Chmielna Guest House

It's right in central Warsaw, which is great. Getting checked in was a bit difficult, though. I had to wait and ask local people to help me communicate with the owner, and she kindly came through with the key. Could be worth trying for a short trip.

The place was clean, the staff were friendly, and the strict no-noise rule at night helped, even though the rooms open onto a shared area. The central location is hard to beat. The key pickup is a few flights of stairs at a location 250 metres down the street. That usually isn't a big deal, but you have to return the key there before leaving to get your deposit back. If you're catching an early train or plane, that detour could take a real bite out of your plans.

We had a great stay and would happily recommend the hotel. It feels more like a large shared flat, with a kitchen guests can use, plus free tea and coffee, a fridge, and a living room with a TV, couch, laptop and Wi-Fi throughout. Our room, Cannes, was small but thoughtfully decorated, with a clean private bathroom and hairdryer. There was still room for a TV, two bedside tables, a little table and two chairs, and a comfortable bed that wasn't oversized. The receptionist was friendly and knew what she was doing. Check-in at 3 pm felt late, and checkout at 11 am was early.

This guest house has seven rooms, some with private bathrooms and some sharing, plus a common area with a table, TV and small kitchen. The decor was nice, and there were three comfortable seats. The pedestrian street was quiet from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., apart from delivery trucks. Cafés, bars and restaurants are nearby. The photos were very misleading. Sound carries badly between the rooms and corridor, so you hear everything day and night. The curtains don't block the light, and there's a direct view into other homes, so there was no privacy and the sun woke me around 6 a.m. The bed was too soft, the Wi-Fi very slow, and there was nowhere to put clothes. I asked for a double bed but got a bunk bed for two plus one. It wasn't even cheap.