During our Ecuador trip we came 3 times to the Bean. First time was a bit scary as we came late and the place looked closed down, but a ring on the bell and all worries where gone.
We used a dorm for 4 persons - perfect for a family. The standard is good budget standard with the atmosphere I like. Good beds and good sleep, if one is not over sensitive to the occacional car or yell from the street.
We missed a couch or chairs to sit together and play cards or talk, but it was just to go down and ask, and we could grab some chairs at the restaurant. Bathroom with shower a step away - perfect. Good breakfast included gave the price even more value (but the breakfast coffee is not the same as if you order the separate cup of the real magic bean!). The Juice in halfliterglasses was just fantastic.
The restaurant is a bit pricey for us, but seemed to be a popular place as there always where people there.
Delta had lost all our luggage on the way down - we got great help from the Bean to make phone calls in spanish! My son had trouble with shoes from a nearby leather shop - and we got help again (I really hope it will end well too!). The Bean became a safe haven for us. So one has to get that, even if all the guys at the Bean don't smile 24/7, they are doers if you need a helping hand. I really liked the place and the atmosphere there.

I´ve stayed here more than once on my way through Quito. It´s a good, clean hostal with friendly management. The real coffee, locked closet, safe, nice beds and free wi-fi are what make this hostal a pretty sweet value. Management has made me 2 early a.m. breakfasts. I would definitely recommend the Magic Bean Hostal to a friend!

The Magic Bean has been a standard for American travelers/backpackers in Quito since I first visited over 16 years ago. It is mostly well-known for the coffee and food in the first-floor restaurant, but the hostal is clean, comfortable, and convenient. There is, I believe, only one private room (with bath), but we occupied all the beds in a shared room, and therefore had privacy. Though the bathroom was shared, it was clean.

The location is excellent, but the Mariscal section of town has grown more dangerous after dark in recent years; it is recommended to take the (typically short & inexpensive) cab ride to wherever you may want to go that is outside of the few surrounding blocks. That warning stated, the hostal itself is simple, yet clean and comfortable; the coffee is amazing, and the food consistently good. Though not the place to go for typical Ecuadorian fare, my teenage son loved the variety of the menu, and everyone found something enjoyable. The breakfast included with the room is hearty and excellent.

The WiFi on premises was a plus as well, and the staff was willing to accommodate my request to keep the WiFi on after ten o'clock as well (They normally cut it off after this time).

The benefit of the Magic Bean is the restaurant attached and its very central location, so for a weary traveller it´s perfect. The rooms and dorm prices were way above what I had payed in other hostals in quito less central, but it depends what you are looking for. There is also traffic noise here, so bring earplug.
The restaurant has an excellent menu for vegetarians and non alike, but the waiter I had was pretty lacklustre, I had to ask him to bring me a menu.
That said, the rest of the staff were very nice and accomodating, and made me breakast even though I left at 4am to catch a flight, a very nice touch.