Bar dell'Artista Hostel

The host seemed kind, but we wouldn’t return. The room was clean and had the basics, yet the experience felt nerve wracking and not safe or legitimate. The location details were a little inaccurate, and we didn’t know access depended on the owner. Just before we arrived, I noticed his email asking for all my details, presumably so we could meet. He showed up when we did and let us in. Only then did he tell us cards weren’t accepted and we had to pay cash for the room. We arrived late and had to leave early for the airport, so finding this out then was really inconvenient. The building smelled strongly of gas, and there was another odor in the room that I couldn’t identify. The walls were paper thin. Some reviews mention a kitchen, but there isn’t one. Some websites present it as a bed and breakfast, but it isn’t. This was quite a surprise given the 9 plus star reviews on hostelworld.

The location was great, and the room had big lockers and an ensuite bathroom. It was clean enough, but terribly hot at night even with a fan, and there was no AC. Getting checked in felt sketchy. You had to call from a run down bar, and the timing was up to the owner. It’s rooms for rent in a building rather than a real hostel, with no social atmosphere. There are six flights of stairs and no elevator. The shower curtain was moldy, there was green slime in the toilet, and the handheld shower didn’t drain. At 3am, I heard someone walking around and riffling through things on the floor while everyone was in bed. A man came onto the all girls floor and peed all over the balcony, and I’m not sure who he was or how he got there. We locked the room, then came back to find it unlocked. It’s a place to rest your body, but if you can pay a little more for somewhere else, do it.

The actual room is around the corner from the bar where you contact the host, and the bar itself is less than impressive. We had a clean private room, and it was warm enough once the radiator got going. The Wi-Fi, disposable utensils, and cube shelving were handy. Good location, near the Metro and Roma Termini. For the price, it was a nice place to stay.

Clean, comfortable, quiet, and convenient. It was just what I needed to come back to after a day of sightseeing. The landlord was nice and helpful. I’d book again if I return to Rome.