The Hostelz.com Review
Hostel Zorbas is a really great budget hostel. The beds are comfy and the staff are nice. It is close to the bus station and the metro, but it kind of in a seedy part of town, Omonia.
The Location
Despite the location, the hostel feels quite safe and the receptionist always has to buzz you in and out. The hostel can be hard to find, as the English name of the street sign has faded away. It is very close to the Victoria Metro Station (which was not running during our stay, so it is a ten-minute walk from Omonia Metro Station.
Rooms and Bathrooms
They have private rooms as well as four- or six-person dorm rooms, which do not have lockers but do have lockable doors. The beds are quite comfy, but the rooms are quite small. The bathrooms are generally quite clean and the only complaint would be that the shower is annoyingly tight.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a bar downstairs with some seating areas -- some days the bar is really hopping and sometimes it is not. There are also some seats near the receptionist, but it is not really a "hang-out" space. They also have a computer area for people using the public computers as well as a luggage storage room.
Summary
This is a great budget option. It is really cheap and at such cheap rates, this hostel is a really good deal. It is in a fairly central location though in a seedy neighborhood. The staff are really friendly (and are even willing to order gyros to be delivered to you in your room). And the beds are comfortable.
The Location
Despite the location, the hostel feels quite safe and the receptionist always has to buzz you in and out. The hostel can be hard to find, as the English name of the street sign has faded away. It is very close to the Victoria Metro Station (which was not running during our stay, so it is a ten-minute walk from Omonia Metro Station.
Rooms and Bathrooms
They have private rooms as well as four- or six-person dorm rooms, which do not have lockers but do have lockable doors. The beds are quite comfy, but the rooms are quite small. The bathrooms are generally quite clean and the only complaint would be that the shower is annoyingly tight.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a bar downstairs with some seating areas -- some days the bar is really hopping and sometimes it is not. There are also some seats near the receptionist, but it is not really a "hang-out" space. They also have a computer area for people using the public computers as well as a luggage storage room.
Summary
This is a great budget option. It is really cheap and at such cheap rates, this hostel is a really good deal. It is in a fairly central location though in a seedy neighborhood. The staff are really friendly (and are even willing to order gyros to be delivered to you in your room). And the beds are comfortable.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2011
Their Description
Hostel Zorbas Details
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Hostel Zorbas Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
I stayed here last summer (August 2006) and it was a nightmare. We were meant to stay two nights but ended up leaving after one. There were three of us booked in, and yet when we arrived we were told we'd been overbooked meaning one of us would have to sleep on the floor. The dorm we got was tiny and the space on the floor for an extra mattress was a joke, but we decided we could make do. My friend volunteered to sleep on the floor while me and my other friend got bunks. At night I was kept awake by me constantly scratching and eventually got my phone light to check out the bed -- it was crawling with bugs. I had to get up and go to the reception desk at about 1 a.m. to ask if there were any spare beds (thinking there probably wasn't as my mate was already sleeping on the floor). The receptionist didn't give a crap that I'd been kept awake by bugs crawling on the bed and pointed me to a bigger dorm where there were in fact two free beds. So much for my friend needing to sleep on the floor. The following morning I returned to my original dorm, to find that my friend who'd been sleeping in the top bunk had the same problem with bugs but hadn't woken up from them. Instead she was covered head to toe in bites, which I can't describe how badly they spread over her entire body, eventually coming out in really angry red marks. We decided to check out of the hostel after one night and explained to the staff what had happened. They couldn't have cared less. Following a visit to the pharmacist my friend had to go to the hospital to be treated for the bites and spent a majority of our month's travels around Greece itching, sore, and on medication. Furthermore, through sheer incompetence the staff managed to "lose" our passports and money which they were holding "safe" for us. Asking us again and again if we were sure we didn't have the passports ourselves. No, we handed them over to you for safe keeping. Eventually they were found -- yes, the staff had them -- but not after much tears from three distraught travelers. This is an awful awful hostel, quite possibly the worst I've ever had the misfortune to stay in, and I've stayed in a number of hostels over the years. — Debbie , Scottish (2007-04-10) I stayed here a full week at the end of May 2005. It's a bargain per night in the communal rooms, and a just block away from a Metro station. There's someone around twenty-four-hours, and high-speed internet access for a few Euros. Greek plumbing is notoriously shoddy, but Zorbas was good overall, despite a broken shower head one night. Yes, it's dark, but safe for a major European city. The staff was the best. Chadi, the chain-smoking receptionist from Jordan, spoke fluent Arabic, Greek, and English -- and will smoke with you if you're down at the bar. The photographing couple from Brazil was the sweetest duo -- you'll want to learn Portuguese after meeting them. Beware the cross cleaning lady, however, and never leave your belongings out when she's around otherwise she considers it communal property. — Connie (2006-09-02) I stayed here for three nights in total, one when we arrived in Greece and two on the way out. It's pretty basic and there's a dark empty bar downstairs that I never saw anyone use. The rooms were quite clean and the air-conditioning worked, but the first time I stayed we were given sheets, and the second time I had to request them and the staff person working at the time made it look like I'd asked for his first-born! And 1 euro for a rented towel, which is as big as my hand, is a bit off. But it's reasonably cheap and I was just passing through. The area is a bit dead and boring but two of the staff members I met there were really friendly, and one was super cute! — Kiwi girl (2005-10-12) Do not stay here. BAD LOCATION. According to Lonely Planet, this hostel is located in the red light district of Athens. My friends and I flew in late at night and did not feel safe walking around the neighborhood. The hostel was dead when we were there. Nobody was working at the bar. Our toilets did not flush when we got there, so we had to walk to a nearby McDonalds to go to the bathroom. Our window was broken. There were holes in our blankets. We spent the night trying to find a new hostel for the rest of our trip. Hotel Zorbas was an awful experience that we still joke about today. — Danielle (2005-08-10) We stayed in the six-bed dorm and had no complaints. The room was a bit cramped, but it was cleaned daily and the air conditioning worked. The location is convenient for the National Archaeological Museum and one of the bus stations. By Metro it wasn't too far from the city center either. If you're traveling on a budget, it's an ok place to stay. — Anonymous (2005-07-29) I thought Zorbas was great. I stayed there last week (July 2005) and thought it was great. The staff were the best. They really went all out, especially the Arabic guy, such a genuinely lovely nice guy. They went out of their way to give us a bed, going as far as letting us share their room the third night, so we wouldn't have to find another place. Also once you get down to the bar it's getting drunk on cheap drink all night and all you have to do is fall up a few steps to bed. And the air-conditioning literally is a breath of fresh air after some of the other hostels I've stayed in. the location was ideal also I could have asked for nothing more, I really enjoyed Zorbas. — Emily (2005-07-13) We stayed in a four-person room for two nights at Zorbas. You won't find a place this nice for the price in Athens. It's an older, simpler, "bare bones" kind of place but it has a great location, dark and quiet rooms, and awesome staff. Jordan, one of the receptionists, spoke English wonderfully, was friendly, and answered all of our questions. — Anonymous (2005-06-28) Zorbas is an ok place, especially for the price. It is pretty bare bones, just a bed that is pretty dirty and a tiny bathroom with a door that doesn't close all the way. The staff is ok, although a bit sketchy. One of the employees was just trying to hook up with the girls staying at the hostel. At the same time, I wouldn't expect much more for 12 euros a night. The location is ok, near the Metro but not really near any of the sights. — Anonymous (2005-06-06) We stayed for three nights in Feb. 2005. It was ok, I've stayed in worse. It is very basic though and the staff don't speak English very well, so it was hard trying to get some information from them. But it is close to the Metro and easy to find. — Rachel (2005-02-09) Zorba's seems very hit or miss, and unfortunately for us it was a miss. We stayed in a six-person room that was the size of a large walk-in closet. Do not be fooled by the website! It seemed that everything they promised they had, they fell short of. The breakfast was bread and instant coffee, you had to pay for the sheets, and the Internet was ridiculously priced. Overall I would certainly not choose to stay here again, especially if I travel alone. The location was good, and from what I hear, most hostels in Athens are not much better. — Erica (2004-10-14) This hostel, run by Nico, is an excellent example of how a hostel should be run. Reservations were easily made from the USA via email, and even with some confusion about dates and times the staff was very accommodating. They have double private rooms for a higher rate, as well as dorm style rooms with bunk beds. All of the rooms are very clean. There is a community kitchen with bar downstairs.
I do not recommend the breakfast for 4.50 Euro. Instead just go down the street to a local grocer for some fresh produce, yogurt and coffee. There is an excellent pastry shop across the street for some baklava that is to die for!! There are several coffee shops, restaurants and fast food places in the neighborhood to eat at as well. Just wander around and you'll defintely find something to your liking. Make sure you ask the staff for a free map or you may not find your way back home!
The hostel does have Internet access available for a nominal fee, which doesn't always work, but the staff is happy to point out a local Internet Cafe (right next to the National Museum) just a few blocks away. The Hostel is just across the street from the Victoria Square Metro Station, which will take you to the Acropolis, to Omonia, which is the main square in Athens, or to Patras where you can catch the Ferry to Italy.
This hostel has plenty of toilet paper, which may not sound like much if you are coming from the States, but believe me, it can be a gift from the gods if you have been traveling and you have come to find out that it can be a rare commodity!
What was also nice is that they have color TV's in the double rooms. Even if you are not a big TV watcher, it is an option if you want to catch up on the BBC for world events. The doubles also have A/C and private baths.
There is a free Left Luggage for guests if you have checked out of the Hostel and still want to explore Athens. They will lock your bags up, but if the room is full they will just park your luggage under the staircase. This is not as good as having it locked up, but definitely safe as the staircase is right next to the front desk and far, far, better than dragging your bags to the ruins! And hey, it's free, you can't beat that!
One last thing - there is no lift. They will help you carry your bags if you need help, and there are stairs to get into the Hostel, butonce you are in, you're in except the doubles are up one more floor. If you are staying in the dorms they are on the first floor.
Enjoy! — Juliette , United States (2004-08-11) My brother and I stayed here last week (July 2004). What a pleasant surprise and relief after a most horrible experience in a Paris hostel! The room was large enough for the two of us and we had our own clean bathroom, a TV, and much needed air-conditioning. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Apart from the traffic, the hotel was nice and quiet. The location is perfect - a very short walk to the Victoria metro station. And if you want to do an organised tour, the pick-up point is also very close-by and you can actually book and pay for the tours at Zorbas - extremely convenient. We really could find nothing to complain about. — Reinette (2004-07-21) This place is terrible. Do not stay here! The blankets have so many holes in them I thought they were knitted. I cannot believe they want 100 euros per person per night during the Olympics. — Anonymous (2004-06-11) I stayed in Zorbas last week. It's a nice place next to the Victoria metro station. The room was very clean, with a private toilet, TV, and air conditioning. The staff is very friendly, and they can give you any information you need. For sure, this is a good choice for Athens. — Anonymous (2004-06-04) I was in this hostel last week. The location was pretty good, and the rooms were clean. The only thing was that the subway was hard to find because everything was being torn up for the Olympics. However, it's five minutes by subway to the Acropolis. The people that run the hostel are more than helpful. This is a good place to stay. — Anonymous (2004-05-24)