Anyone stay or know anything about the Chueca neighborhood in Madrid? I’m thinking about renting an apartment there for a few days with three other adults.
All I know is Mercado San Antón is by the metro stop there and looked like a nice place for tapas. It’s not as large or popular as Mercado San Miguel, so it has a more relaxed feel to it.
I stayed there for two weeks in November, and have passed through it/hung out in it much more. Unquestionably the city's gayborhood, but like all of Madrid, it doesn't go by any one description. It is younger, more active, and more dynamic than many parts of town, with food, bars, and shops to match. A step off the tourist path, but just a step back to it.
My one caution might be to not stay on c/ Fuencarral below Tribunal. It's a shopping mall, which is fine (got great shoes there), but I just wouldn't want it right outside my door.
Glad to answer any specific questions.
Thank you for your responses. I really appreciate it. I'm having such a difficult time deciding between a small hotel room in the Moderno or a rental apartment in Chueca. Moderno is right in the heart of things and I'm not sure how far of a walk the rental is from the center of Madrid. It'll be the first time my group of 4 will be in Spain. Would walk to and from Chueca in the evening be safe? Well, thanks again for all your help.
Eva
Cheuca should be a safe neighborhood at night—the nightlife there keeps the streets a bit more populated, so it's less "dark and alone".
The Moderno certainly is in the middle of things! I prefer staying in quieter neighborhoods, but that's just my preference. For what it's worth, Sol to the Chueca metro is less than a 15-minute walk at a leisurely pace. SO not like you'd be staying out in the burbs.