Oasis Backpackers Mansion Lisboa

I stayed here last year when I was in Lisbon. The place is fairly small - I'd say it'll hold 30, 35 people tops, and is slightly off the beaten track re: being close to the city center (and is all uphill from there to the hostel), but is well worth a visit. It's effectively an old house that got converted, with the kitchen, living room and sitting room being just like a normal home, and with the small number of guests the whole weekend there just felt like someone had a free house and we were having a house party while their parents were away :-) Maybe I just got lucky with who was there at the time but it seemed like nearly everyone just clicked straight away - one night nearly the entire hostel ended up going out together en masse to a local restaurant! How many times do you hear "Waiter, party of 30 please"! It's also right beside the bar district, the Barrio Alto, which I found a mite bit disappointing but still very handy to get to.

The amenities were pretty good too, electronic lockers where you set your own codes, electronic door locks, hi-speed internet, ping-pong table and a big courtyard with an outside bar. The kitchen was fully kitted out with a proper oven and microwave, and you could cook yourself or there was someone who came in every 2nd day (I think) who did a big slap-up meal for a miminum fee (was like getting dinner from someone's mammy!). There were also free Portugese lessons on offer as well.

Add all this to €1.50 a bottle beers and €2.50 cocktails, and an extremely hot estonian girl on reception who ended up going drinking with us a few times, and you have the recipe for a good stay! Too bad it rained for a lot of it. but hey, staying in is the new going out....