Cafe Central

The staff are very nice, and the food is okay. The pool is pleasant, though it's in the shade for basically the whole day. The place is one of the cheaper options, but I still felt ripped off by what you get for the price. That's true across the island, where you pay top dollar for accommodation that can be dusty, old, and in need of renovation. This place is no exception.

The included hot breakfast, pool, free WiFi, and hot running showers make this a great value. My room was very well priced, and the service was terrific. Unlike some hotels on Ilha, Café Central is open daily for lunch, and it also has a full bar and serves dinner. It's one of my favorite places to stay on Ilha. A wonderful stay in an historic site, and I'll definitely be back.

The staff were generally nice and friendly, but the manager was very rude when we complained that we'd booked an executive room and were put in a standard one instead. The hotel was very, very dirty. There were stains on the sheets and towels, the rooms smelled terrible, and we saw rats running around during breakfast. The pool was really dirty too, and the building needs maintenance and the mold cleaned off the walls. While we were sleeping, paint fell from the ceiling onto us. Definitely not recommendable. There are so many other beautiful places on the island that are much more worthy than café central.

The staff all treated us with great smiles and hospitality, from reception and the restaurant to the cleaning team. The rooms were clean, and we enjoyed the pool. We spent a week there, including during a power cut across the whole island. Thanks to the hotel's solar electricity system, we still had power and a hot shower. It's right in the city center, so every tourist attraction is within walking distance. I'd recommend it.