An old jail that turned to be a hostel. The rooms were designed to keep the prison cell style. I wouldn't recommend for people easily impressed...

I didn't pay to stay in a cell but the shared dorm rooms in the front part of the jail (the mansion) where very good. Clean, lots of space, reading lights on the beds. My complaint on the rooms would be that there are no lockers, not even a small one for your valuables. The kitchen, laundry and common areas are all great. The bathroom on level 9 however is a huge let down. I know we are going for the old jail experience but the hot water hammers so badly you can't turn it on to more than a trickle and the broken window panes have been replaced with clear glass (Maybe it's just me but I don't want everyone outside to be able to see in while I'm in the bathroom). All in all though this was a good place to stay, in a good location.

A very nice old building jail at the super neat Capital of Canada...i crashed few nites in to the cell dorm,bit cold at night so i couldn't find another extra blanket.
i was hiding all the time my expensive bottle of tequila, the staff confiscated the beer of my friends...i tried the pub Crew in downtown the guide was really cool and funny!
Receptionists need to smile a little bit more and don't sell everything when you check in.
the ghost never wake me up during nite.
cheers

Ok it's got "character", but with that comes the smell, noise and cramped conditions you would expect to find at a prison. There's bars above the door, so light filters in and there's nothing you can do about it. That isn't great but fair enough they can use the "character" excuse to justify it.

I was most disappointed by the standards in the hostel. Some of the staff were on the rude side, and they charge for an extra night if you want to use the facilities before check in (1pm). There isn't a dry space in the showers to keep your clothes and get changed and the bathrooms weren't particularly clean, and the standard I'd expect in a hostel. There were only 2 dull lights in the cell, so never really light enough to read a book on the bottom bunks. Speaking of beds, my god they were unbelievable. I've never slept on something so uncomfortable ever, even camping without a mat was better. The mattress was ridiculously soft and lumpy. I actually had a sore back the next day because it was that bad. There's a sign in the room saying you can borrow extra blankets from reception if you're cold, but with no air conditioning in the rooms, I imagine it gets rather stuffy when fully occupied, especially in the middle of summer.

Each day they change the combination code needed to access everything beyond reception at the hostel. Probably intended to increase security, but every time I asked for the code it was a different person and they never bothered to ask who I was or check that I was staying there, which totally defeats the point of having the space locked.