Stayed at the Coffee Palace for over a month, didn't expect much after reading several reviews, but once I got there I enjoyed my time there. The dorms aren't too impressive but if you want to pay abit more they have ensuite carpetted 6 bed dorms on the top floor. Despite not being big on amenities in the dorms aslong as you aren't on the ground floor you'll get a decent nights sleep. The bathrooms are a bit basic, but compared to European and American standards, every shower I've used in Australia has been poor, (no power showers or set temperatures in Aus).

The kitchen is adequete but can get crowded at peak cooking times, the common room is the place to start a night with cheap beers and horrible goon for people with no tastebuds/dollars, if the common room is busy then you know the night is gonna be a good night. There is also a TV room and recently they put in computers for internet access, no wifi in the area, but free internet can be accessed at Tribal Travel 50m away.

The best thing about the hostel are the reception staff, they are all so helpful and get everyone involved for nights out. In St Kilda there is almost always something happening on a night, but doesn't get busy until 11pm+ so staying at the CP pre drinking gets you ready for the night out. They also organise things for every evening so there is always something to do, and you get a free breakfast between 7-9am.

The only bad thing about the hostel is the job club organised through Duck Travel, the ignorant woman that runs it is more interested in booking people on her overpriced trips than helping find people work.

I loved this place.....i thought it was pretty clean and my room was pretty spacious...nice people and an easy place to make contact with others....Its not the right place if you want to chill but awesome if you want to do your own thing during the day and go out at night with some people. The vibe of the place is good.....I think this is one of the most important things in a hostel..

This place was horrible, it is located in a good area close to CBD and lotsa bars and food and that is the only positive. When I first arrived I found out that you have to pay like $3 a day for the small locker and then the staff tell me that its a safe hostel and only long termers stay here and there are locks on the doors. So I don't trust what their saying and put my valuables in the safe. I go to use the washroom and all three have problems like no light or toilet seat or when you flush water jets out the back, I had to use the 1st floor bathroom. I go to tell the staff and I hear the guy say" someone in room blank has rats so I moved him into another room so we can put someone who is only here for one night in the rat room" to another staff member. Then I tell him about the broken washrooms and his answer is that sucks. So I left to get dinner and come back and find a zipper in my bag open that was zipped up when I left, turns out someone stole my camera in the 3 hours or so I was there. Next morning I cancel the other 6 days and to get the hell out of this rat hole. I talk to the owner Mick and at first he was hostile to me but after the whole story he felt bad and refunded me all 7 days and made my night a free stay(all it cost was my camera). At the end he said this about his hostel " you can only dress up a turd so much". He nailed it with this one. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE ! This is below a homeless shelter.

arrived at the worst possible time to start with in the middle of the night the staff themselves were drunk unfriendly and just talking amongst themselves after that we arrive on the floor were staying on and the smell was not of this world and it wasnt from the toilet .opened the door and walked into a glorified prison cell freezing cold and filthy bed clothes looked like they were there when they first built the place!!got no sleep the first night because it was like tryin to sleep on the dancefloor of a nightclub it was that noisy.second night we heard a scratching noise and we just put it down to one of the bags falling so didnt think much of it then the third night we heard it again and got up to turn the light on there was a mouse running across the floor!!!!! went down to the desk and told them wat happened and they said that there was no double rooms available so a bit of arguing later he agreed to let us stay in the hotel part on the top floor where the staff stays and i have never seen such a difference in room quality it was like a 4 star hotel just goes to show how they only look after themselves so beware if you dont know the staff your getting a hole to stay in better off stayin in the car!!!!!!!!