Cats Hostel Madrid Sol

I recently stayed here, and my experience was far from satisfactory. Location is excellent but nearly everything else is disappointing. Upon arrival at 11:30 PM, I was greeted by a friendly Portuguese staff member who did his best to accommodate my request for a lower bunk. However, it was evident that there was a lack of coordination, as my request had not been noted in advance. This was a minor issue, but it set the tone for the rest of my stay. The real problem began with the noise. I fully understand that this is a party hostel, but that does not justify a complete disregard for guests who actually need to sleep. The common areas and even the hallways were filled with people yelling, not just at the bar but throughout the hostel, all night long. Good to add big groups were either shouting or making noises at 6–7 AM, making it impossible to get any rest. The lack of intervention from staff made it clear that noise control is simply not a priority here. Adding to the discomfort, my bed was positioned practically directly in front of the room entrance, with no privacy curtain or partition. This meant that every time someone entered (which happened at least 13 times during the night), light flooded my bed, making sleep even more difficult. The room itself had poor ventilation and an overwhelming smell, making the stay even more unpleasant. While I understand that the building may be historic, that should not be an excuse for neglecting basic comfort and hygiene. Another issue was the so-called “strict” rules, which seemed to be completely ignored. Despite signs prohibiting vaping, I saw couple guests doing it freely without any intervention. The hostel appears severely understaffed, with only two employees attempting to manage an overwhelming number of guests. While they may have good intentions, it is clear that they are unable to enforce rules or maintain order. Then, there was the breakfast—easily one of the biggest disappointments of my stay. For 8 euros, I expected at least something decent. Instead, what was offered was nowhere near what was advertised. The food was of extremely low quality, with stale bread that seemed like it had been sitting out for days and basic supermarket items that I could have bought myself for a fraction of the price. At this point, I genuinely regret not having taken those 8 euros and eating outside, where I could have had something far better. So, no, this is not about convenience—it was just bad, plain and simple. And when a hostel charges extra for breakfast, there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with that. False advertising and poor quality are not acceptable. Ultimately, this hostel seems to prioritize profits over guest experience, offering little in return for what they charge. It’s one thing to be a budget-friendly, social hostel, but another to completely disregard guests’ basic needs for rest, cleanliness, and fair service. Reading previous reviews, it’s clear that these issues are recurring, yet no real effort has been made to improve them. A simple apology or “hope you give us another chance” response won’t fix the problem—action is needed. At this point, it would only be fair for the hostel to acknowledge the situation in a way that actually reflects accountability. Because unless something is lost on your end, there is no reason for guests to continue giving second chances. If Cats Hostel truly cares about its reputation and guest experience, it should start by addressing these issues in a way that actually makes a difference. Otherwise, I can only see more guests walking away with the same level of disappointment. —— Response to CATS: CATS is avoiding accountability with vague responses. They ignore key issues: loudness, lack of bed privacy, bad smells, indoor smoking, misleading breakfast photos, overpriced low-quality breakfast. Instead of making excuses, fix the problems and address those you’ve mistreated. Apologies and avoidance don’t change reality.

I stayed here for 4 days in July 2023 and now considering to go back. I stayed in a female only 12 person dorm, it was comfortable and the staff were accommodating and helpful. If you are a solo traveller this is perfect for you as they hold alot of social activities to help you meet new people, I would recommend going on one of the pub crawls! Great value for money.

I stayed there last year, on my very first solo trip ever and it turned out to be one of the best hostels I have stayed in after many trips a year later. I have to say this hostel contributed to my love for solo travelling. There’s a very nice bar with lots of socialising, and they organise fun activities and pub crawls with people from all over the world. There’s also a large common area. The rooms were big and comfortable with security lockers. The only downside is that there was no en-suite bathroom, so we had to carry our stuff to the common one if we wanted to shower. The staff was very kind and willing to help any time. Keep up the good work!

Cats Hostel Madrid Sol offers a fantastic social experience for budget-minded travelers. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and they organize a variety of social events, making it easy to meet fellow travelers. The location is ideal, being centrally located yet situated in a quiet area. The hostel itself offers a relaxed and social atmosphere with plenty of common areas to chill out and chat with other guests. I was particularly impressed with the hostel's cleanliness, with common areas and bathrooms cleaned multiple times a day. I highly recommend Cats Hostel Madrid Sol to anyone looking for a comfortable, social, and centrally located accommodation in Madrid.

Very nice hostel, the staff were very friendly, pub crawls were available every night which is a great option to meet new people. They have an on site bar which had some affordable drinks and some food deals. The rooms were comfortable and clean.

I travel quite often to Madrid and I can say this is the best hostel in Madrid. The reception is 24/7 and they are very flexible to last minute bookings. The staff were always there to solved any issues with a smile. The mattresses are very comfortable and the same card that open the room’s door is the one that open the lock underneath the bed to put your staff. That’s so useful. If you’re a traveler you might know that usually hostels charge for a lock or you have to bring your own one. The hostel is so big than managed to separate very well the “party spaces” to “chill sleeping spaces”. That’s so amazing because if you want to party they offer you for every day of the week some activities and if you want to sleep you can find peace and rest very well. I literally never write reviews but this time is a must. Is a really 5 stars hostel.

I stayed in a mixed room with 10 or more beds (I can't remember the exact number, but I chose the cheapest one) and it was really safe and comfortable. I walked to many places and public transport is also a good option here. It's also safe at night to walk to the hostel as it's in a central location. The staff is friendly and helpful. Toilets, showers and the kitchen are clean. The pillows are good, not too thick or too thin. The rooms are not cold ar night. I recommend the place and I'd definitely stay here again 🐱

Location is perfect, smack in the city center; the employees were all nice; the inner room was a bit hot but it had AC; the bunk beds were really solid and well built (no noises from moving) and had a very generous private locker that only opened with your individual room key - I hadn't seen this yet but it worked really well. After traveling in US for a month this spot was a 6 out of 5 for the price! Ah, they also host d Varied collective activities like pub crawls, salsa classes, etc. each day of the week, which is nice if you're by yourself and want to socialise!

As far as hostels go, this is one of the best! I stayed two nights in Room #1 (an 8-person mixed room). I would recommend females opt for the girl's only rooms when possible if you'd rather not deal with the smell of stinky boy feet. All my roommates were super fun and considerate. The hostel is surprisingly quiet at night, even on the weekends. If you are up talking to loud, staff will walk through and ask you to keep it down. The shared bathrooms were never packed and hot water was plentiful. The showers had great water pressure as well. TIP: Don't forget to pack those shower shoes. There are plugs near the pillows on all beds for you to charge your phone and also come with a handy little reading light. The lockers fit carry-on sized luggage and were easy to get in and out of. The location was central and was a short walk away from Sol. The area is filled with restaurants, bars, shopping, flamenco, and clubs. There is always something going on in this area. If you have never stayed in a hostel before, this is a great place to dip your toes in. For those of you who are used to hostel living, I think you will appreciate a well maintained facility, friendly staff, and a lively fun atmosphere to mingle in. Travel on friends!

Bar Crawl from Cats every night. Ash was an amazing host. Cheap drinks at the bar and tons of hostels from sister/brother hostels (Mad hostel)

We stayed in Cats Hostel for 3 Nights. The Hostel itself was nice, very very central and affordable. It has Pubcrawls & Walking Tours every day and a bar and other activities :) Only downside is, that the rooms are quite small and without windows (only entrance door and an AC, which is controlled by the hostel) When you are not looking for comfort, only for an active place, it's probably the hostel to go to!

One of my favorite hostels that I've stayed at. Why to stay here: -The lobby is beautiful. Peep the gorgeous stained glass ceiling in my photo. -Centrally located. Walking distance to Kapital (8 story club), Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor.. and a host of other things. I bought metro rides but I didn't really use it at all, most places were walkable. Shopping close by too. -Bar with cheap drinks (beer, sangria, mojitos). As well as a beer vending machine. -Helpful and friendly staff -Clean facilities (bathroom, beds) -Lots of activities (parties, pub crawls, walking tours, and the list goes on and on) -Free printing for boarding passes or tickets Why you wouldn't want to stay here: -If you like peace and quiet. Lots of young party goers who make a lot of noise. -If you like privacy. These rooms have a ton of beds Had a great stay at Cat's Hostel!

This was my first hostel stay ever and it was a great experience. Centralized location in Madrid with sights, bars, restaurants, and shopping all within walking distance. Staff is super friendly and accommodating to your needs. Wifi is perfect considering there are hundreds of people on the network trying to use it. I would definitely recommend anyone to stay here and would come back again. Cheap bar at night for travelers to mingle amongst each other and daily walking tours are short and informative. If you want to go to a rooftop bar go to Circulo de Bellas Artes (3 euro) to get to roof) nice views of the city wouldn't have known about this spot until local told me. Suggestion: when you check out and see the cleaning staff TIP them at least 1 EU. they do an amazing job cleaning bathrooms for hundreds of not so clean guests. Thanks Cats Hostel!

Definitely a party hostel! Don't expect to sleep too much as you will be going out with your new hostelmates very often! I stayed in the 14-bedroom suite. The bedroom facilities are great, and the bathrooms are generally clean, though the toilet stalls seem to be a bit too small for a big guy like me. The keys to open the rooms are also slightly difficult to use, especially after an night out. They don't use traditional room keys so be aware of that! The air conditioning also sometime's just too cold, and the staff can't do too much to accommodate as there are the needs of 13 other guests in the same room. Acitivities-wise, the pub crawl staff that the hostel is collaborating with aren't the best, they lose the group often. It definitely felt like a waste of my money. Room Tip: The 20-person attic bedroom is a good value! My friend stayed in that and had private showers!

Puts all other hostels in shame. The place is big and beautiful, just look at the pictures. The bathrooms were clean and so were the rooms. Everyday I saw numerous employees cleaning every part of the hostel. There is a bar that serves cheap drinks and has a nightly pub crawl. The hostel has daily walking tours and social events. As for location, it's perfect. Located in central Madrid and within walking distance of everything. The neighborhood is NOT sketchy. Looked at some other hostels when I was in Madrid (people I met through tours) and Cats is easily the best.

This hostel really is beautiful, and the location is prime. It's 20 minutes from all the shopping and 20 minutes from the museum (cough- Guernica). I know that all the nightly events are well-thought-out, and the staff must work hard. However, hanging out in the lobby and having total strangers (NOT GUESTS) talking to me is a bit uncalled for. I understand that the bar in the front is open to the public, but it's way too easy to get inside. The staff were friendly enough though, when they let my friend and I leave our luggage after checking out. Be early for the free breakfast, because you'll be left with nothing. Try not to get the attic room (top floor) because the wifi is terrible. Also, try your best to get the key locks that look like watches, and not the key cards (for convenience).

The pluses: no street noise, very dark rooms, washing and drying machines (have to pay), beautiful large inner courtyard, moorish in design, with chairs and sofas to chill out on, FREE INTERNET in the nightclub downstairs, VERY CHEAP BEER in the nightclub, half a litre for EUR2.50, or a huge glass for EUR3.50, whereas standard Madrid price is EUR5.50. electronic lockers so your stuff is secure, electronic doors. The downsides: small bunks, with people drinking in the room and making noise, small breakfast (compared with Los Amigos Sol where you can stuff your face), small shower cubicles with no hooks inside, so you have to walk to the showers wearing practically nothing. no kitchen, so you can't make your own dinners, ALCOHOL IS BANNED you're only allowed the booze you buy in the hostel. This is a great hostel to go to if you want to meet people and relax, or get drunk very cheaply. The bunks are small, but it is really quiet and dark at night, which is a blessing in Madrid.

It's a good choice for those who are looking foward for a cheap hostel in the city centre. The rooms are quite confortable and modern. It has free internet, but other services, such as laundry are by paying. I've been there a few times last summer and the best thing is the pub that it has the hostel downstairs. It has really cheap drinks and sometimes live DJ music. I found it a very good place to rest, but also to meet lots of international people in your stay in Madrid. I absolutely recommend it!

This hostel is a great place to go if you are traveling alone or in a small group. It's highly social and very centrally located. The building is beautiful and has it's own bar type area in the basement. I stayed here a few years ago, so, it may have changed, but I remember it being fairly cheap. You definitely need to plan on locking up your stiff as there are a lot of people going in and out and there isn't much privacy but for the young and energetic who are traveling on a budget, this is a great option.

Maria and Ash at Cat's Hostel were peaches. Super nice and helpful. I laughed, I cried, I lost 5 pounds. Looking for a fun hostel, Cat's is for you!!

Best party hostel in Madrid! This is my second stay here and each time is awesome! It's a hostel so is it five star quality? no it is not but the facilities are clean and the amazing people you will meet while here make up for it! The bar is in a central location near Sol. I did a private room which included its own bathroom. Nothing fancy but decent room. AC is controlled by front lobby. Wifi free. The room was right off the lobby patio and the only window faced the lobby so not much natural light. To me that was no issue, I was not in Spain to stay in the room but to enjoy the city! The hostel has its own bar! Drinks are reasonably priced and so is the food. A few nights the bar has free dinner (pasta/rice and hot dogs). They do free walking tours every day and pub crawls (12 euro) every night, Thursday the pub crawl goes to Kapital. Overall an amazing stay filled with exciting travelers.

Only here for one night but we had a great time. Everything was super clean, check-in was easy, great location, bar was very affordable, we met a lot of fun people, staff was nice. Will definitely return next time I'm in Madrid!

It's a big hostel and has all the facilities you would hope for. However the large rooms are not exceptional and the noise can be bothersome at night. Beds are creaky and the common rooms are a bit sparse. With a few renovations and some modern upgrading, it could become a far better hostel.

Good hostel, beautiful building, low prices and nice bar, only problem : no windows in the rooms so it gets hot and smelly very fast in the dorms... But thanks to the staff (and especially Wioleta), we had a fun and interesting time in Madrid !

I'm only giving this place a 2 star ratting, I visited this place back in 2009. Due to the poor customer service, very rude in my opinion. I don't know how it is it now but I still wanted to add my 2 cents. The hostel itself located in a old building that supposedly used to be a palace of some sort. There are lots old and intricate decorations all over the place which I liked a lot. There's also free WiFi in the common areas. The rooms were a bit cramped and the bathrooms were not very clean. The place is relatively dark but I liked it. I will not stay at this place again. Also, note that this hostel is in ally and easy to miss.

This hostel was convenient, but the staff were terribly rude. We had horrible interactions with THREE different staff members that were not at all welcoming or friendly with us. Kinda makes me wonder.... why are you even working in a hostel?

Very nice hostel in the city of Madrid. Low Price, clean rooms and cold beer/nonalcoholics out of a drinks dispenser. I've enjoyed it! N1