The City Guesthouse presents an unusual combination of high-end and low-end features, making it hard to categorize.
The GOOD: When I stayed there I got a private room with television, desk, chairs, wardrobe, books & magazines, and a private kitchenette, all for C$40. The bathroom, though technically shared, was right outside my door and was practically a private bathroom. The building is clean and well-kept on the inside, and the owners are pleasant and accommodating. There are two free internet computers, and a laundry room in the basement. The location, while not perfect, is very close to the subway.
The BAD: The building looks terrible from the outside. It's old and worn and right next to an eyesore of a vacant lot. There's no sign announcing the guesthouse; I had to double check the address to confirm that I was in the right place. And later, when I returned to the guesthouse at midnight, after a night on the town, I found that my bathroom door wouldn't open, so I was forced to use one of the other shared bathrooms. My bed wasn't very comfortable, and the curtains weren't thick enough to block out security light from outside. The subway was slightly audible, at regular intervals, but only if I listened for it.
Let me stress that, as ugly as it is on the outside, this place is clean and well kept on the inside. One of the other reviews mentioned problems with insects, but I saw nothing of the kind. Apart from the mishap with the bathroom door, my stay was pleasant and cheap.
When I was there, there was a "FOR SALE" sign in the front yard. Perhaps this means that there will be new owners soon. I hope not -- the ones I met were very kind.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC