Art & Coffee

First of all, be aware that you may end up paying more if you book through a third party when you get there. I had to pay an extra 24 dollars on top of the quoted price when I got to the place. They said I should have read the "fine print." I had requested a quiet room and was assured ahead of time that they could accommodate this. However, I was thoroughly disappointed with the issues that made my stay very unpleasant. In fact, I paid for two nights and left after the first one. The booming music and amplified rhetoric from the neighboring churches, the dogs right next to my cabin, and most of all the construction that’s going on continually. I asked the owner to be refunded the second night, especially since it was $74 which is a lot of money! He basically passed the buck to his manager who I emailed and never received a response. For 74 dollars a night, I found the cabin to be bare bones with one lamp and no television. The bathroom smelled. The breakfast which was included was not edible. There is no art (which is supposedly in storage somewhere due to renovations) and only weak coffee. I think the pictures on the website are very misleading.

The sleeping rooms, beds, pillows all excellent. If you want your room cleaned - meaning wastebasket in bathroom where you place your used toilet paper and other garbage - or the floors swept or the garbage bucket on your veranda you must order in advance OR talk nice to the owners and hire someone to do this (pay the cleaner directly). We met only one of the managers: they own a house across the street an airbnb. so all a bit confusing! The food and staff: they need more staff as the one who is there is run off their feet. They sleep in a little room off the kitchen. When we were there they were just beginning the delights of ownership and finding their way. Airbnb style but yet trying to be hotel-ish. If airbnb they need to provide cooking facilities for folk as well as cleaning supplies, knowledge of where to empty waste baskets, basically better clear communication with residents. Wonderfully tho was their willingness and desire to serve, help, and be kind. Thank you for that!!! If you want to be in the centre of village their place and Han's! A downside to Art&Coffee is that the owner seems to be Guatemalan? but the managers are European/american/Guatemalan mix and seems everyone has a wonderfully mixed idea on what to do and how to do. Meanwhile, food list is Indian-ish - the best was tipicos, the basic breakfast, except not everything was hot or warm but we put that up to so many folk running around with one or two persons trying to do it all. Not the most quiet of places either as they are trying to have live music, games, yoga and all sorts of things there - but then again - the whole village is a delight of sounds, announcements over the loudspeakers, holy roller pentecostal singing, dogs and others barking! Hope the place stays simple and not get all weird like the other towns around Mother Lake.

New and beautiful accomodations. Rustic cozzy setting. Very peaceful surroundings. Great price which includes breakfast. Joyful and caring workers. 2 minutes walking distance to the lake and 7 to the swimming area of La Casa del Mundo, where you can access for free through a side gate, and 20 minutes walking distance to Santa Cruz. I definetly recommend Art & Coffee in Jaibalito.