Old Flat on Nevsky

Avg Good
Traveller Type: solo traveller
  : The hostel is clean and has everything that you need. The location is great, very close to the centre and there's a supermarket (Diksi) just a couple of minutes away. It could be a good place to stay if you're travelling with a friend or in a group.
  : Bear in mind that this is not a good place for solo travellers as you will not meet fellow young travellers here. In general in Russia it's common that people live in hostels permanently, and this one is no exception. Expect to find odd older people, who never smile, aren't friendly and aren't interested in conversation, and who all already know each other because they've lived in the hostel for months if not years (yes, it's legal in Russia). Also, people steal food; my coffee and cacao powder went missing.Another thing I didn't enjoy were the administrators (the guys working at the reception). They were unfriendly, never smiled and one of them slept until ten or eleven in the morning, even though he was supposed to be working.Another thing that bothered me was that there's no actual living room or place for hanging out, there's just a sofa and a TV next to the reception (which is literally just one small desk). The administrators are the ones who usually lay/sleep on the sofa. The kitchen is small and often crowded, and there are only two toilets and showers.I wouldn't stay here again and wouldn't recommend it to a friend. I know that it's not a thing to be friendly to strangers in Russia, but at least the staff in a hostel should be friendly to the guests.