First day we stayed in a 6 person shared dorm room and then we moved into a 4 person dorm for the next 3 nights. The people were great and we all (3 females) had a great time. After checking in (we booked over the internet) we got a key for the door to the building, a code for the hostel door (changed every so often for better security) and a key to our room. The price was very good too. The room was basic (and VERY clean) with bunk beds and a sink. The sheets and blankets were supplied upon request and the beds were fine. There were two showers to share between the backpackers - the one by the kitchen is older and very small, but the newly renovated one behind the reception area is great. The room had window over rue Pertinax, but the view wan't great, as the streets in the area were dug up in construction. There is a laundromat a few streets east where they charge per kilogram, so you may want to get a few people together to chip in for a load of laundry.

Patrick was helpful and knew exactly where to go - the advice he gave us was always spot on. The whole hostel was absolutely spotless and it was cleaned every day. The lack of breakfast was noticable, but the bakery on the corner was simply spectacular - I recommend cafe au lait with the brioche au sucre or croissant for breakfast. The kitchen is small, with a single table and without a range to cook on, but it allowed you to eat a meal without a problem (fridge and microwave - lots of take-out restaurants in the area). You can ask Patrick to put your valuables in a safety box, which is helpful in the dorm situation. There is no alcohol allowed in the hostel, but everyone simply buys it along the way to the beach, where you are sure to find improvised pre-drinking parties by the waters edge.

The hostel itself is located very close to the Nice Ville train station (5min walk with heavy backpack) and the beach is a 15min walk away down Jean-Medecin. Everything is within a walking distance, so you can save yourself some money on public transportation. There is a gorcery store (Ed's Market) with very reasonable prices 4 streets east. The Chagall Museum is about a 10-15min walk north and it definately worth a trip, especially if you're an art buff. Monastere de Cimiez (Cimiez Convent) is a bit further north and up the hill, but it is also worth the 30-40min stroll - I suggest bringing a lunch and having a little picnic in the old olive grove.

Cheaper restaurants are available in the area (everyone will know the Chinese/Thai restaurant on the way to the train station and there are some great pizza and pannini places everywhere). For great sea food check out the the smaller side streets in the old Port instead of the Promenade des Anglais area. There is a variery of pubs, bars and dance clubs, but during our stay Chez Wayne's was by far the best - including a live band and dancing on tables.

Overall rating: Good (4/5)
Breakfast: no (bakery with awesome coffee is close by)
Linens: included
Towels: no
Kitchen: yes, but limited (fridge, microwave and sink only)
No lockout, no curefew
Reception: 8:30-12NOON, 5-8pm
Internet: no (it is available in a small internet cafe 10 steps down the street)
Safety box for storing valuables: yes
Luggage storage: available

I stayed there with my girlfriend for 4 nights. The hostel is located in the 2nd and 3rd floors of an old building. The 2nd floor is designed according to youth hostel standards. I found it to be neat and decent. It has a fully equipped kitchen at the disposal of the guests.
The 3rd floor is where (at that time) Patrick himself lives. We were in a very large room (just the two), where there was still some personal stuff. On the 3rd floor there are also dorm rooms. Our room was never cleaned, and the bathroom on the 3rd floor was also rather neglected. Patrick promised to redesign it, but I don't know to what extent he kept his promise. We paid in advance without any problem.

If you plan to stay, it's not a bad place, but ask for the 2nd floor (the reception is also there). A recommendation in the Lonely Planet is usually, but not always, reliable.

I am 17 yrs old and have just returned from a week in Nice with 2 friends. We had an absolutely wicked time and stayed in the best hostel possible. It's called Chez Patrick, and is great, cos aswell as being close to the station and the beach, its a couple of minutes from a cheap supermarket and one nice boulangerie. Chez Patrick is cheap and certainly value for money. He's a good guy, but in truth not around much when you need him, yet the hostel is always clean and the a/c is sooo nice after a hot day out. Nice is a great place to explore, and the restaurants in Vieux Nice are the best places to eat, cos they're really cheap but really nice! Go to Nice, go to Chez Patrick, especially if you're economising. Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

I would like to warn any cyclist who reads about this hostel in the cycle france lonely planet guide that it is NOT a good place to stay.
Me and my partner stayed there for one reason, we needed to have a place to store our bike bags when we went off to camp in corsica. A price for this service was agreed and all was well. We had agreed on 80 euros for two weeks. When we returned to the hostel the owner gave us a bill for 120 euros! We felt that this was very unfair and felt very uncomfortable and had no choice but to pay it. For the price for two people I would advise people to stay in a hotel! Also the fellow guests were inconsiderate e.g. mobile phone calls at 4am,brushing their teeth in the room,crashing around when they had been told we were getting up early to catch our train!!