Axel's take on La Mariscal: #3 of 5 in Quito, 7.2/10
Useful for budget stays, less convincing than its nightlife reputation. La Mariscal leads for nearby eating and drinking, with strong hotels and transport, but uneven atmosphere and modest value hold it back.
La Mariscal still has useful daytime ingredients: the craft market, Mindalae museum on Reina Victoria, cafés and a long-established traveler scene around Foch and Juan León Mera. It can work for sociable, budget-minded visitors who investigate their exact street rather than booking on the neighborhood name alone.
Do not rely on old descriptions of Plaza Foch as a guaranteed nightly party. Independent reporting in 2025 found empty premises and thin evening footfall, although individual venues remained busy. The city approved a recovery ordinance in February 2026, but that is not proof the revival is complete. We would choose La Floresta or La Carolina for an easier first stay.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, nightlife, LGBTQ+ travelers, shopping
- Skip it if: You expect a reliably busy nightlife district every evening; You want the simplest family base
- Getting around: Ecovía runs along 6 de Diciembre; Metro El Ejido is useful from the southern end, not doorstep rail for Plaza Foch. From UIO, use an airport taxi or a bus to Río Coca followed by Ecovía.
- After dark: Activity varies sharply by venue and street; 2025 reporting found quiet stretches around Foch, so choose a destination and arrange the ride home.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $98 a night · usually 17% under the public rate
Where to stay in Quito: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in La Mariscal
- Orellana, Amazonas to Diego de Almagro. The northern avenue corridor suits business-oriented stays, with restaurants and the Mindalae museum nearby rather than Old Town atmosphere. Hotels here: Holiday Inn Express Quito by IHG, Vieja Cuba Hotel, JW Marriott Quito.
- Plaza Foch and Juan León Mera. Choose this restaurant-and-café cluster for daytime convenience, but plan a specific evening destination rather than assuming a party. Hotels here: Ikala Quito Hotel, Hotel + Arte, Reina Isabel Hotel & Suites, Rio Amazonas Hotel.
- El Ejido Park, northern edge. Useful for craft-market browsing and Metro trips, with a park-side position between historic and modern Quito. Hotels here: Mercure Alameda Quito, Hilton Colon Quito.
How to choose
- Choose Holiday Inn Express Quito by IHG if you prioritize cleanliness, spacious rooms and included breakfast over a pool or hotel restaurant.
- Choose Vieja Cuba Hotel if you want cheaper-than-most small-hotel character, welcoming staff and a generous breakfast, and stairs are manageable.
- Choose JW Marriott Quito if pool time, gardens and a substantial gym are central to your stay, not just occasional extras.
What paying more buys
Hotel + Arte keeps costs down with simple rooms and occasional kitchenettes; Vieja Cuba adds a generous breakfast and traditional small-hotel character. Around the neighborhood’s middle price range, Holiday Inn Express offers spacious rooms and standout cleanliness. Pricier JW Marriott buys gardens, a heated outdoor pool and broader facilities—not necessarily newer décor, and little benefit if you spend every day out. Typical rates with Axel here run from $22 a night at Hotel + Arte to $219 at JW Marriott Quito (last 30 days).
The best hotels in La Mariscal, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Holiday Inn Express Quito by IHG 9.0/10, limited-service mid-range hotel in Quito’s financial district. A strong practical pick, with standout cleanliness and service rather than luxury extras. Why it's here: a practical mid-priced stay strongest on cleanliness, helpful service and included breakfast. Accept: no pool or on-site restaurant. $79 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Vieja Cuba Hotel 8.9/10, characterful 3-star boutique hotel in Quito’s Colón neighborhood. A strong small-hotel choice for personal service, character and a generous breakfast. Why it's here: small-hotel character, welcoming service and generous breakfast at a cheaper-than-most rate. Accept: no elevator; some rooms are compact, chilly or slow to warm. $52 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- JW Marriott Quito 8.9/10, full-service luxury city hotel with resort-style grounds. A strong luxury base for generous rooms, warm service and downtime by the pool. Why it's here: resort-style downtime with a heated outdoor pool, gardens and generous rooms. Accept: some décor feels dated; breakfast and other inclusions vary. $188 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Ikala Quito Hotel 8.8/10, characterful mid-range boutique hotel in La Mariscal. A strong boutique pick for warm service and character, with rooms worth choosing carefully. Why it's here: individual boutique character and helpful luggage storage for multi-stop Ecuador trips. Accept: room layouts, ventilation and noise vary; Sunday dining needs checking. $76 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hotel + Arte 8.7/10, small, budget-friendly 3-star hotel in La Mariscal. A strong-value Quito base with friendly staff, but light sleepers should choose carefully. Why it's here: one of the cheapest bases here, with kitchenette options for longer stays. Accept: sound carries between rooms; stairs and coordinated arrival required. $22 a night with Axel against $28 a night on Booking.com for the same dates and party: $6 a night less (18%). Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Reina Isabel Hotel & Suites 8.7/10, comfortable independent mid-range hotel in La Mariscal. Spacious rooms and helpful staff make this a strong-value Quito base. Why it's here: spacious rooms and suites with a well-equipped gym at a mid-priced neighborhood rate. Accept: street and hallway noise; air-conditioning and fridges vary by category. $71 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Mercure Alameda Quito 8.5/10, full-service city hotel in La Mariscal, officially rated five stars. Strong service and spacious rooms, but not consistently five-star polish. Why it's here: full-service value with spacious rooms, rooftop spa facilities and breakfast available from 4 a.m.. Accept: variable room condition, traffic noise and inconsistent temperature control. $75 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Hilton Colon Quito 8.2/10, established, upscale full-service hotel opposite El Ejido Park. Strong service and comfortable rooms make this older Hilton a dependable Quito base. Why it's here: a Metro-friendly, park-side full-service base with family suites and an outdoor pool. Accept: dated rooms and bathroom fittings; noise in some rooms. $85 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
- Rio Amazonas Hotel 7.9/10, traditional mid-range city hotel in La Mariscal. Comfortable beds and good value, but noise and uneven service limit the appeal. Why it's here: comfortable beds and appealing views at a cheaper-than-most rate near Foch restaurants. Accept: traffic and construction noise, dated rooms and uneven service. $66 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate · Customer link — Open hotel details
