Editors Note: This is the first review in an ongoing weekly series that will highlight each property–hostel, hotel and apartment–we stayed at during The Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour as part of our partnership with the good folks at HostelBookers.com.

Stepping foot into Wombats City Hostel in Vienna changed my perspective on what a hostel could be.

At its core it is a hostel—dorm rooms, social atmosphere, plenty of computers to keep up with the social networks. However, aesthetically Wombats style, attention detail and high level of customer focus is more akin to a boutique hotel.

Before staying at Wombats, it never occurred to me that the words boutique and hostel could live in harmony together, but I just don’t think there is any better way to describe Wombats City Hostel at The Naschmarkt in Vienna than as a boutique hostel.

The rooms are stylish with a modern, minimalist design—kind of like that IKEA showroom that you can just never get your own room to resemble. We stayed in a private double, which had its own bathroom, but each of the many dorm rooms—four or six bed bunks—also contain bathrooms.

OK Randy, so your room had style, but was it clean?

Like Marv Albert always says, “Yes!” In fact, our room, as well as the hostel in general, was so clean that my grandmother could stay here and be happy. And not only that, she could get a good nights sleep too.

Not only was the bed comfortable and the bedding plush, but the design of the hostel works brilliantly to keep the social atmosphere of the lounge, reception/gathering area and bar contained on the first floor, meaning no matter how late or loud things get in those first floor areas, you will not be subjected to the noise. In fact, quiet time in the rooms begins at 10 p.m.

Worried that the 10 p.m. quite time will effect your Late Night with Jimmy Fallon streaming sessions? Well don’t, because there is no WiFi in any of the rooms.

What! No WiFi in the room? Yep. And you know what, I get it.

Look I’m the first one to complain when hotels don’t have WiFi in the room. But this is not a hotel, it’s a hostel, a boutique hostel albeit, but still a hostel. And because of the sans internet in the room, it brings more people down into the common areas—there is a strong WiFi connection throughout the first floor area, including the bar and lounge—creating a social atmosphere reminiscent of the storied Viennese coffee shops. It also means that your roommates won’t be annoying you in the room by Skyping their friends and family.

The Icing on the Cake

Nothing can sour my taste on a place like being nickel and dimed, and I’m happy to say that Wombat’s may be one of the best examples of place that gives back to its customers. Free, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, free drink coupon, free luggage room storage after check-out, free WiFi, free use of updated guidebooks (with deposit). If you ask me, that’s a whole lot of free.

Even the extras aren’t expensive. Laundry costs 5 euro for a wash and dry, the bar serves up cheap drinks, including 1 euro beers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and free use of hair dryers and other items you may have forgot at home for just a 10 euro deposit which is returned to you when return the item.

Additionally, if you want to bring your “new friend from the night before to breakfast,” it will only set you back 3.75 euros, not too shabby for breakfast that offers six styles of coffee, breads, prosciutto, salami, yogurt, fruit cocktail, honey, fresh veggies, several cheeses, cereals, Nutella and teas.

It would be wrong if I didn’t tell you how truly good the breakfast was. A HUGE buffet with just about everything you could ask for. It would put any hotel offered breakfast to shame. We were shocked and amazed by the selection. (It looks like the hostel now charges 4.95 euro for the breakfast, but, in our opinion, it is still a fantastic deal.)

The Cherry on Top

This hostel is only one block from a metro stop and right across the street from one of Europe’s best markets! It’s also only a 15 minute walk to the Ring district. Oh and let’s not forget multiple grocery and markets (American and Asian) on the same block. Sound to good to be true? Its not, it’s the Wombats City Hostel at the Naschmarkt in Vienna.

If you are looking for cheap Vienna hotels, then be sure to check out Wombats at The Naschmarkt. Getting a private room is really like having the best of both worlds because not only do you get the privacy of a hotel room, but you also get all the perks of a hostel–cheap breakfast, informative staff, free WiFi, usable kitchen and a great social atmosphere.

Beth took a lot of photos during our stay to give you an idea of what it’s like there.

The Rooms:

Two different dorm rooms:

(Note that each bed has it’s own outlet, light and small shelf – so convenient for charging at night!)

The view of the famous market out our window:

The street the hostel is located on:

Common Areas

Bar with awesome lush red & purple interior:

Super cool green area for hanging out, checking email, etc.:

The kitchen with recipes written on the walls:

The breakfast buffet and my yogurt:

The Check in & Computer Areas

Plenty of places to lounge and work:

Discount cards & the exterior of the hostel at night:

Wombats Modern Noir:

No, the hostel isn’t lit like this on the inside but I saw this girl in the hat and I just couldn’t help myself. She inspired a little bit of Paris Noir in this awesome Viennese hostel. I think this is my favorite hostel photo of all time.

Disclaimer: Our stay was complimentary; however, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!