Iron Inn - Hostel

The early breakfast was a big help when I needed to leave early, and it was a nice place to meet other travelers. I woke up at 2am once and there was still food outside. They sell cold drinks and snacks for the same prices as outside. The place was very clean, the blankets are actually washed, and the curtains helped me sleep. There's a small outdoor spot for drying a few clothes, too. The workers were all super friendly and helpful. The older woman working mornings was funny and gave useful advice on what to see in Malaysia and what to skip. This was the best hostel I stayed at during my whole trip in northern Malaysia, and I'm planning to come back. It was great for jetlag, and there's a local flea market on the street from 4am to 6am.

The staff are really friendly and seem to enjoy meeting people, like they're hanging out and having a good time instead of just doing a job. My check-in experience was different, though: the staff member gave me a key, showed me my bed and told me breakfast time, but didn't explain where the bathrooms and showers were, or that you need to buzz to leave the building and where the buzzers are. The beds were very comfortable, and the bathrooms and showers were spotless. There's a small indoor patio seating area overlooking the main road, and the location is great, in the heart of Chinatown and close to the city's main attractions. The rooms are small, with three-level bunk beds, so be ready to climb. Metal ceilings reflect all the light onto the top bunk, so bring a sleep mask just in case.

The location is on a busy street, right by shops, and breakfast in the common area was good. The bathrooms were clean and not crowded, and the air conditioning worked well. Beds were comfortable and had private curtains, though the rooms are cramped and there's little space between them. Some bunks are triple-height, which makes getting up and down at night harder, and you can see into other beds. The lockers won't fit larger bags, so things can get crowded on the floor.

The beds were great, with personal lights, power sockets and curtains, and I slept for 10 hours under a comfy duvet. Breakfast was a big spread of eggs, hot dog sausages, toast, jams, fruit and juice. The interior is beautiful, funky and practical, with a lovely balcony over Jalan Sultan. Bathrooms were great and everything was super clean. I checked in yesterday, and Iron Inn Hostel has blown away my expectations. This is my first time staying in a hostel in Malaysia. For the past two months travelling around the country with friends from China and Vietnam, I'd only stayed in 3-star and 4-star hotels, up to yesterday at the Furama Hotel Bukit Bintang, so I had no idea what to expect. It's in a cool little spot at the end of Jalan Sultan, and Ivy gave such a warm welcome and great customer care, better than the front desk experience I've had at the Grand Hyatt or Westin. I'm amazed by my first hostel stay in Malaysia. Well done to the owners and staff. I'll update this review.