I’ve stayed at M J Catedral several times and recommended it to many people. This last visit, however, was very disappointing.

The hostel has a great location behind the cathedral just off the Zocolo in the historic centre. Many places are therefore within easy walking distance.

The WiFi traffic limit is often exceeded or the individual password needs to be replaced. The system is underpowered for the number of users. Similarly the door cards for the main entrance and rooms often don’t work and need to be frequently reset at the reception.

The rooftop area where breakfast used to be served and which functioned as a relatively inexpensive bar are at night has been completely redesigned and upgraded to a fashionable, more expensive venue. The rooftop now generally does not open until 1800 and so neither does the laundry as access to it is through the main door to the roof. Members of the public also have access in the evening and the space is often let for private events and is not always open to residents. It mostly closes at 2300 except when let out for private parties in which cases throbbing music penetrates the building till 0200 and guests can still be leaving the building at 0300, often shouting and screaming. The security staff do nothing about this and people leaving the rooftop can easily wander around the corridors. None of this makes for sleeping well. Even when these events are taking place the small communal kitchen and terrace are closes at 2300 irrespective of the number of resident guests who might want to stay there longer. Bribing the night-time security staff sometimes works. A guy handed over 30 pesos one night and we had an extra half hour. While money has been lavished on the rooftop bar the kitchen is under resourced and not very clean.

The ground floor restaurant and bar is now used to serve breakfast. The restaurant itself, which does good food, now doesn’t open till around midday and seems to close mid evening. It used to be extremely popular with residents and locals, but has gone into decline. The evening five of us wanted to eat and have drinks there we were told that we could not put two tables together, despite the place having only three other tables occupied and no other customers in sight. We went elsewhere.

The bathroom floor had glazed tiles which make for a slippy surface and there were old soaps and wrappers left in the shower trays for the several days I was there. Cleaning is basic. There is a refundable deposit for towels if staying in the dorms. My towel was threadbare in places.

The attitudes of staff vary considerably from the very helpful and fun to showing no interest in anything at all. In both the restaurant and terrace bar staff make a habit of asking for tips. More seriously there was a clear-cut case of the theft of money from one of the guests by a security guard which took the better part of a day to resolve by the manager.

Great location, you can go everywhere from the historic center, they also can offer guided tours, friendly staff, price and good breakfast, but the shower area is a little bit dirty in the rooms and doesn't have AC.

I rent a private room, and I was very disappointed. The walls in the shower were very dirty, the toilette were leaking. The mattress had a hole in the middle.
. For the way of construction of the building, it were very noise, impossible to have a good sleep time. The breakfast was terrible !!!!
Overall for the price that I paid, I could paid a hotel in the same location, which I did !

I don't recommended this place. Sorry !