Patio Hostel

One good thing that can be said about Hostel Patio's 13 private rooms (and 117 dorm beds) is that they are in a prime location—Just 10 minutes from the heart of Staré Mesto, the Hostel Patio is near the action but not defined by it.

The hostel is run by an able, multilingual young staff that appears to enjoy working there. When we visited, we took the crisp professionalism of the staff and the cheery green entryway as auspicious signs. We were confident that the rooms inside would mirror the well-maintained simplicity.

Sadly, however, we were disappointed. The rooms are more than slightly worse for wear: the carpets are torn and stained, and stand-alone bed units are of poor quality. The bathrooms are a cut above in the private rooms, though nothing to write home about. Value-minded backpackers just looking for any old place to crash will find Hostel Patio to be acceptable, but that's about it.

Upsides? Location and staff. This is also a quiet hostel, located inside a courtyard off busy Špitálska. The hostel also has a lovely back patio of its own, an open space enclosed by three walls, one of exposed brick. Other perks include a fussball table, a bike storage area and free linen and towels.

Wi-Fi is free of charge in the common areas. There is a fully equipped kitchen in the common area.