Our family of 4 (kids ages 15 and 12) stayed here for 5 nights. This is one of the most unique and charming flats we’ve ever stayed in! The decorating is very rustic, from an antique typewriter, vintage red refrigerator, wood furnishings, cast iron railings, old fashioned doors and windows throughout...I could go on and on. Lots of nooks and crannies making it it super fun to explore, especially for kids. A decent amount of sleeping space for 4-6 people (although not much privacy despite being pretty big).
The VIEWS! Omg the VIEWS! First, there’s the kitchen balcony, which is spacious and affords a view of a residential street below. Really pretty. The natural light the balcony afforded the kitchen made it warm and cozy and happy, even when freezing outside. I had my coffee every morning there. Outside the master bedroom is another balcony, overlooking the Plaza Mayor and flooding the room with natural light (I am big on natural light). But the crowning glory of this flat is definitely the spacious rooftop terrace, in a corner overlooking the Plaza Mayor. The view is simply spectacular. We spent so much time up there, having coffee and pastries, cheese and bread, and many a bottle of wine. It is just as beautiful at night as in the daytime. And the view is not simply of the Plaza but also of the city behind you—which is, in many ways, every bit as nice a view, especially at sunset! Imagine having a 360 degree view from above the Plaza Mayor...no need to imagine it because that’s what you get here. One of the best views we’ve ever had in a hotel anywhere. Certainly the best city view.
Being in the Plaza Mayor, the location is obviously ideal, being so centrally located. Close to so much. Go to Mallorquina in Puerta Del Sol and buy a few napolitanas (I like the cream ones best but the rest of my family likes the chocolate ones) and come home and eat them on your terrace. Or perhaps some local cheese and a baguette. Everything is close.
Anouk was very responsive with any questions we had (such as how to operate the washing machine). Speaking of which, nice to have a washer as well as a dishwasher, along with a variety of coffee maker options.
So the flat isn’t for everyone. First, it’s a hike up 4 flights of stairs, which would be very tiring with young children or the elderly, or those in not very good physical shape. And that’s before you get in. Once inside, there are another set of rather narrow stairs to get to the 2nd floor, and yet another to get to the terrace. No railing on this one—disconcerting for little kids. The 2nd bed (not really a bedroom, more of a loft) has a low ceiling and is situated in a nook that requires some crawling into. Great for kids, not so much for older or larger folks or for anyone less agile. Could use better lighting in the dining area, as even in daytime, it was darkish (no natural light). But overall it worked for us.
The one significant complaint I have about the flat has to do with the stone sinks. They were unique and very pretty...but lacked channels to properly drain the water. So there would be standing water in both the kitchen sink as well as the bathroom. In the kitchen, I had to use a cutting board to literally push the water to the drain. Never felt clean to me. The bathroom sink was of coral and had pockets that didn’t drain. Beautiful to look at...but how clean can it be, with pockets of water sitting there for hours? Owners should have something done about that bc it took away from our enjoyment. Cleaning crew could also clean the tub/shower area better. One final complaint has little to do with the flat itself and might just be a function of the plumbing system in the building, but the water pressure was inconsistent, and at times shut off entirely (just for a few minutes, but rather inconvenient). Also the bathroom often had an unpleasant smell, remedied by keeping the big window open.
Regardless of these concerns, the views, the charm of the flat, and the location made for a magical stay. I give it 5 stars in spite of these issues.