Crossroads Cafe & Hostal

Crossroads is located in the heart of the Mariscal district of Quito, right across the street from The Magic Bean.  Though I only spent one night at Crossroads (when the Bean was full), it was a pleasant experience.  I shared a triple with two friends without an attached bathroom.  Though I definitely didn't feel that the room was very secure, it was clean and roomy, with plenty of open space for us to sit and eat egyptian take-out from Nefertiti's while watching a pirated version of Shrek 2 on my laptop.  I helped move a friend up to a shared bunkroom as well, and while it wasn't nearly as nice as the private triple, it was acceptable for $5 a night.

There are several common areas, including a TV room with couches, outdoor patios, and a "restaurant" which I never saw anyone actually eating at, though the tables were frequently in use by those staying at the hostal.  The management was definitely laid back but helpful; we had no problems stashing our gear in the office and english was readily understood and spoken.

Overall it seems like a better place to hook up with fellow travellers than The Magic Bean, but you'll still probably end up walking across the street for breakfast.