Barkly Backpackers

Have been staying here on and off for six months now while travelling solo. I keep coming back because of the little communities that consistently keep forming here. With a good mix of long stay and short stay backpackers it's small enough that the cliques/friend groups you find in large hostels don't form and yet big enough that there's always a new faces. It's designed and run in a way that it's very easy to talk to new people and make meaningful friendships. The living area is perfect for meeting people as the shared kitchen area and single large dining table means you will be eating/cooking alongside other people for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's also a shared sofa area perfect for movie nights, window seats for some alone time, a rooftop social/smoking area, free pcs/printing, and five bathrooms and showers. In the time that I have been here there have been dozens of community movie nights, poker nights, chess nights, boardgames/puzzles, rooftop barbeques, beach days, surfing trips, hiking days, nighttime swimming, afl and football trips ect ect. It's in a great location. A five minute walk to the 96, 16, 3, and 67 trams into the city, five minutes walk to coles, woolworths, and aldi, and five minutes walk to the beach/albert park/st kilda botanical gardens. Matt (the owner) is strict but fair. In the few cases I have witnessed of people making others uncomfortable/causing trouble they have been dealt with and kicked out swiftly. So long as you are willing to be considerate of others, tidy up after yourself and keep your area tidy life here is easy and without incident. I also worked for accommodation for two months which was simple enough work and reasonable. I couldn't recommend this place more for a solo traveller somewhat nervous about making friends. I came here not knowing a single person and have made friends and found community time and time again.

I lived in Barkly Backpackers for three months, of which I worked for accommodation for about two and a half. My work consisted of making beds and general house keeping like hoovering and cleaning the kitchen for about two hours each day.
the hostel is located pretty well with only about five minutes foot walk away from the beach and acland street, where most of the shops and cafes in St Kilda are. it is easy and fast to get to melbourne by tram.
the hostel has a rooftop area with a barbecue. sometimes we would meet there and eat together. it is easy to make friends there, even for shy or introverted people.
the hostel itself is pretty clean for a Backpacker Hostel. the kitchen can get crowded in the evening and sometimes all the bathrooms are occupied.
the kitchen has a lot of utensils. they may not be of the best quality but they are free to use and always available. the kitchen itself gets cleaned at least twice a day.
having worked there myself, I can confidently say that despite what other people have posted here, the hostel is a good place to stay and the owner is a friendly person and good, understanding boss. whenever I needed something or wanted advice (e.g. finding a job or my lost apple pencil), I had someone to talk to and help. I felt save and respected during my stay.
I really enjoyed living in barkly backpackers and I think coming there has been one of the best decision i’ve ever made as the hostel has a very home-y feeling to it. I felt like I was part of a community from the moment I walked through the door. I met a lot of nice people and made friends. it was hard to leave and I would like to come back for a visit some day.
thank you so much for the amazing time I had. Barkly Backpackers felt like a home to me, even though I only stayed a couple of months and I miss living there a lot.

Best hostel in Melbourne! I've been here for 1 month and I'm not leaving!! BBQs on the rooftop everytime it's a bit sunny, one big table in the middle of the kitchen for everyone to sit around and get to know each other, huge couches, movie nights, ping pong games, good music on all day... Very Family Vibe!! Actually feels like home
Matt, the owner, is very present, and will help you with any enquiry. Rooms and bathrooms are cleaned daily, my sheets are changed every 3 days and my bed is very comfy.
I recommand 100%

Absolutely amazing stay at Barkleys. Matt the owner is sooo friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean and bathroom in each bedroom was cleaned daily. Very welcoming atmosphere. There's even a stunning roof top where Matt held a few bbqs and provided food. The location is supreme and close to everything. I would recommend this hostel to anyone looking for a peace of mind or to make friends. The kitchen had all that you need and a common area with books board games plug ins. I will totally return to Barkelys when I return to Melbourne. 12/10!!!!

Stayed here before and after we went to Tasmania. Great hostel. Really clean and friendly, and lots of space. Owner is super helpful - opened reception early for us and got breakfast ready early when we had our ferry to Tassie. Free laundry power was an added plus. Only thing was the WiFi didn’t really work in the girls room, but it did work great in the living room and everyone there kept offering us cakes and sweets so really not an issue.

I loved this place. It has a homely feel to it and I enjoyed the free breakfast too.
The previous review from Josh R is a fake review. This guy got kicked out for stalking one of the female guests. The police came and took Josh away in handcuffs.
Good on the owner for protecting the female guests from creeps like him.

A spacious and cozy place! Here I can cook and have enough space to store my food. They also provide lockers and a box in the room for you to put your stuff. They also a big wooden table and sofa so you can relax eating or chatting with people. The best hostel I have stayed in Melbourne!!

Absolute stunning. The review left by josh r is absolute gibberish. He was harassing my friend and she complained it to hostel owner and matty, owner kicked him out. So he's bad mouthing business. The place itself is one of the best in st kilda to stay. Have playstation and good lounger area to socialise and hang around. Kitchens 24/7.

Great hostel. Loved the spacious room I was in and the kitchen was well equipped with pans and plates and even had an oven. The lounge area was well set out and a good place to meet people. Loved the bathrooms too

After arriving in Melbourne alone I simply looked for an inexpensive place to stay short term while I got on my feet with living in Melbourne, 6 months later and I've already left and come back to this hostel twice as it really is my home away from home.

Though this hostel does generally tend to have a lot of "long term-ers", they have all been inclusive so long as you're open to being involved. I arrived as a new-comer, and have stayed long enough to (hopefully be) classed one of the friendly long term-ers of the hostel.

Unfortunately, when I arrived at Barkly backpackers, the hostel was full. It was a very busy weekend and I hadn't booked. The guests seemed to be having a great time in the common room as the man on reception looked up which other hostels in the area still had beds and gave recommendations. I will definitely go back when they have space and update this review.

Stayed at this place 3 times while using Melbourne as a base for adventures. Staff were kind, friendly, and beyond helpful each time (especially the irish girl who stayed up late to let us in after our flight - sorry I forgot your name!). The location is INCREDIBLE. Shops, seafront, St Kilda magic, plus on the bus route to the airport and 5 mins from the tram to the CBD.

Stay there for 4 month, and come back any time, when I need to stay over night around Melbourne, mat the manager is lovely, and the the place is really friendly. Good location for tram and bus, easy access to cbd and 5 min to the beach!

I have stayed here on and off for a long time, and this is hands down the best hostel in Melbourne. I, and many others, consider it their home away from home. Wouldn't stay anywhere else. CLASSIC.

Great hostel with very accommodating staff, it’s the best hostel I have stayed at in Australia so far.

100% would come back again.

Loved this place. Better than the huge unfriendly hostels that I previously stayed in in Melbourne. Everything about this place was friendly and welcoming. Would definitely recommend it.

Enjoyed our stay here. Decent location. Rooms are nice enough. Not enough bathrooms really but not a huge issue.

Really cool backpacker! I enjoyed my stay here, a very spacious dorm which allowed me to sleep well for a very budget friendly price! Sooh much better than in the city center!

Great place to stay in St Kilda. It's close to everything, kept clean, and has a nice atmosphere

Good Hostels feels a little bit like home, free computers,WiFi,tea and coffee 👌👌 very clean, cleaners coming to clean the room and bathroom everyday, nice people good location