The Magic Bean

The Magic Bean is a small hostel in the New Town district of Quito, with only four rooms. Two are communal dorms with four bunks in each and a shared bathroom. They have no access to cooking facilities. One of the other rooms has a private bathroom and a kitchen.

The hostel is like a big house, with all rooms entered via the landing on the first floor. The landing also serves as a common area, with a comfortable settee, a small book exchange, and collection of magazines. The walls are completely covered with fliers and brochures for learning Spanish, daytrips, volunteer opportunities in the mountains, the rainforest, helping people, and helping animals. There's plenty of reading material as you wait for the shower to be free.

The dorms are clean and towels are provided. There are also huge built in lockers, one allocated to each bunk. Each could easily hold two full-size packs. A left luggage service is available in the office on the ground floor. The price (credit cards accepted) includes breakfast -- you choose from bagels or pancakes. Both are excellent, and the pancakes in particular are a specialty here. Breakfast is eaten in the terrace bar/restaurant. The Magic Bean is known locally for good food and many backpackers and quite a few locals come here for lunch or coffee during the day.

Now the downside, the Magic Bean is an excellent hostel, but Blooms disco is located about fifty meters away on the other side of the street. The music is very loud and continues into the wee small hours of the morning. If noise bothers you when you're trying to sleep, earplugs would be advisable.

All the usual backpacker services are within easy walking distance. There is an internet cafe two doors away and a laundry across the road. All the nightclubs and restaurants are close by too. You only have to decide what type of food and music you want.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review