Huertas is a nice street...close to museums etc.
Good location fro what you are looking for

That's a lot quieter area than Gran Via, that's for sure. I think it's a good location, I would hve worried about noise but it says it looks onto an inner area and not the street, so that should be okay. It is a very convenient area for restaurants and nightlife, although maybe a bit farther from a metro stop than I would like. It's not terribly far, I just like being within a couple blocks and I think that is farther.

C/Huertas is said to have the most bars/restaurants in Madrid!It became a pedestrian street a few years ago,probably because of the danger for people bar hopping!
I used to stay on Huertas near to the police station-very busy,down by the Prado and got really tired walking up Huertas-quite steep!
I finally had to find another apt because of the noise-young people screaming til 4AM and then the noise of all the liquor bottles being dumped in the recycle bin followed by the garbage trucks. Finally the street had to be washed downto remove all the yuck from the revelers!
It's a challenge to find a food market in the area so be prepared to carry your groceries quita way!
Back to your apt-it doesn't seem to have windows and the pretty photo of the outside of the building is quite deceiving.I would request a photo of the inner courtyard -they can be quite dismal.Also they don't specify the amount of the security deposit...
I think Huertas nowadays is just too crowded and it has lost its original charm when it was fun to read all the quotes from famous authors set in bronze plaques in the sidwalk and really the area of Cava Baja is now deemed more attractive to the mature crowd or just stick to the Plaza Santa Ana!
In the past few years we have rarel walked up/down Huertas and the metro Anton Martin is ?

plambers, my husband and I stayed in this apartment for a week at the end of June and loved it. We found it very convenient to everything, and pretty much walked all over Madrid, only taking the metro from/to the airport and one other time. The owners are lovely as is the building concierge. We had the prix fixe lunch several times at Cafe Central a block from the apartment in Plaza Angel, also there are so many great cafes in plaza Santa Ana. The apartment is comfortable, and great for two.
We would definitely stay here again on a return visit to Madrid. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Susan

Cava Baja is full of bars and restaurants , so is Santa Ana
I would not stay nowhere near either one.
The Police Station is almost at the bottom of the street.

Excellent location, the lovely Barrio de las Letras/Literary quarter gives a small town feel in the heart of Madrid, close to "everything".

A grocery store some 100 meters behind the apartment, next to the Anton Martín metro station. Legendary Casa Alberto from 1827 is also just down the street. Traditional Madrid fare and still popular with locals. You are also 200 meters away from Casa Patas, the best flamenco tablao in town. The Café Central wunderbar2 mentioned is 100 meters away and also the best jazz club in Madrid. Only top artists play here every night at 10pm, changing every week.

I always stay around here when in Madrid.

About the area: http://www.barrioletras.com/

wunderbar2 and kimme, thanks for the comments (all of you!). is the apt bright enough? i know it is interior. my big wants are: good comfy queen bed, quiet, strong shower, good sized bath, elevator and ac, with a pedestrian/residential feel. this apt seemed to have it all plus the reviews and lovely owner. is it hilly? dh has a heart condition and hills can bother him.

It's not hilly, but it's slightly downwards the 600 meters from Plaza Santa Ana towards the Paseo del Prado. This photo gives you an idea: http://www.photaki.es/foto-calle-de-las-huertas-madrid_393257.htm

Hilly- it's STEEP!Not bad to walk down but then you cross over to the Prado and it's quite steep to walk to the Retiro.

Walking up from the Prado, it is very steep,be careful when the street has been washed,slippery.You can google the street from the Prado and follow it up to Plaza Santa Ana.I know Huertas has clinched the tourist trade when a cupcake shop opened up very close to your apt!
All I am trying to say is that the street lost its appeal to me because of the drunk and screaming young people hanging out in groups on the street and leaving quite a mess-bottles and vomit.I now stay a couple of streets away on the C/ Cervantes,near the house of Lope de Vega.I like it much better-quieter street,pedestrian and closer to a supermarket.
Another area I've stayed in apts isacross from the Plaza Mayor near the Palace-more "grown up" especially C/Santiago,C/Espejo,I love to sit out in the lovely gardens outside the place and people watch.It's also close to my favorite Madrid restaurant, Casa Marta.
To me, C/Cava Baja is more sophisticated in its restaurants and bars,especially for wine tasting and tapas.It's how C/Huertas was 10 years ago when they were resurrectin the working class neighborhood.Stroll through the streets towards Atocha and you can see it's still a work in progress..........

We were in Madrid a week or 2 ago, and stayed on a small street that was parallel to Cava Baja. The area is very lively and we were really happy with the location. We're both in our 60's and love great food - Cava Baja is one restaurant / tapas bar after another. Our apartment was on an upper floor in a building with a lift and we had excellent windows - absolutely no problems with noise at night.

Hello again plambers, I'll try to address your questions, first off, the bed is not a queen, it is a double but yes it was comfortable. As I'm sure you know, this is basically a studio apartment with an open floorplan except for the bathroom.

As to light in the apartment, there is a very tiny window in the bedroom but you can open it for air and a bit of light. There are 3 long, but not huge, floor to ceiling windows that open and face into the courtyard, there are also the metal roll-down shades on these windows for privacy and when closed it is dark however we felt the light was adequate.. Also, most of our daylight hours were spent outside of the apartment.

The bathroom was very nice and while not huge it does have a large, very modern shower with plenty of hot water. Also there are two air-conditioners which proved to be wonderful when we were there as the temps were hovering at 100+. And yes, while Huertas does have a few restaurants near the apartment it did have somewhat of a residential feel. Due to the location of the apartment and the courtyard it was a very quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

As to the hills, yes the streets sloped and of course it was easy walking down but you do have to return to the apartment and it does involve some walking uphill but nothing severe. Also it's a pedestrian only street for the most part and you can take your time walking, maybe stopping for a drink along the way, if you get tired I would think it's very easy to pick up a taxi and there was a taxi queue right up from the apartment if you'd rather ride than walk.

In our opinion, having stayed there for 7 nights, we thoroughly enjoyed the apartment, the location and the overall experience of our visit to Madrid. Like I mentioned in my earlier email, we would most certainly stay here if we return to Madrid.

If you have any questions let me know.
Susan

Hopefully you can control the A/C-it could be toasty in May!
I disgree w/above poster,the street is quite steep,especially walking by the convent!
Lastly,watch out for the dog poop!

Susan and Susan in Toronto-thanks. i thought it was a queen bed-that is an issue-my husband is big and that is what we need at a minimum. Susan in Toronto, would you mind sharing your apt info? thanks

May is an excellent time of year to go to Madrid, some weeks before the summer heat sets in and it's festival time. The city's main annual fiesta is the week long celebration of the patron saint San Isidro in the middle of May. Processions, food, wine, dancing, open air concerts etc. etc.
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/festivals/san-isidro/

Past 16 years statistics for Madrid in May says daily highs 66-82F and night temperatures 46-54F.

Always updated info about Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do