The Nunnery, Melbourne




With its charming historic building steeped in character, the Nunnery Hostel in Melbourne looked a real treat to stay. You enter through a large hallway, with paved flooring and vintage décor covering the walls, which echo the buildings history. The hostel, located in Fitzroy, is great area to sample some of the typical Melbourne offerings. The centre of Melbourne is only a short tram ride away.

Unfortunately we are not really greeted on arrival, loaded with backpacks we approached the desk and received little more than a blank stare at the computer screen from the reception staff. He eventually bothered to shift his gaze to make eye contact with us, but even basic conversation with this staff member seemed a real chore. After throwing the room key down on the desk in front of us, he mumbled the location of the room and returned to staring at the computer screen.

The Nunnery, Melbourne

The dorms were pretty average, not particularly clean and the private bathroom (shared with 8 ) was in serious need of a clean, the toilet especially, really stank of piss. When a bathroom is being shared by 8 (potentially all males) it needs attention by staff every day, no exceptions.

Breakfast, included in the price, wasn’t good enough to be honest. Breakfast seemed to be only be available to the first 4 people who are awake and queuing outside the kitchen at 5.50am. Everyone else gets the stale scraps of bread, and half a bowl of crushed corn flakes. Shortly after breakfast, the kitchen is then shut for cleaning, which means no access whatsoever to the kitchen for at least an hour. Any protest is met by huffing and frustrated kitchen staff. The kitchen itself is small and not practical for the size of the hostel, and it was never really clean – despite the frequent daily closures.

As above, the hostel is contained in a beautiful building and the communal areas are warm and relaxing. Decked wooden floors and comfy brown leather sofas make evenings enjoyable at the Nunnery Hostel. The internet machines require a service and a clean up, only two seemed functional, and are crammed into a sweaty shoebox room.

The Good:

  • Location
  • The building
  • Outside and lounge areas

    • The not so Good:

  • The distracted, rude staff we encountered
  • The breakfast quality and portions
  • Cleanliness



    • The Nunnery Hostel, Melbourne, Australia

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