Pleasantly suprised
Stayed here on business. Hotel is on the outskirts of downtown near Chinatown and is slightly seedy, but not bad if you're an urbanite. Was given an upgrade to a suite for no extra charge. The hotel is old but very well-maintained, quiet and clean. The room was huge and comfortable. The bathroom seemed original and had a very large tub with a good shower. Free wireless which was slow, but tolerable. The clientele was very diverse. This is a great place for the budget-minded.
There is also an old cafe called Felipe's around the corner which is an LA institution. Great, cheap breakfast and atmosphere.