Barnacles Hostel Dublin

You get what you pay for. Our room was kinda dirty, I think there were 10 beds in our room. People came in and out at the early hours of the morning and were kind of loud which was disappointing, but you can't really control that in a hostel. The location is good if you want to be on Temple Bar, if you get in early you can check your bags at the desk and they'll hold them for you until check in.

Stayed here for a stag party with 11 others, split over two rooms. The rooms were small, but they did the job. The beds were comfy and the room was warm. It's right in the heart of Temple Bar, so expect some morning noise as the streets are cleaned. The breakfast was well equipped and the staff friendly. Could do with some paint, but other than that, a good, cheap hostel.

Most of the other reviews mention noise, that was really the only issue here. The breakfast was basic, but fine. The place was clean and had a friendly atmosphere, fun place to stay if you want to be in the middle of the party! The night life is reminiscent of Bourbon Street in New Orleans and quite constant until about 3-4am

I had an overnight stay in Dublin on the tail end of a business trip and decided on Barnacles Hostel because it was affordable and centrally located. It’s also very easy to get to (foolproof even) from the airport via airline bus (7€), or the port via bus to city center stop. You get no frills with this place, but it’s a good value for the price. It definitely seems to attract an 18-25 crowd (expected based on the location). I would not recommend for someone who would be annoyed by bar noise or people in and out at all hours of the night (but the front desk offers guests ear plugs which is thoughtful). The rooms are pretty basic. Breakfast is pretty basic, but there are a few hot options. My only complaint was that the bathroom was clean but just seemed dingy (private room) compared to other hostels I’ve patroned. Also worth mentioning how safe it is. As I woman traveling alone I felt very secure while there.

Rooms were a bit small and sometimes how to get to eg the kitchen was somewhat confusing. But in general, given the location, the rooms and housing in general was very decent. It gets loud at night but you have to expect that. The employees were very friendly and the lobby was decorated very sweetly, there were Irish slang words and restaurants recommended. The breakfast was really slim though. Better buy something you want to eat for breakfast and store it in the public fridge.

We had a private double room and everything was perfect, the room had just be redone and was spotless and very comfortable. People at reception were welcoming and helpfull. The hostel is in the very heart of the fun part of Dublin with pubs, restaurants, shops, live music everywhere. Yet we slept very well, we didn't hear any noise from the streets. Would recommend very highly!

Very helpful staff. Very clean. Beds are not the best, but they're good. Nice breakfast! Been here a couple of times and I would definitely recommend this hostel. Be aware though that it can be very noisy due to its location. Earbuds are essential and reception offers them for free!

Very nice location next to Temple Bar. Nice lounge area with couches, big kitchen where you can cook and also free breakfast. Lots of staffs very friendly. Vending machines, and very helpful guides. Toilets and showers are good, I had a private ensuite shared with 3 other people instead of a whole floor like other hostels.

One of the best hostels that I have stayed at. Each bunk bed has electric outlets right above the pillow. The best idea ever. There's a lot of space and very nicely situated within Temple Bar. The balcony view from my room was nice too. I was even able to catch the wifi from the kitchen. They had clean rooms and a clean kitchen. It did have one downside - the bathroom need a vent and more towels to clean up water on the ground. Other than that, it was a pleasant stay. I would recommend this place.

The formula for success at Barnacles seems so simple -clean, comfortable, safe and sensible -but then why was it such a relief to find a hostel that employed those easy principles? Rooms here are plain and comfortable with options to rent a bed in dorms for eleven, ten, six, four and two people. While guests are generally respectful when it comes to noise, Dublin County Council may not be so kind; late nighters be warned that the week-day morning trash collection happens quite early in the alleys your windows look out onto. With 24-hour front desk service, coded locks for safety, lots of areas to lounge with fellow travellers, a lovely open kitchen (with plenty of bread for toasting), plus it's central Temple Bar location putting you minutes away from almost everything the City Centre has to offer -makes Barnacles a top spot for adventurers with a taste for city life.

This place was price efficient, super helpful staff, and had a great location. Be aware that it is in Temple Bar District, so it does get loud. But that's exactly what we wanted--fun! Close to all the pubs and shopping. Never had to take a bus! I met some great friends from Australia that I plan to take holiday with! Definitely THE place to stay!

This hostel has some great things to offer Dublin visitors. You can't do much better for location. Barnacles is up the street from Temple Bar pub, on one of the quieter (but not too quiet) laneways. The hostel is very clean and modern looking. You don't get the impression that they haven't changed their furniture in years. You get free breakfast, all rooms have an ensuite and it's open 24 hours. They too have free internet and WIFI but have the added bonus of offering their guests access to DVD player and Playstation. It's a very cool spot and not that much more expensive than other hostels.

I lived in this hostel for about 6 weeks when I first moved to Dublin. The good: 1) Brilliant location, right in the heart of Temple Bar 2) Friendly and knowledgeable front desk staff 3) Fairly clean-ish 4) Fully equipped kitchen, free cheapo breakfast The bad: 1) LOUD - Try to get a room that doesn't face the street, otherwise you're f*cked if you actually want to get any sleep. The Temple Bar area is full of tourists out of the piss at all hours. Prepared to be awakened by drunk singing Scotsmen at 4:30am 2) Many of the rooms are CRAMPED (bunks on either side with only 4 feet of space in between. Annoying) The larger dorms are actually better than the 4-6 bed ones because there is a lot more floor space.

Stayed here for two nights whilst sightseeing in Dublin, booked through Hosteworld. I arrived early on the morning on the first day and they didn't have the room ready as expected, I came back at the prescribed time and the room was still not ready. When I finally got into my room I found it to be really small, a closet size bathroom, and there was just enough room to walk around the bed. Inside of the room I could access wifi, but besides that there is a wall for you to look at. The hostel has no elevators so get ready to lug your bags, the hostel's common room was kind of dead both the nights that I was there, granted this is suppose to be one of the most happening hostel in the area, and since this is located in Temple bar the party is only steps away. I took a shuttle to the airport with the assistance from hostel and it was cheap and direct, no waiting for the airport bus, plus it was like at 4am.

I stayed at Barnacles Hostel in Dublin for 2 nights in October while traveling around Europe. I booked my stay on Hostel World and picked this hostel because of it's reviews and ratings, the location in the center of Dublin, and because of the reasonable rate. Pros: This hostel is located in Temple Bar literally steps away from the world famous Temple Bar bar. Dublin is such a walkable city so many bars and restaurants are within a short walk of this locating making it very easy to get around and explore. Another thing I liked about this hostel was the fact that each room had it's own bathroom meaning I didn't need to share with 20 random people. The staff was also very friendly and seemed to waive every posted fee for the additional services I required (towel, luggage storage, etc.). Cons: Unfortunately there are far more cons with this hostel than there are pros. This hostel was old and outdated. I stayed in a 6 person mixed room which was cramped to say the least. I was also assigned a top bunk by the window which turned out to be a nightmare. My room was located right above the lobby facing the street right near the Temple Bar bar. This meant that it was nearly impossible to get to sleep before 4am because of all the drunk fools smoking, drinking, and vomiting in the street all night. The windows were closed and the heavy curtains were drawn yet you could still hear every word of every conversation happening on the street. I also found the bed to be barely softer than concrete so what sleep I did get was bad sleep. Also, when I arrived for check in I realized I was early. I got there at 1pm and was told I'd have to wait until 3pm to get my key. I came back at 4pm and was told my room was still not ready. The girl at the front desk said I could go hang out in the lounge and she'd call up when my room was available. I did just that and waited more than an hour without hearing from the front desk. When I went back down to the lobby she had left for the day and forgot to call me or forgot to tell her colleagues to communicate that rooms were ready. Would I go back? No chance in hell. I realize that when staying at a hostel you won't get the most lavish accommodations or that privacy is often compromised in a room full of strangers but I literally could not wait to check out and head to my next destination. I have stayed at other hostels but none of them have been as bad as this one. This place served its purpose of providing a bed to sleep in but those two nights were horrid. 2 Stars.

Not the first place I would recommend in Dublin Pros first: the location, it's in the heart of Dublin and you're close to everything The rooms feature their own bathroom...no more sharing a shower with 30people... And that's about it. The cons now: you can tell they capitalize on the fact that they are the most famous hostel in town. The area is not just touristy, it's tourists only. Don't try and find a dubliner around, you won't. The lobby of the hostel gives you the impression you're here to get parlour time with an inmate. The checking in is more complicated than in any other place. The staff is okay, friendly but not that much. They're doing the job, no more, no less. You'll get free breakfast but will have to pay for everything else... Borrowing an adapter (5e deposit + 1e ), towels, anything you might need. You may be a poor traveler that comes to a hostel to save money, but they're a company that is making money, not social work. The weirdest thing then, they'll make you pay yo store your luggage...Which I personally find crazy since I had already paid for the room Nice atmosphere if you're here to meet people, but I would recommend Sky backpackers, that has a genuinely nice staff and good services.

I spent 5 nights here while I was visiting Dublin a few years ago, and for the most part the experience was pretty good. I booked myself in a 6-bed room, and I ended up spending most of my stay with another Canadian girl and four rowdy Aussies. The bathroom was in the room, which was nice. You really can't beat the location, which is right in the Temple Bar district -a great place to be as a young traveller. The staff were friendly and I felt secure while I was staying there, although the bathrooms were a bit dated. I had just come from Berlin where the hostels are really terrific, so I think I was a bit spoiled by my experience in Germany. Overall I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to a young traveller visiting Dublin, although now that I'm in my late-twenties I don't know if I would find a stay here to be quite as charming.

Barnacles is absolutely the only choice for a traveller on a budget and who is serious about having a good time. Situated in Temple Bar, actually directly next to THE Temple Bar Pub, this hostel provides for easy access to public transport, walking access to a multitude of pubs and all major attractions in Dublin City. The hostel itself offers mainly dorm style accommodations sleeping from two to eleven people. (if interested in meeting other travelers, the 11 person room is the way to go) The staff are all super helpful, friendly and willing to lend a hand when needed. If you are looking for tours outside of Dublin, you can book with the front desk in addition to renting/purchasing any much needed item. They also offer Pub Crawls to some of the more interesting spots in town. If you are looking for a quiet night passing through Dublin, this hostel is not your spot. Between buskers going almost all day, the hustle and bustle of the Temple Bar foot traffic, the songs of the pub goers into the wee hours of the morning on a daily basis and the early morning crash of trash and kegs, quiet is probably the only thing you will not find at this hostel. I've always felt safe and felt my belongings were secure in this hostel, and have never had a problem making this my home away from home.

Barnacles is a great place to stay for a couple of nights maximum. It has a central location that is practically on top of Temple Bar. It's very safe and someone is always at the desk if you need assistance. The beds are decent and clean linens are provided too. There is also a personal light above each bed, which is convenient if you are up late at night. It seems to attract a pretty cool crowd, although I'm sure it is circumstantial. The downside: cramped rooms, dirty kitchen, and a mediocre breakfast. Our 12 person room felt like third class steerage on the Titanic. No room to walk around or hang out in the room unless you were sitting hunched over on your bunk. It also can be loud at night since its location is surrounded by pubs.

My friend and I visited this hostel. Granted we don't go to hostels often, but this place was not somewhere we would recommend. While it is in a good location, the shower is dirty, cold with painful pressure. Staff was friendly. The actual building was rather dirty and an uncomfortable environment. We moved to times hostel where they have free daily events to encourage people to meet. Definitely preferable

Definitely in the heart of the Temple Bar District, one of the oldest bars in Europe. The room was pretty small, but who's going to stay inside the room while they're in Dublin? Bring your own lock for storage, it was under each bottom bunk in our room of 6. Yes, you can get a gender specific room - girls night! PS free breakfast of toast, cereal, coffee, juice, etc. Grab a pedi-cab from Temple Bar for an easy way to see other districts. Within walking distance of Guinness Brewery!

The people and place were nice enough but the noise level on a weekend night on the street was comparable to Bourbon Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. That forced the window closed. That resulted in a sweltering room. And no top sheet just a hot comforter for a cover. No fan so no air movement. And still the noise was bad. So unless you can sleep through anything or want to be one of the revelers i would steer clear.

Good location, but very loud at night. Both hosts guests and people on the street make it difficult to sleep -- make sure you pick up some free earplugs at reception. Towels are not included, but can be rented for €1,50. The under-bed lockers are great, but difficult to use at night because they squeak quite loudly. The bathroom was acceptable, but just that; it was small and somewhat dirty but usable. Linens seemed clean enough. I would recommend this for student travelers looking for a cheap place to stay (we paid €16 per night per bed) but not anyone who needs a good nights rest.

American Parent Introduces University Bound Daughter to Youth Hostel Experience As an American parent, I wanted to introduce my university bound 18 year old, who dreams of backpacking through Europe, to one of the best rated youth HOSTELS. I was hopeful things had changed since the '80s hostel experience. To that end, I was charged almost $200 for a private room, almost double the amount of excellent HoTels in Dublin. A huge disappointment. The online pictures were deceiving, not the immaculate facility shown. The sheets were dirty, pillows and sheets had hair on them, and the towels smelled. We covered the pillows and sleep on top of the comforter. The shower leaked. We took a very short, cramped shower. I also wanted my daughter to experience all the helpful information youth hostels purport to give to young travelers. The staff was indifferent. We felt that it was uncool to ask more than a question or two. The breakfast was as expected, make your own toast or cereal and wash your dishes. When we checked out, I complained about the sheets. I was told I should have come to staff to change the sheets when I saw the problem which was after midnight. I chose not to complain at that late hour because of the stereotype American parents have. No discount was offered, just an offer to pay for another night and complain if I saw more problems. Instead, I chose to introduce my daughter to B&Bs-a warm welcome, help with travel plans, clean pressed sheets, large immaculate bathrooms and huge, made to order, hot breakfast at 1/2 the price! Lesson learned for all the other parents out there.

don't go if rugby meat heads all around dublin should have saved money This place is A-OK. Great location. Good fun. BUT expensive during rugby season.... My friend and I had no idea. The room was tiny. Beds: tiny. I couldn't sit up in the top bunk without fearing hitting my head. Breakfast: toast, tea, coffee. People were nice. Security seemed pretty good. But seriously, can't complain about the location. Temple bar is the place to be if you are willing to spend the money to receive a bed that's only good for one lonely drunk person to pass out in.

Me and 5 of my girlfriends stayed here back in 2010 and had a great time. The location is great if you want to be right down town and in the middle of the bar scene. You can walk out your door and be at like 10 bars within a block! I felt the neighborhood was very safe since it was quite busy and full of tourists. The rooms were clean but very very small. There's a kitchen which was pretty good and the front desk people were so helpful- they helped us book a room for the day we were leaving at their sister hostel in Galway. We also returned to this hostel later in the week when we came back through Dublin. I would stay here again for the great price and convenience. We took the city bus from the airport and it dropped us off a few blocks from the hostel- pretty handy! There was also a lounge room with internet connection that was nice.

Had lots of fun, met some great folks from around the world, this place is great for singles or small groups who love to randomly meet folks, and the staff is always helpful.

This was my first hostel experience. It was a pleasant one. I appreciate the incredibly nice people you find working here! It's fairly safe, awesome location, great staff, fairly clean, and you get free wifi. The wifi is offered only in the common room and that closes at midnight. I wish it was opened for longer, but I guess that's where the location comes in. It's literally next door to Temple Bar. There's a bus that takes you really close to the place from the airport. It was a really wonderful value for my friend and I. We paid 55Euros and got a night in Dublin, a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher, a night in Galway, and the trip back into Dublin. We got into one of the bigger rooms because the deal required it. I was hoping it wouldn't be packed, but of course it was. Sharing one bathroom with ten other people was a bit awkward for a first-timer. They have private doubles that you can book though. Definitely a fan of this place.

Barnacles is a great place, especially for newbie travelers as I was (am). Located right in the heart of Temple Bar, you are close to bars, food, shopping and buses, including airport shuttles. It was affordable, I even took advantage of their laundry service which was only €7. The room I was in had 10 or so bunks and it was pretty full which made for a crowded, loud and sometimes smelly experience. Hot shower (when you got your chance) and free continental (toast and juice) breakfast. The noise from the street was fairly loud, but I was so tired it hardly affected me. Overall I'd stay there again, but probably in a smaller room.