Wanderlust Riverside hostel

I was traveling solo and had a very good stay. The receptionist was helpful, and the hostel was neat and clean, by the riverside and within walking distance of a few attractions. The location is convenient, with buses to Green Bazar, Cathedral church, and Arbat street.

At least the room and bed were clean, but the private rooms are overpriced. For nearly the cost of a small apartment, you still get a shared toilet, and the location isn't especially good either. I can't see how they justify those rates. Look around before booking here.

The hostels are clean and can be pleasant places, but their customer service needs work. I had planned two nights at Wanderlust Riverside before moving to Wanderlust Boutique because of capacity issues. Instead, loud guests partied all night and kept others from sleeping, and no staff member seemed willing to step in, so I left early for a completely different place. Wanderlust Riverside had accepted advance payment for my stay at Wanderlust Boutique. When I asked Wanderlust Boutique to refund the night I had 'escaped' from Riverside, suddenly they acted like entirely separate businesses, and one branch said it couldn't refund a stay at the other. They also tried to blame me because I had informed them by text instead of speaking with the manager personally. I wish I could be more positive, since the places themselves are pleasant, but they need to treat paying customers better.

Everything was within an easy walk from this conveniently located hostel. My room was clean, and the common area felt cozy, with a few board games to use. There’s also a very cute cat wandering around. The staff were lovely, helpful, and spoke good English. Great value for money, I'd recommend it.