This hotel was a RIOT! Let me first say, would *absolutely* stay here again. Stayed with young kids in summer. Convenient location via subway/bus to train station, zoo/palace (15-min walk to edge of palace grounds), downtown, etc. Lovely, safe neighborhood; grocery store just steps away.
Had read reviews & knew the exterior of the building did not reflect the quality of the room inside. However, the outside & entrance of this building is SO rough & derelict-looking, that even our Uber driver wasn't sure if he should leave us there alone, after dark, with children. We arrived 9pm, & getting up to our room felt like a scene from a horror movie. There are NO LIGHTS on the outside of the building or in the entrance-way! Pitch black!! Had to use flashlights on our phones, all the way up to the 2nd-floor where our room was located. There is no lobby; received "check-in" instructions via email day before, which involved phoning a number while standing on the dark sidewalk; after 2-3 rings, no one answered, but the door magically clicked open. In thru the entrance, still using flashlights, past graffiti & garbage to a creepy old staircase (no elevator, you ask? HA - they don't even have LIGHTS); located our room on 2nd floor (hooray for hallway lights up there), and key was in lockbox on door. Imagine our surprise when the room was delightfully clean, pleasant, comfortable, welcoming, warm, well-stocked kitchen, with laundry machine! Had a great stay, and made for a great story.
