10).
Restaurants
Forget the drab, industrial area surrounding the hotel, and head due south to Calle Ponzano (37-minute metro ride), Madrid’s trendiest—and least touristy—tapas street. Start your evening at Sala de Despiece, an ultramodern bar serving small plates derived from hand-selected local meats and vegetables, before making your way to Toque de Sal, a swanky bistro-style restaurant that treats ingredients like art.
Bars
Venture down to the Salamanca district (40-minute metro ride) for exciting nightlife. There’s Ten con Ten, the buttoned-up “gin bar” that incited Madrid's gin-tónic frenzy a decade ago that hasn’t abated since. After a cocktail there, make your way to Arts Club, a buzzy bar and discoteca that heats up on the weekends with international DJ sets.
Quick Facts
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