Stone House Quezon City

This bed and breakfast is cheap and basic, with a mix of spacious, renovated rooms, and old, cramped ones. Suites feature a few ornate antiques in dark wood -- but these beautiful pieces are lost amid the newer, less inspired furniture. Common areas are average for a hotel in this price range, with basic furniture and generic decor. The lobby features a wooden front desk, an elevator area, and little else. The most attractive space here is the rooftop garden, full of tropical plants and dotted with tables. Up a short flight of stairs is a covered deck with expansive city views, a few plastic chairs and wooden tables, and a small bar offering coffee and refreshments in the afternoons.

The hotel is located right on E. Rodriguez Avenue, a busy thoroughfare in southwestern Quezon City. Tomas Morato Avenue, a nightlife hotspot in this part of town, is located just a couple of blocks away, and there are parks and cheap eateries nearby. Cubao, one of Quezon’s most famous shopping areas, is a short drive away. Central Manila and Makati, however, are about a 30-minute drive from the hotel, but main roads are generally congested and travel time can be longer than expected. The international airport is a 40-minute drive away.

This bed and breakfast offers a wide array of room types, including tiny triple rooms with bunk beds, family rooms with two double beds, and larger suites with separate living areas. Decor is inconsistent throughout, with some rooms featuring contemporary touches -- such as colorful bed runners and a few artistic details -- and others feeling downright old and tired. Many, however, have a mix of old and new, with decades-old closets, white wooden beds, and laminate floors. Regarding amenities, units here are barebones, with basic (and dated) technologies -- including tube TVs and old air-conditioning units -- and tiny bathrooms with narrow showers. Many rooms feel cramped, with just enough space for the beds and a tiny desk with a plastic chair -- but others are large enough for a sofa and a coffee table. In-room Wi-Fi is available for a fee. 

Star Tavern serves breakfast every morning (included in the price), and local specialties for lunch and dinner. Every night a jazz band plays live in the restaurant, and rooms on the lower floors can get some noise. Probably the hotel’s best feature is the rooftop area, complete with a lush garden and a covered space with tables and chairs. The hotel is taller than most neighboring buildings, which allows for expansive city views. Free Wi-Fi is available at the restaurant, but guests are charged a daily fee for in-room Wi-Fi access.