Brodsky's Cat Art Hostel
Art-hostel in a Stari Grad townhouse, with a courtyard bar, a famous resident cat, and Novi Sad's most-praised host.
Brodsky's Cat Art Hostel is Novi Sad's quirkiest stay — a small art-themed hostel in a historic Stari Grad townhouse named after the resident cat, with a courtyard bar, a sun terrace, and a host whose name shows up in nearly every five-star review.
Brodsky's sits on Đorđa Rajkovića, a quiet cobblestoned street five minutes from Trg Slobode but a world removed from the Zmaj Jovina café crowd. The 9.1 rating from 249 reviews comes from three things consistently named in the comments: the host (relaxed, hands-on, picks you up from the bus station if you ask nicely), the cat (Brodsky himself, who runs the courtyard like a magistrate), and the building (a 19th-century Vojvodinian townhouse with a leafy inner courtyard you genuinely want to spend evenings in).
The interior leans into the art-hostel concept without overdoing it — local artist work on the walls, mismatched vintage furniture in the lounge, a bar that opens onto the garden. Adults-only, 25-bed scale, mostly mixed dorms with a few private doubles. Bathrooms are shared, which the Booking listing makes clear; they're clean and there are enough of them.
The courtyard bar is the hostel's social engine. Cheap Jelen on tap, a tamburitza band passes through some evenings, and the host runs an informal rakija introduction most nights — the šljivovica is the safe bet, but ask for the quince if it's available. There's a shared kitchen for budget travelers stocking up at the Roda supermarket two blocks away, and a tiny sauna that's free for guests (a strange but welcome perk for €16-a-night dorms).
Pros: top-rated host, true social atmosphere without pub-crawl chaos, central enough for everything. Cons: shared bathrooms only, adults-only (no families), and the cat is non-negotiable — if you're allergic, skip this one.
- 01The host — relaxed, hands-on, the single most-mentioned name in the 249 reviews
- 02Brodsky the cat — a genuine resident character, not a marketing gimmick
- 03The courtyard bar — small, leafy, social, with cheap rakija and tamburitza nights
- 04Stari Grad address that's central enough for Trg Slobode in 5 min but quiet enough to actually sleep
- 9.1 rating from 249 reviews
- 5 min walk to Trg Slobode
- Courtyard bar with rakija nights
- Adults-only, 25 beds, host-run
“Great location close to the city centre, friendly and helpful staff makes you feel at home.”
“Cat and people are cool. Cool and clean.”
“Excellent location close to the city center and public transport. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Simple but clean.”
- Trg Slobode (Liberty Square)5 min walk
- Zmaj Jovina café strip4 min walk
- Dunav Park & Dunavska6 min walk
- Petrovaradin Fortress (sunset)20 min walk
- Roda supermarket4 min walk
- Laze Telečkog (bar street)5 min walk
