Urban Garden Porto Central Hostel

The garden was such a nice place to sit back with a drink, and the chocolate cake was amazing, definitely worth trying. A lovely gentleman showed us around and gave us such a kind, warm welcome that made the visit even more special. We loved the place and can't wait to return. Thanks for making us feel so welcome!

There are five hammocks and loads of chairs in the outdoor area, which I really liked. Shops and places to eat are easy to reach on foot, including my new favorite Indian restaurant, Flavor Fusion. There was usually a cute cat in the garden too, nice when you're missing pets from home. The bed pods are great, with curtains, a light, fan, shelf and hooks. Bathrooms were cleaned several times a day, and I rarely saw a mess. I had a really good stay and would come back. A few things to know: flies were always around the shared eating area, something I've noticed at EcoHostels. Breakfast didn't seem worth the price: cereal, hard boiled eggs, fresh bread with jam options and some fruit. You could buy most of it at a store for the same price and have enough for several breakfasts. One receptionist was coughing and sniffling loudly for two days, which made hanging out in the common area, especially while eating, unpleasant. They also have a laptop for guests, which I hadn't seen at a hostel before, but it shuts off every five minutes and is basically unusable. You can't put your own padlock on the locker. It has a built-in lock and they give you the key. I'm not keen on that, since staff probably have a spare and could access your things. The locker takes up only half the under-bed space, but I found it plenty big, and never saw bags left outside the lockers.

After my brother and I finished the Camino de Santiago, we had some time in Porto and were lucky to find Urban Garden. The front desk girls made us feel welcome right away and explained how everything worked, which was really helpful. It was my first time using a digital key, and I liked it because I always lose my keys. I loved the decor and all the fresh flowers. The garden felt like being on an island, and I had a comfortable, very clean, amazing night. I'm planning to stay here again next time I'm in Porto.

There was one strange disruption overnight when a guest snored very loudly, things escalated, and the police were eventually called. It was an individual guest's behavior, not the hostel's fault, and the staff handled it appropriately and did what they could. Apart from that, I had a very good stay. The team were friendly, helpful and professional throughout, always ready to assist. Facilities were clean and well maintained, and the value for the price was excellent, better than I expected. I'd still highly recommend it if you're after an affordable hostel with kind staff and good facilities.