A room with THE VIEW. Right in the heart of the old town. ( The best area to stay in Zadar ) A place to chat. Excellent free Wi-Fi to do it online. Plus they will treat you to pancakes and insider tips about Zadar. Welcome to the Boutique Hostel Forum in Zadar, the best hostel to stay in Zadar.
Location
The location of this hostel is fantastic. You are overlooking the ancient Roman Forum, which is right in the heart of the old town. Nikola Basic’s fabulous ‘singing sea organ’ by the quay is just a short walk away.
Rooms and bathrooms
The hostel colours of blue and orange figure prominently in the design of this hostel.‘Zadar blue’ as it is called reflects the cobalt blue sky above and the crystal clear sea below. The Orange colour reflects the colour of the sunset here, referred to as the most beautiful in the world by Hitchcock.
Boutique Hostel Forum has rooms for all types of guests. They have excellent 4-bed dormitories with a private shower and toilet. The dorms are in the style of the Japanese capsule rooms. With pull down blinds you pretty much have your own space in your own pod. With two plug points, reading lights and a mirror (a new feature for me)-these some of the nicest bunk beds you will find on your travels.
If you are travelling with loved ones, you have the choice of the more intimate private twin rooms. The private rooms on the top floor have amazing panoramic views of the forum and the sprawling Adriatic sea in the distance. All rooms have air conditioning, linen and fresh towels included in the cost. Private twins include a mini bar, safe, telephone and a TV. Besides the eye catching design the other wonderful feature of the rooms are the amazing views onto the Roman Forum. 3000 years of history, from the Romans to the Venetians, right in front of your eyes.
If I was to make a quibble about the rooms is that they are on the compact side. There’s not a great deal of space in the room for keeping your luggage.
Facilities
The hostel has a nice common area where you can watch movies or checkout the latest sports on the plasma screen TV sitting in the grandstand auditorium.There is also a billiards table to play on.
There is also a nice sized kitchen which is available for guests to use. Plus there is a nice outdoor terrace where you can chill with a book.
Another star feature of the hostel is their breakfast. Guests who choose the four bed dormitory receive a free breakfast packed to go. Breakfast is delivered to the rooms early in the morning. Breakfast in bed-I don’t know many hostel that offers this. I stayed in their private twin room and enjoyed their all you can eat breakfast buffet. With a great selections of meats, cheeses, breads, burek, juices, yoghurts and coffee- this is a breakfast not worth missing.
Special mention must go to Martina and her team here: they were helpful, friendly, and accommodating. They all speak excellent English and will also give you an excellent crash course in Croatian phrases, things to do, etc. Plus they had some excellent recommendations for places to eat and drink locally. Reception is open 24 hours.
Other key things to share with you. Wi-Fi is free and works well throughout the hostel The hostel has 2 parking places which they charge € 10 per day. The parking lot is located 100m from the hostel. There is also the possibility of doing your laundry here for a small fee. Power adapters can be loaned from reception when needed.
Why is this a luxury hostel
Of all the cities I visited in Croatia, Zadar was a big surprise. The hostel was a big surprise too. I loved the colours. The design and style of the rooms are up there with the best luxury hostels in this book. Beds were comfortable, very clean. The hostel is very secure too. Staff here are really welcoming and made us feel at home. Plus in terms of location, this hostel is unbeatable. Loved getting up early and going for a walk in the old town when it was completely empty. Plus in terms of hostel rooms with a view, few can beat the view you will get here. Visit soon.
Factbox
Booking via Hostelworld.com prices in a 4 bed dorm start from €21 a night or €40 for a double. These can vary according to season so always try and book in advance to get the best possible price.
What a beautiful hostel! Not at all the same with others that I’ve heard of. Everything looks so clean, bright and new. Also, take the chef home? Lol.