Simply on of the best apartments I have rented on AirBnB. Lots of space, impeccably decorated with minimal but well-edited touches including gorgeous light fixtures, antique desks and furniture, comfy couch and chairs. Airy and full of light, well ventilated but also with great/quick central heating system, quick HOT water, equipped kitchen, a great bath tub (bonus for traveling with kids), 2nd room with kids' toys and books, full length mirror in bedroom, washer, dishwasher, TV, internet, everything we needed. Especially appreciated the ample counter spaces, large desk, dressers, closets, shelves - especially in European city apartments where space is typically at a premium it was so nice to have space to spread out and organize our things.
The apartment is super centrally located on the edge of the Malasaña district where we spent way too much money shopping in the incredible vintage and new clothing and record stores. Imagine Haight Street in SF but times 10 - or 20... Also a block from the popular Gran Via with big chain stores, theatres with big name productions like Lion King and Mamma Mia, 5 mins walk from Plaza España and Palacio Real, another 5 mins from there to Plaza Mayor and Mercado San Miguel where you can start your bar crawl down Calle Cava Baja in the La Latina district. Taxis were easy to come by and we never spent more than 5 Euros except when we went to the train or bus station.
Within a block of the apt there were a number of Asian restaurants and we loved the fusion restaurants "Buns & Bones" on San Bernardo as well as "Lamion by Soy Kitchen" just steps outside the front door. Walk 2 blocks to Calle Pez off San Bernardo to find a street of uber-hip bars, including the not-to-be-missed 1862 Dry Bar.
Guillermo was a communicative host, very quick to respond to our few questions. The fact that we had very little to interact about says how easy and live-able this apartment is. I would highly recommend and would happily stay here again!