Lisbon Lounge Hostel

Lisbon Lounge Hostel is one of the hippest hostels on earth -- Ikea-like-decorated and full of life. There are bean bag chairs in the common room, usually occupied by people resting up for their next foray into the party life of the city. There are playing cards, good magazines in several languages, a few guide books and language books, a radio playing alternative rock music, a movie-theatre size projector, and a good collection of films from many countries.

The mixed dorms are packed with young things from every country on earth except maybe a few in Africa. There's a kitchen where someone is always cooking something and willing to share. A breakfast including bread, cheese, honey, milk, cofee, tea, juices, jams, marmelade, and butter is available for 3 euros. Supermarket is nearby. Broadband DSL makes the computer in the common room popular, but not impossible to get to. People are easy-going and don't mind asking for the computer when they need it. The people at reception speak at least five languages and will even print stuff for guests using the computer, for no extra cost. The desk never closes, and beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are always available.

All this, and yet the dorms are quiet, with people sleeping at all hours, depending on when they go out to play in Lisbon, one of the greatest and friendliest twenty-four-hour cities on earth. The hostel is currently located in the Baixa district, with a planned move to the Barrio Alto. Either area is a great place to be, with short walks to the Metro, trams, and buses. The only drawback is that the unisex bathrooms are overcrowded, with a total of three johns and three showers for ten times that many people. Maybe after the move to the Barrio Alto, there will be more toilets and showers. That's the only improvement we would recommend.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2006