Fully equipped communal kitchen
Cafe and bar with affordable breakfast offered
Cheap shared dorms and simple private rooms
Business corner with a pair of computers
Free Wi-Fi (in cafe only)
Noise from other guests and attached bar
Odors and housekeeping can be a serious issue
Linens and towels are an extra fee
Not all private rooms have en-suite bathrooms
Cash only
The one-pearl Schlafmeile Hostel, far outside of the city center, is as cheap and no-frills as properties come. Even some of the most basic amenities are absent and others like linens and towels are for an extra fee, but its rates are rock-bottom to match. The shared dorms are bare-bones rooms with bunk beds and brightly colored walls; there some private rooms and apartments too (some of which have en-suite bathrooms) but all open to directly to the loud street. An attached bar and cafe gives guests a place to socialize, but also adds to the high noise levels throughout the hostel. There's also a handy communal kitchen, but everything here needs a good cleaning.
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Scene
Loud, cheap, and young hostel
The entrance to this one-pearl hostel is through the attached restaurant and bar called Lindsay's. It has red and orange painted walls and ceilings, with worn wood floors and old mismatched tables and chairs. The bar doubles as the Schlafmeile's reception desk, meaning some guests may have to wait for the bartender to attend to other young travelers, often amid loud revelry. The atmosphere is social and upbeat, but noise can frequently be a problem for those guests looking to sleep.
Location
Friedrichshain in eastern Berlin
Schlafmeile Hostel is on the outskirts of the trendy Friedrichshain neighborhood, an industrial area with restaurants, boutiques, and a vibrant party scene. The immediate area is a more bland residential part of town, shaken up by the tram which runs along the street outside. Public transportation is accessible within a three-minute walk in either direction. Traveplatz public park is around the corner and it’s a 16-minute train ride to Alexanderplatz in the city center. Tegel Airport can be reached by car in 32 minutes or in 40 minutes via public transportation.
Rooms
Dorms and basic private rooms with direct street access
Shared dorm rooms have bunk beds, the largest fitting up to 10 people, and there are also private Double Rooms that have twin beds, either separate or pushed together in a wood frame. All have tiled floors and painted walls that vary from lime green to peach, with only the most rudimentary furnishings -- lockers, small tables, and garbage cans. There are also large Apartments with bunk beds for up to 10, which can be privately reserved (by paying for 10 people regardless of how many are in your group). These Apartments have en-suite bathrooms and a few extra amenities, such as old tube TVs, couches, and desks. The white-tiled shared bathrooms have walk-in showers with privacy curtains. All the rooms have outside entry direct to the street, which adds a great deal of external noise.
Features
Bar and cafe with free Wi-Fi, business corner, and communal kitchen
The communal kitchen is fully equipped with an oven, stove top, microwave, shared refrigerator, and an assortment of cookware in various states of disrepair. The rest of the action at Schlafmeile Hostel is in the attached Lindsay's cafe and bar, which doubles as a lobby and front desk. Staff here provide luggage storage, free maps, and if not too busy pulling double duty as bartenders or cooks, they can provide some tour assistance for the area. The cafe serves pub food like burgers, fries, schnitzel, and fish and chips. An affordable breakfast menu covers basics like pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast. The business corner has a pair of computers available for guests and free Wi-Fi (note that Wi-Fi cannot be reliably obtained in rooms).
