Soooo...to be honest. My room was kind of expensive, $15 with a shared bathroom. It had two windows that looked into the restaurant, which was a bit wierd. Rooms were a bit cold, but when you complained they gave you an extra blanket. The food is pretty decent, but only if youre looking for touristy food. Their granola they make from scratch and its served with really good yogurt...so its a good place for some granola and yogurt. The service is pretty ------ with the exception of one guy named Victor, who is a total gem. He genuinely cares about the restaurant and wants you to be happy...cant say as much for the other guys working there. My reccomendation? Unless you are a big partier and know that youre going to be coming up around 3am and will just pass out, try looking for another hostal.

Ten years ago I stayed at El Cafecito in Quito and had a pretty good experience. Using that trip as a reference I decided to stay here after my first choice was fully booked. When I arrived, I was taken aback by the attitude I received from the guy at the reception. He acted as me checking in was disrupting his web surfing.

The bed was uncomfortable and the pillows were awful. The door to the room had a crack that allowed cold air to filter in throughout the night. A string of ants could be found along the sink. The room had no TV. The best part is there was NO hot water. Great! All this for $25/night?

No thanks! I decided to leave first thing in the morning to another hotel - Hostal Orquidea that was recommended by Lonely Planet ($18/night with all the amenities). In my backpacker days, this hostal may have been charming, but as I've matured and have money to spend, I could not tolerate this waste of money. Don't bother.

We planned to stay here for 3 nights, but left after the first. Arrived in the evening, surprised to step in a pub-like place, with smoke in the air and loud music. There is no reception desk, you have to check in at the bar, it should have alarmed us already, but we were tired from an 8 hour bus ride. We stayed at room 14 facing the garden, at first sight it looks quite cosy with its dark red painted walls, but after a closer look, the walls are cracked everywhere, the door doesnt close properly, there were ants running along the basin. The garden was a mess, full with rotting leafs and cut branches.
We did not get much sleep at night. First the cafe in the hostel, which closed around 12 30-1 oçlock was playing loud music, then the garden filled with people continuing the party in the open. Meanwhile next door there was a live concert till 4 in the morning with the bass so loud, that we couldnt sleep even with earplugs. From 6am onwards we had to listen to the church bell and the washer-dryer going off just outside the room.
Cant say much about the restaurant, when they wanted to charge us 1 dollar 60 cents for a half a liter bottled water, we decided not to eat there.
If you go there with your friends for party, it might be your place. Otherwise dont count on meeting people or get a good night sleep here.

First off, it's more of a restaurant, than it is a hostel. There's no reception desk, you check in at the restaurant bar. Dim lighting and bad 90's music sets the trendy ambiance of this overpriced, small portioned eatery. Unfortunately for those who are staying at this "hostel," the restaurant is really successful. So good luck tying to get some assistance anytime after happy hour. It's impossible to sleep with all the noise from the restaurant and the church bells that go off every 15 minutes starting at 6am. Also, the WIFI is ridiculously slow, even in the lobby. It is not a good place to meet people. And the cherry on top of this terrible dessert, the hot water did not work in the showers.There are many other options in the area so don't settle for this one. I stayed at Casa de Barranco my second night in Cuenca and I was really pleased with their services.