If you want a living experience that will give you a real taste of Newfoundland and its people and culture, then you should try Downtown Hostel St. John's NFL. When we arrived at the hostel, the helpful attendants not only provided us with maps and the answers to all our questions, but also shared with us the Newfoundland delicacy they had just cooked -- toutin (special type of fried bread). In addition, on Sunday morning, the assistant manager, Bill cooked us a traditional Newfoundland brunch in the hostel kitchen.
Getting to the hostel is easy, since almost everyone in St. John's and Newfoundland is incredibly friendly, helpful, and eager to provide directions to any destination in the area. The Downtown Hostel is located on a steep hill within easy walking distance of the downtown area (George Street, Trans-Canada Mile Zero, Harbour-side Park). The hill is daunting at first but the small amount of exercise that the incline provides is satisfying and necessary after a large meal of fish and chips at Ches's, a renowned restaurant in St. John's located only a couple of blocks from the hostel. A new museum/art gallery called The Rooms that recently opened is also within five blocks of the hostel and is well worth a visit.
The hostel itself is small (sleeps twelve to fifteen people in each of two buildings) and within a very short period of time it feels like home. The kitchen is very well stocked and is ideal for anyone with a penchant for cooking. Cheery, bright, and fun, the kitchen is also where people of all ages can be found socializing at some point on most nights. When exploring the city seems too daunting for the legs, a lounge on the first floor that's equipped with a well-stocked book shelf and a TV/VCR/DVD player can be the perfect option.
The hostel is well kept and clean, with tidy one-person bathrooms on the first and second floors, and a shower on the first floor. There is only one shower in the building, but as it is a small hostel, there is never a line to use it. While we never had the pleasure of meeting manager Carola, her assistant Bill, is a very active presence at the hostel, always nearby to offer directions to anywhere in the city and provide explanations or translations of 'Newfoundnese' (words you will only hear in Newfoundland). If you're lucky on a night when he's in a good mood, he may even offer to hypnotize you -- a rare opportunity that you shouldn't pass up.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2006
Location/Contact
4.1 Average from 10 Ratings
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