Jardin Cafe Hostal & Restaurant

It's a good hostel. Hola, owner, I left the key upstairs on the first floor, near the gate.

Paulaner being on the menu made me very happy. This place clearly knows its beer, and the property is beautiful. The beer is great, the outdoor area is lovely, and my dorm bed was clean and comfortable. The staff seemed fine when they were around. My main frustration was the lack of proper hours and guest support. The reception followed the restaurant schedule, opening at 11:30am and closing at 21:00, which left people staying there or arriving for the night facing a “cerrado” sign. After coming back from a 2000M hike, I had no way into the gated property. Maybe there was a late-night phone number, but none was posted, so there was no way to know. For a place like this, I was also surprised there wasn’t a website or online portal. A café or restaurant can set its own hours, but accommodating overnight guests needs staff available beyond those hours.

For $10, this was the best room I’ve had yet. The five-bed dorm was spotless, with its own bathroom, a good mattress, lockable storage, an extra wardrobe, and shelves beside the bed. High ceilings and screens kept it from feeling stuffy, and being farther back on the property made it quiet enough. There’s a pleasant patio, and the restaurant is elegant with craft beer. Jazz played at a sensible volume. The bus stop for Santa Rosa is very close, and the bus terminal is about a 10-minute walk away. Mototaxis are everywhere, as they are throughout Honduras.

I visited Jardín Cafe on 26 Nov. 2016 and found the gates locked, with no posted hours or other sign of whether the hotel had guests. When I came back 30 minutes later, a woman was behind the gate. She couldn’t tell me if any rooms were available and suggested I return another time. I still don’t know whether the cafe is open or if rooms can be booked. It looks like a nice place if it (re)opens, and the owners could make things clearer with signs about the business, hours, and details. If they’ve reopened, I’d be glad to see a reply from them here.