Home Lisbon Hostel

The hostel can be difficult to find, as it shares its ground-floor entrance with a sign for the Liane home furnishings store that occupies the same building. Built in the 18th century, the classic Pombaline architecture of the hostel blends into the neighborhood seamlessly. Upon ascending to the hostel's second floor lobby, bright yellow doors and a sunny bar lounge that doubles as the reception desk warm up the atmosphere. The vintage oak bar furniture and deep red walls decorated with family photos, personal letters, and other knickknacks feel like a charming family home. Classic decor, various maps of Lisbon and the world, lived-in couches, and vintage memorabilia give the common rooms a distinct throwback atmosphere. Newly scheduled events are written daily in chalk in the dining room, from the famous Mamma's Dinners to seasonal group trips to the beach. With so many homey conveniences at cheap prices, young solo travelers seeking a pleasant social vibe tend to frequent this budget hostel.

In the heart of the historic Baixa-Chiado neighborhood, the hostel is close to all of Lisbon's main sights. The Elevador de Santa Justa, the Lisbon Cathedral, and the popular squares, Praca do Rossio and the Praca do Comercio, are all within a 10-minute walk or less. Lisbon's other hopping neighborhoods are also nearby -- old-town Alfama and its famous fado restaurants can be reached in seven minutes on foot, while trendy Bairro Alto and its multitudes of bars is about a 10-minute walk away. Day trips to the old Romantic palaces of Sintra and the beaches of Cascais take an hour by train. It's about 30 to 40 minutes to the airport by public transportation, while a taxi can make the same trip in 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Rooms are done in the same warm woods and vintage framed photos as the hotel's common areas, helping to continue the homey vibe. Large windows or balconies let in plenty of natural light, and all rooms come with air-conditioning, a sizable desk, and an armchair or two for seating. Bunk beds are well-sized, comfortable, and there are four, six, and eight bunks per room -- "private rooms" can be booked by purchasing all of the beds at once. Individual reading lights and power outlets come with each bed, and lower bunks have privacy curtains. Squeaky bed frames have been noted by previous guests. There are big lockers located under beds for safe storage, and clothing hooks are provided. Modern communal bathrooms are kept immaculately clean, and women's showers are equipped with a hairdryer. Towels can be rented for a fee, and there's a mixed basket of shampoos and soaps in each bathroom. Previous guests have mentioned that some rooms can be a bit of a walk from the bathrooms, but that the convenient electronic wristband key for bedrooms help prevent fumbling around during late-night toilet runs. Doors can slam a bit loudly, but rooms are otherwise well soundproofed from the on-site bar and surrounding nightlife.

One of Home Lisbon Hostel's best features is its famous Mamma's Dinners -- authentic Portuguese home-cooking by the owner's own mother every night for a small fee -- she also dines with guests. A free breakfast includes more than the usual continental offerings and is popular with most previous guests as well. The dining room also has a bar with cheap drinks and more homemade food, as well as a chalkboard updated daily with hostel-organized events. This includes movie nights in the cozily furnished living room, where there's a large flatscreen TV framed by an impressive library of DVDs, books, video games (for the attached PS3), and board games. iPads connected to the hostel's free Wi-Fi network are also scattered around the common areas, and a small computer room with tourist information and maps is also on-site. Other events range from daily free walking tours and pub crawls to seasonal excursions like surfing lessons and beach trips. An outdoor patio/terrace is labeled the "Smoking Corner" just off the communal kitchen, which is itself well-equipped to accommodate Mamma's Dinners and personal guest use alike. Laundry facilities are available, as well.