The concept at Room Mate hotels is that each is designed around the personality of an
imaginary friend who will introduce you to the city (see also Room Mate Óscar;). Laura is billed as
“temperamental, sexy and very creative.” Confusingly, the female character portrayed in every room is not Laura, but
the rather less sexy Juana of Austria, who founded the nearby Convent of the Barefoot Royals in 1559.
Describing your accommodation as temperamental seems to invite trouble, and the vertiginous stairs and open railings


in the duplex rooms will not suit everyone, but otherwise Tomás Alía’s design is a quirky delight. The small rooms are
cleverly and colorfully arranged, with sparse furnishings and glass-box showers stocked with branded toiletries. For an
extra fee you can add cooking facilities, in case you want to get creative in the kitchenette. If not, breakfast runs until
noon.