The Frame Guesthouse - Hostel

There’s a relaxed, welcoming feel here, with comfortable places to sit and get some laptop work done. They make good coffee on-site, too. The beds are modern and thoughtfully designed, and the whole place was spotless. The location worked perfectly for me: close to everything but still peaceful enough to unwind. One of the best hostels I’ve stayed at, and I’d happily recommend it.

I spent most of the day out, so I mainly needed a bed, shower, and toilet, and for that it was good value. The room was very basic, just two single beds, a small bedside table, a chair, and a bin, but the air-conditioning worked well. There was only a little high window, so it felt quite closed in. The door locked and I felt safe. It was quieter than I expected for a hostel, unless someone right next door was loud. The downstairs common area and cafe were comfortable for planning trips or working, and the staff were happy to answer questions. The common spaces were tidy, and I saw floors and toilets being cleaned every day. There are four showers and four toilets across three levels. The stairs to the third floor are very steep, and there are no bathrooms up there, so it won’t suit anyone who has trouble with stairs. I found it easy to walk everywhere, with a bus stop right outside and three cafes serving Western-style food and baked goods about 200 metres away. You can leave your luggage after checkout, though it’s not kept in a locked or secure room.

We really liked the atmosphere here. The interior mixes an old shophouse feel with a modern rustic style, and the location is great. Our room was small but comfortable. The showers and toilet were shared, but comfortable to use.

The building has a lovely look, the cafe makes very nice coffee, and the location is good. During the day the place felt calm, but at night that changed completely. We were in a private double upstairs, with an open window facing the cafe, common area, and stairwell below. It had shutters but no glass, so the morning coffee preparation, music, grinding beans, and milk steaming sounded as though we were in the cafe. Sleep was interrupted throughout the night too. The walls are thin and the wooden floors creak, so movement upstairs and noise in the common areas carried into our room. We heard late arrivals, people using the kitchenette, phone calls at 2 a.m., and what sounded like cats wailing. It wasn’t the mosque opposite that disturbed us, despite what I’d read in other reviews. Hostel noise can come with the territory, and shared spaces can make for a social stay. But after two nights we hadn’t spoken to any other guests. The social club WhatsApp group was completely inactive, with no posts from guests or hosts. If you want a more solitary guesthouse and can sleep through a lot of noise, this might suit you.