Kuyu Beergarden Hostel

My last two nights in Antalya were at this hostel, and I had such a lovely time. I happened to meet the owner, Hasan, his brother, and some friends. They were all incredibly kind and welcoming, and even invited a few people from outside the hostel to join us. It felt like being at home, not just somewhere to sleep. I’m really glad I met them and experienced their hospitality. I’d recommend the hostel to anyone visiting Antalya.

The room and facilities were very good. My female dorm bed was comfortable, the room was clean, and there was a power socket beside the bed. Towels weren’t provided, though there was shampoo and body wash on a shelf outside the bathroom. The location is good, near the old town, with plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants around. You can hear the mosque’s prayer at 5 a.m. from next door. I’m fine with it, but light sleepers may want to avoid this place. I took two stars off because of the staff. Someone entered the room without knocking, which felt very disrespectful and inappropriate, even though she was a woman entering a women’s dorm. At check-in, the staff member didn’t explain the common areas or how many bathrooms there were, just told me to read the hostel rules. She seemed tired of the job, and I didn’t feel welcome. Some staff training could help. On checkout day, they started cleaning the first-floor bathroom at 10:30, even though checkout was at 11. There are already limited bathrooms, so I don’t understand why they were cleaning them before checkout time. Aside from that, everything else was good.

The night-shift guy was really friendly. He explained everything clearly and gave great customer service. The woman on the morning and day shift, though, seemed annoyed whenever we asked anything and kept telling us to “check the rules on Hostel World.” That attitude was discouraging. I came back with a friend because I’d had a great stay the year before, but a lot had changed. There’s no longer a guest kitchen. Instead, there’s now a garden bar for outside visitors. After 5 p.m., more than seven people across two dorms had to share one shower, and bar visitors were allowed upstairs to use our only bathroom. It left us feeling uneasy. My female friend was very uncomfortable when a drunk visitor used the bathroom next to our room. The dorms have no keys or way to lock the doors, which made the whole thing unpleasant. It’s still a nice place, but I’d look at other options next time.

The new female owner is intrusive and aggressive. She came into my bedroom, opened my bags and personal belongings without permission, and searched for food, snacks, and water that weren’t allowed in the room. She smelled strongly of cigarettes. When challenged, she raised her voice and scolded customers like children, then kicked them out, even when they’d paid for the night. Later, she marked me as a no-show, apparently so she could keep the payment in the system. If I hadn’t shown up, how did I get the door password? (Pic attached.) She’s dramatic and seems to be watching guests constantly, breathing down their necks over petty things. She doesn’t know how to run a business or treat people. There’s also only one bathroom for the whole building. It’s badly neglected, with black mold between the tiles and around the sink, and a sewer smell coming from the pipes. Other reviews make it clear I’m not the only customer who’s been mistreated or neglected at this place. I hope it goes out of business because of the neglect and moldy bathroom.