291 Albert Street, Brunswick Bus 506, 508 Tram 19 Train| Brunswick Tel (03) 9380 1483
BUG Review
This hostel, located above a pub, is popular with backpackers working in Melbourne. The hostels facilities include a kitchen and a big common room with a TV, pool table, Internet access and a 24-hour bar. It is located in Brunswick, a few kilometres north of the city centre. Its handy to public transport and theres a big Safeway supermarket across the road.
This hostel is situated about 20 mins outside the city centre right next to Brunswick train station leading into the city centre; also next to the main tram-line into the city. Brunswick is not exactly backpacker central but many travellers appreciate meeting the 'real' locals and seeing a bit more of the integrity of a city instead of feeling like they are still in the UK. Brunswick's main street, Sydney Road is packed full of a mixture of trendy and oddball bars alongside plenty dollar shops and trillions of take-away joints provided by the Turkish, Lebanese and Greeks in the area. Heaven for kebab lovers.Nearby very trendy Fitzroy jam-packed with trendy cafes, bars and clubs with a great up and coming music scene in the general area. The Railway is a friendly, down-to-earth and well managed hostel. The management cannot do enough to help out or assist residents in finding work or a few laughs. The hostel itself is generally pretty clean, a hard act to follow since Bug Eyes retired...pretty warm and cosy compared to huge impersonal hostels and always something going on. Front lounge bar with an odd and amusing mix of backpackers and mad locals....hello to Brownie...restaurant, beer garden and backpackers bar with the usual facilities, net, pool etc etc.Very popular open-mic night once a week with some regular and brilliant up-and-coming talent.Unless you are happy to submerge yourself in backpacker-land of 20pints a night kiss, cuddle and torture sessions every night for the entirety of your travels then would strongly recommend it. I know it will remain in many people's hearts for a very long time.****Only complaint I have is that I had to leave.
