Back of Chapel Backpackers
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Back of Chapel Backpackers

50 Green St, Windsor, Stonnington, Victoria 3181 Australia

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About

#1 of 2 hostels in Windsor
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.7 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Value
3.5 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
“Back Of Chapel is devoted to providing our guests with the best experience. We hope to see you soon.”Back of Chapel is a 150 year old Victorian terrace, which has recently been renovated. We are Located in the South-Eastern suburb of Windsor in Melbourne, Australia. Back Of Chapel is nestled in the core of Chapel Street, which is a vibrant, cultural and popular tourist area in Melbourne. Chapel Street provides an historic setting with diverse dining in many cafes, restaurants and bars as well as innovative architecture with exciting arts and cultural venues. Here at Back Of Chapel we pride ourselves on offering the most fun, friendly and chilled out hostel in Melbourne. All of our rooms are reasonably priced and we cater for many types of travelers. Many of our guests make a reservation for a few days and end up staying for a few months. The diversity and enthusiasm of our guests provide a great family vibe. You can always count on meeting new and friendly people from all over the world. Back Of Chapel also has a dedicated bar for backpackers and friends. The BOC bar features a variety of local and imported beer, wine and spirits all at low prices. Our friendly staff will always make you feel welcome. If you are looking to stay for a few nights or a few months, Back Of Chapel will provide a homely and relaxed feel that will make your stay in Melbourne more enjoyable than anywhere else. Please note that our triple rooms consist of a double bed and a single bunk on top.Hostel reception hours are:8:30am-5pm everyday (closed 1-2pm)Recommended for guests over 18 years of Age.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Adults only
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Self-serve laundry
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
4.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Charming
Languages Spoken
English

Location

50 Green St, Windsor, Stonnington, Victoria 3181 Australia
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 88 out of 100
88
Melbourne Airport
24.3 km
See all flights
Essendon Airport
15.5 km
See all flights

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
Troy wrote a review Feb 2020
3.0 of 5 bubbles
There are good aspects about this place but a couple of things let it down.

I stayed in a 4 bed dorm which was really hot and stuffy and the room only had a small pedestal fan so if you’re on the top bunk you don’t get to feel any of the air. Also there was a strong smell from bins out in the street came into the room through the window.

The backpackers was kept clean by staff but was let down by guests not keeping it tidy, particularly in the rooms.

The building has an interesting layout and there are bathrooms and toilets on different levels and around corners, this worked out great as there always seemed to be one free when I needed it. There is onsite laundry facilities which is handy, and a big kitchen area which was well equipped.

I originally booked for 3 nights but I cancelled after the first night as I couldn’t handle the heat in the room and lack of fresh air. The guy at reception, Aaron, was very understanding and friendly. He gave me a refund for the balance which was great.

I would stay again but probably in cooler weather.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca L wrote a review Jan 2020
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My experience in Back of Chapel was amazing. Its been my house and my big family. You can feel good vibes and staff are very helpfull and gently. In the middle of Chapel street you have everithing you need. Nightclubs, restaurants markets and very closed to st kilda beach. Free parking is available just near. Ill come back again.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackofChapelManager, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 5 Feb 2020
Thank you so much for posting such an informative review. We are always trying to make it feel like a second home for everyone here.
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Charlotte C wrote a review Jan 2020
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing location right on Chapel Street! Homey, family atmosphere. Feels more like a share house due to the living room and friendly guests and staff. Free breakfast between 9 and 12 every day. Close to teams and trains, the CBD and the beach
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackofChapelManager, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 5 Feb 2020
Thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful review. Back of Chapel is indeed in a great location right in the heart of Chapel Street and easily accessible to get to the city. WE are glad that you enjoyed your time here and hope to see you again soon. ;-) Aaron
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Anne F wrote a review Oct 2024
1.0 of 5 bubbles
The guy who managed this hostel (Mr. Tim) is so rude to me. I am planning to move in a private bedroom apartment and he cancelled it. After I sent all the requirements that are needed for the paper works lease he just clearly stated that it is a “NO”. I asked questions about the rooms which are normal to be asked for. But for some reason, he just started to say things that I didn’t say and rejected my application. I tried to call and speak nicely but he became aggressive with the phone call and started to shout. This is so rude. I hope the owner of this hostel will know about this so next time, for the other people, traveler's, or stay ins they won’t experience the same thing that I’ve experienced.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cosmopolitan690536 wrote a review Oct 2017
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dirty kitchen - couldn't eat at table due to rubbish, left over food, drink dirtied all over table. Dirty bathroom (hole in wall was stuffed with hair balls when I went for a shower). Rude English male staff. Full of sleazy boys who seem to insult the female lodgers and do nothing but take drugs all day and night.
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Date of stay: September 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 5 Oct 2017
Thanks for your Review! The Kitchen is cleaned at least twice a day with continual maintenance every couple of hours during daytime hours. The left over food you make note of is likely to be from a guest who brings back free food from the cafe he works at. It could have been easily moved to a different location in the kitchen if you wanted to use the table. I will make sure to tell that guest to leave the free food in a different location from now on though. We are yet to find a hole in any walls in our bathrooms. If there was a staff member who was rude to you can you please let us know what particular comments or actions were made? Many of our guests are friends and I would suggest the words you mention were just some banter between them. We also have a zero tolerance for illegal drugs on our premises. We would really appreciate more information about your comments. Can you please e-mail us at info@backofchapel.com
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dvicgk wrote a review Apr 2017
Lausanne, Switzerland
2.0 of 5 bubbles
I chose to stay in Back of Chapel Hostel because it had really good reviews on TripAdvisor (which I realised are from a long time ago).
I finally saw a bad review and I was quite shocked of the answer from a member of the staff...
The hostel has a really nice atmosphere because the people who are living there are usually staying for a couple of months, which causes the rooms to be really messy and no deep cleaning is done (once a week the vacuum cleaner). We saw a dead mouse near the kitchen and the cuttery was dirty even though we had to pay a deposit to have it.
It is cold in the hostel, there is no doubt about it, but the sheets are enough when you're staying in bed, otherwise you have to wear a good pullover.
There is no insulation, you can hear the people next to your room talking, I had to check if the window was closed because you can hear everything that happens in the street.
It is still a good hostel in the way that you can party every night with awesome people but they could really improve the cleanliness.
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Date of stay: April 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 2 Sept 2017
Hi Dvicgk, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. Can you please contact us to let us know which review shocked you and why? It would be great to know what that is about as I couldn’t find any shocking replies. As you mentioned, our dorm rooms are cleaned as a minimum of once per week. When we are busier the dorms are done up to twice per week. Included in the weekly cleaning is vacuuming, dusting, tidying and organisation on the communal shelving areas as well as many other actions to keep the room clean! We use a professional pest control business to monitor our building. The odd mouse can pop up but it will be removed from the premises as soon as possible. For every guest we offer a set of dishes. (Plate, Bowl, Mug, Knife, Spoon and Fork) this can be collected for a $10 deposit which will be returned upon your check-out date. It is the guest’s responsibility to maintain their own dishes and we have been complemented many times on how it helps with a clean and tidy kitchen. Every bedroom has a heater as well as the communal tv room. If sleeping in your particular room was difficult we would have been more than happy to organise a change to a quieter part of the building. Thanks for your compliments and review, and hope you have a safe trip. Aaron
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iruss2014 wrote a review July 2014
Bangkok, Thailand
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We stumbled across Back Of Chapel Backpackers when we typed into google search: "best hostels in Melbourne, Australia" . It sounded good so we went ahead and booked. Within the first few days we knew we struck gold! This hostel became more than just accommodation. Josh and Aaron who run the hostel are some of the most accommodating, helpful and wonderful hosts I have yet to come across in hospitality. They have an ability to run this hostel with a laid back and fun but controlled vibe. Kelly who cleans the hostel is more than just that, she is kind of like the mother of the hostel. She has amazing ability to make you laugh and is always there to talk but also keeps the place spotless. We stayed in private 4 which was more than we could have asked for; comfortable beds, clean linens, lovely balcony and perfect storage bins for all of our stuff. They also provide amazing fans for the summertime and space heaters for the winter time. Josh and Aaron go above and beyond. It is a smaller hostel but it has more than enough facilities and space for everyone. There are 4 showers, 2 washer/dryers and a good sized kitchen, you hardly ever have to wait for anything!

Something that is definitely unique to this hostel is the community of people. I know that I am not the first person to say this, but I will reiterate, the people you meet here are some of the most amazing people you will meet along your travels. There are people from all over the world all with different stories all of different ages so there is always something going on! Whether its the common room, kitchen, front porch or backyard there will be someone to talk to or people to have fun with. It is definitely something an added bonus when you're travelling.

Another reason why this hostel is the best, is the location! Chapel street is one of Melbourne's gems; from the amazing bar scene and delicious cafe/restaurants to the op-shops and bizarres, there is literally something for everyone. It is also a very short tram or train ride to the CBD and St. Kilda beach. It is honestly the perfect location.

If you are planning a trip to Melbourne for any amount of time this is the only place to stay, you will know within moments upon arriving. I bet you any money you will even extend your stay because of this place. That's what happened to us and it was the best decision we made!
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Date of stay: January 2014
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Private 4 is the best room, and perfect for a group of 3. Quiet, balcony and great wifi!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 5 Oct 2017
Thank you so much for posting this review! It is one of my favorites and definitely captures the feelings of what we are trying to do here as a Hostel.
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Gareth B wrote a review Jan 2016
Abergavenny, Wales, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I stayed at this place for over 4 months, and it became my 2nd home. The people I met and the great times we had here I will remember forever. There's seems to be a tradition that whoever moves into the hostel is welcomed by everyone else with open arms. Whether you're there for a week or for 4 months, you'll fit straight into the group. It's more like a big shared house than a hostel.

There's quite a few chill out areas where you hang with your friends or get some down time to yourself when it's quiet. The full foxtel TV package is handy during the occasional Melbourne rain and the free breakfast is a great bonus. The 6 bed dorms can sometimes be a bit of a squeeze if people have a lot of luggage, but it's no major problem.

There's enough showers and toilets available for use at any time of day and the washing facilities are pretty good value. Once a week Kelly the cleaner (what a character) will come into your room and tell you to get out of bed in her friendly Australian tone so she can clean the room.

The owners Aaron and Josh are friendly guys who are always happy to help. The whole hostel is usually quite clean but can get a little messy after a big night! The best thing is that you can choose between drinking and staying up late, or getting some rest if you're working early, as it never gets too rowdy, but it's still great fun if you choose to be one of the drinkers.

I almost forgot to mention the location; just off the best street in Melbourne; Chapel Street. This street has more restaurants, bars, clubs and shops than you can shake a boomerang at. It really is unbelievable. The train station is a 5 minute walk away from which you can get to the MCG in 7 minutes and the CBD in 10 minutes. It's only half an hour walk to the beach at St Kilda, but i'd recommend Brighton Beach over that beach. only 15 minutes on the train.

On the whole I absolutely love this hostel and would recommend it to anyone staying for any length of time. Don't even bother looking at any other hostel. I wish I was back there now! You will have a fantastic stay and make friends for life.
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Owner at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 30 Jan 2016
Thanks for writing your review for Back of Chapel Backpackers. We are delighted you enjoyed your stay with us. We plan on upgrading the TV soon so the quality will be proper HD! Safe travels and hope to see you soon, Aaron
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Gemma B wrote a review Sept 2014
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A series of events led me to stay at Back of Chapel backpackers, it was more of a home than I had experienced in months. I felt welcome, happy and comfortable. It was central to everything and spoilt for choices to eat out. I made life long friends there and couldn't be more appreciative for the wonderful service. Great guys that run it and such a relaxed atmosphere. I recommend this place for certain. They have everything covered, thank you for the home away from home A and J.

I'll always look back on this experience fondly.
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Date of stay: August 2014
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: If you like a view and out on the deck to chill out choose the room with the balcony
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 5 Oct 2017
Thanks so much for the review Gemma! Its so warms our hearts to see a description with so much love. xx
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Mimi K wrote a review Jan 2014
Sydney, Australia
2.0 of 5 bubbles
My friend and I visited Melbourne for the Australia Day long weekend and picked this Hostel based on the good reviews and we’d heard good things about Chapel St.

Overall I would say do not stay here if you are only in town for a few days – yes Chapel St has some nice bars and restaurants but so does the centre, and it is looong walk from the city centre and the train is not cheap.

The décor/facilities are O.K., obviously it’s a hostel so you don’t expect much but there are only a few bathrooms (some accessible only by going outside) and to use the kitchen you need to get plates and things from reception (which is only open 8.30- 5 – not so good if you arrive in the evening). It’s a converted terrace so it’s a bit old and grungy but functional. Lots of info about the area in the front hall.
All three nights we stayed it was very noisy – our room shared a balcony with the dorm next door so all night there were groups of people playing loud music and drinking right outside our window a metre from the bed. A fire alarm was set off at 4am and there was blood all over one of the (few) bathrooms.
Most of the guests seem to be long term. And it did seem like a better set up if you planned to be in the area for a while. If you are in Melbourne to party or plan to stay a long time in one hostel maybe this is the place for you.

The staff were nice and helpful and there was a pretty friendly vibe in the common areas early in the evening/during the day.

Ultimately the hostel is OK. It wasn’t really the right place for our stay (we were visiting the GOR and doing some general touristy site seeing) and next time I would stay elsewhere. But if you’re looking for somewhere to stay long term and you like a drink then this could good.
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Date of stay: January 2014
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BackOfchapel, Manager at Back of Chapel Backpackers
Responded 17 May 2014
Hi Mimi K, Thanks for posting your detailed review. Unfortunately you caught Back Of Chapel at a bad time. I believe during checkout you mentioned about the guests in the next room. I gave them all a warning that that behavior cannot continue. We did evict them the next day because they were unable to respect our wishes. We apologies for the fire alarm to go off at 4am in the morning. There is not much we can do about that. All bathrooms are cleaned from 8:30am and maintained throughout the day. Unfortunately a couple of consecutive unlucky and rare events occurred during your stay which would of made it less comfortable than it would of been without. If you decide to come back down to Melbourne I would suggest to give us another try so we can prove that not every night is like the one you had. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip in Melbourne. thanks,
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nelsonjacobo11 wrote a tip Mar 2016
Atlanta, Georgia9 contributions4 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Choose one with a balcony"
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Hugh B wrote a tip Nov 2014
13 contributions8 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"The small double room is good value."
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Gemma B wrote a tip Sept 2014
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia2 contributions3 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"If you like a view and out on the deck to chill out choose the room with the balcony"
Read full review
iruss2014 wrote a tip July 2014
Bangkok, Thailand1 contribution4 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Private 4 is the best room, and perfect for a group of 3. Quiet, balcony and great wifi!"
Read full review
Colin B wrote a tip Apr 2014
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Some four bedroom dorms have a semi-private balcony."
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LOCATION
AustraliaVictoriaGreater MelbourneStonningtonWindsor
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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BACK OF CHAPEL BACKPACKERS - 2024 Reviews (Windsor) - Photos of Hostel - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Back of Chapel Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Back of Chapel Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Chapel Street (0.05 km), 56 Bricks (0.3 km), and Back Bar (0.03 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Back of Chapel Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and self serve laundry.
What food & drink options are available at Back of Chapel Backpackers?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Back of Chapel Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include Betty's Burgers, Angus & Bon, and Mr. Miyagi.
Is Back of Chapel Backpackers located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Windsor.
Are there any historical sites close to Back of Chapel Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral (5.0 km), Parliament House of Victoria (5.0 km), and The Johnston Collection (4.2 km).
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