The Secret Garden

The main feature of The Secret Garden is without doubt its rooftop bar. Tarquin and Kathrine, the owners, make full use of it -- it is the dining room, lounge, and bar for the hostel. The panoramic views over the historic centre of Quito toward the suburbs on the opposite mountain slope are magnificent. How many church spires can you spot?

The view from the bar is just the backdrop for one of the most sociable hostels anywhere. It is an inspirational place to catch up on your travel journal,an exciting place to discover whom you're sharing the hostel with, and a relaxing place to eat and drink.

There are no cooking facilities for residents at the Secret Garden. However this is made up for by the excellent "all you can eat" breakfast (which is available for a small price) and the evening meal deal, a two-course dinner and all you can drink between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. for a reasonable price. As you can imagine, this leads to some very entertaining nights. The music is always good and sometimes local traditional musicians provide the entertainment.

The noise from the terrace can carry to the rooms immediately below. For this reason the bar is usually closed at about 11 p.m., although if all the guests are up for it, and the mood is good, the bar may stay open a little later. Tarquin can provide information on good places to continue the fiesta, such as the little Karaoke bar down the street (best to go in groups) and clubs in the New Town.

During normal hours the hostel enjoys good links to the New Town should you wish to explore the main backpacker district. Both the Trole Bus and the Ecovia (cheap and fast) pass close to the end of the street. The nearest Trole stop is Hermano Miguel. Initially it is best to arrive at the hostel by taxi and once you get used to Quito, the cheaper forms of public transport are a practical way to explore the city.

Near the end of the street there is a small internet cafe. It only has four computers and is often full. Some of the computers are also very temperamental. Try to get the server (the one furthest from the entrance).

Despite such a relaxed and sociable atmosphere the hostel is extremely well run. The rooms, terrace, and bathrooms are all very clean. A reasonably priced laundry service is available.

The only disadvantage of the hostel is that the stairs are quite steep and narrow, but no problem for the average backpacker. Remember they are part of the character of an old building, which has been rejuvenated and it is the height of the building that provides the magnificent views. The stairs are imaginatively decorated with a quote from Einstein, little figures clambering up them, and interesting murals. The ground floor dorm by the entrance can be a little noisy with traffic, pedestrians, and the door itself being opened and closed. This is one of the best hostels anywhere and you will probably end up staying longer than you intended to.

-- Exklusive Hostelz.com Übersicht