No atmosphere whatsoever.
This hostel was a big let down in that it's basically just rooms, toilets, showers, and stairwells. There's no kitchen, no common area, and not even a reception area! The reception is down the road at St. Christopher's Inn Village, but there's no sign on the Orient Espresso's door to indicate where that is. My plan was to call the hostel for directions once I arrived in London, but the guy that was working seems to move super-slow and doesn't feel that answering the phone is part of his job, maybe. So I was stranded and had to fork out for a cab. Despite the lack of facilities, the Orient Espresso is spotless. I forgot my shower shoes and had to walk around with bare wet feet and didn't even pick up any dirt or grime in the hallways! The springs in the beds are a bit stabby though, and the pillows really thin. If you want any social interaction outside of the people in your room, you'll have to head to the Village's common area. The key card pass works for all three St. Christopher's hostels on the street.

Reviewed By: Kirsty Henderson
August 2002