I picked this place because of its central location. Due to the low price I wasn't expecting much, but the place managed to disappoint even the lowest expectations. I understand the concept of "basic" rooms, but how anyone could describe this place as clean (Lonely Planet) is beyond me. There was hair of what appeared to be 2 different people in the bathroom (I had a single room). Also, when I got to the room at night after going out I was too tired to check carefully, but in the morning I realized there was actually hair on my pillow (definitely wasn't mine - wrong color and length). The bed felt damp (might be due to the humid climate) at night and there is no insulation - rooms get seriously cold at night and blankets are skimpy. After all that, I thought maybe the supposedly great coffee would compensate a little bit, only to learn the next morning that breakfast is only served Mon-Fri. Really, stay away from this place if you can. There must be 100 places in Lima that are better.

I booked this hostal via email prior to my stay and they arranged to have me picked up from the airport on a late night arrival. Errol Branca was there on time and waiting. The rooms are rather basic and as noted in a prior review, there was no windows only a large skylight. Central Lima is in walking distance, but closes up early at night as all the nightlife action is in Miraflores.

The breakfast was good for the price. Errol arranged a plane ticket to Cuzco and offered any other assistance that was needed. Overall, I was satisfied with my stay. It's about what you expect for budget travel.

My Girlfriend and I stayed at Hostal Roma for a couple of nights on a way to Cuzco for the Inca Trail. Recommendations had been to stay ´down town´ Lima if you only had a couple of days and this hostal was ideal. Miraflores is just to far out to really experience Lima and the down town area is not ´unsafe´ as many guidebooks say, as long as you keep your wits about you and don´t wander around late at night (which is the same as most cities I´ve been to around the world).

The building is a lovely colonial style right in the centre of town, literally 2 minutes from the main square and shopping district. The rooms are pretty basic and we decided to sleep in sleeping bags instead of using the bedding, however that isn´t to say that they weren´t clean, it was just more comfortable that way. The rooms are perfectly adequate to get your head down in order to have a whistle stop tour of Lima.

The staff at Hostal Roma were very friendly and very helpful. The Hostal is very cheap at 25USD per night and we arranged a taxi to and from the airport for 30USD. The taxi was waiting for us at the airport on arrival, despite us booking the transfer 6 weeks in advance.

The cafe attached the Hostal is absolutely lovely. The breakfast is fab and the coffee the best in Lima (Obivously my opinion only!)!! Even if you don´t stay at the Hostal the cafe is worth a visit.

The immediate surroundings of the hostal are very busy, with many little shops, traditional/local restaurants and many printing workshops. However don´t be put off by this as this gives you a true insight into Lima.

Overall, excellent value for money given the location, which is superb, however has basic rooms. Would recommend to like minded people.

I lived this hostal for one night. The bed is okay, but the room does not smell good. I paid $20 for double bed, I might just get what I paid for the room.

However this hostal charges a lot for other things.
1) $17 for airport pickup, another $17 to transfer to airport.
The taxi cost is ~$8, I thought $17 is for both way when I reserved at beginning, had to take it since I arrived Lima at 10pm, negotiated to $30 total.

2) I bought a bottle of water, charged by 7 soles
This is ridiculous. It is 1 soles in Lima market, 1.5~2 soles in all of other hostal I lived in Peru.

So it is okay to live there for stay only in central Lima, don't expect any help and don't buy anything from it.