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Across the street from the Presidential Palace and a short walk from the heart of Staré Mesto, Downtown Backpacker's Hostel is a small hotel-hostel hybrid. Its 12 rooms, half of which are eight-bed dormitories, are decorated in a haphazard but pleasant way. Downtown receptionists are slightly bratty, though charmingly so. In a city like Bratislava, clearly emerging into its own as certifiably "Cool City," their techie-turned-rockstar vibe seems somehow appropriate
Downtown Backpacker's is Bratislava's best centrally-located hostel. That said, the place is more notable for its atmospheric charm than its amenities. The Downtown Backpacker's ground-level meeting room is a vast, dark space reminiscent of a mansion-turned-hippie compound. It feels like an old haunt wizened by time and shaped by someone with a good, if untrained, eye for antiques.
Private rooms are warm as well, and reiterate the student vibe of the common spaces. We liked the bright orange walls, wood floors, and huge stuffed chairs, all of which keep rooms cheery. Everything is slightly worn, though nothing appears to be falling apart. A guest kitchen and bar intensify the impression of crashing in an eccentric's neglected mansion.
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