Heart of Gold Hostel Berlin

I have just left the Heart of Gold Hostel and can unambigously recommend it. My single room was just fine, and the mattress was surprisingly comfortable. I would have liked an en suite, but I knew what I was getting into. The pressure in the shower was outstanding. The only negative -- poor pillows. Otherwise, excellent, and great value compared to the alternatives. The main common area in the hostel was comfortable, the staff were friendly, and the music selection of the American working at the desk was outstanding. This morning was all Jack White. The only quibble -- getting a beer was a bit slow. I also recommend the guests (!) -- this morning the elevator was not working and one new arrival, spotting an old man struggling down the stairs, asked if I needed help. I love that type of gesture. Finally, I was working at Humboldt University this week. The location is fantastic for HU.

First of all: A 10€ deposit for the key card! (Not even the cheapest hostels in Berlin practice this). Second: NO ventilation, so prepare to sleep with your door open. Staff is very friendly. You will need to make your own bed and remove them before leaving. They have ONE shower for the 90 pods that are private. The other once are in a shared room, so everyone can look at you showering. Location: Its in Mitte. Nothing interesting there. It is more expensive cuz of all the tourists there. But close train station. Worth it moneywise? Nope! I cancelled my last booking there. I just need curtains for privacy. And you can get that closer to Alexander platz for half the price.

Very cool hostel with really friendly staff and interesting guests. If you can’t have a good time here then you might as well stay home 😁 Most of our stay was in a capsule, which was okay but there was no electricity in them, only USB chargers for mobile devices and computers. I only mention this because my wife has a CPAP machine which does require real juice. The last night we were there we upgraded to a private room, which was a vast improvement. There were electric outlets in there. We had a private shower in the room but the toilets are still shared - however this was not an issue because I always found a free bathroom when I needed it. Overall it was a great experience and I recommend the Heart of Gold hostel to anyone visiting Berlin!

In terms of hygiene standards, disgusting is my only word for this place. I don’t usually leave reviews like this, but my stay here was really bad - and I’ve stayed in some cheap hostels. I almost left but since I only had a short stay I decided to tough it out. All the bathrooms on floor 2 were in a horrific state. Each of them stinking like an outhouse. They put a message that guests should inform the reception if the bathrooms are dirty but seriously, if all the bathrooms (on floor 2) are dirty during the entirety of my stay then that is a problem with the cleaning, not a special case where there is one dirty bathroom. Around the room I stayed in, specifically in front of my bed and the one across, were these disgusting splatter marks (some bloody) that I thought would be cleaned up after the first night but no, it was left to fester on the floor (see photos). I think it’s safe to say I kept my bag on the bed and not on the floor….. Furthermore, the beds are very squeaky, so if you are sensitive to noise, trust me, you won’t sleep. On top of all that, some of the roommates in my 6-bed room dorm weren’t using the sheets for the bed/blanket which makes you wonder what the bedding has been through… Do yourself a favour and book another hostel. I’ve been to the sunflower hostel (same price) and its so much cleaner. Or pay a few more euros to stay in the nicer hostels Berlin has to offer. They know how to manage cleanliness and high volumes of guests much better. **That being said, the reception was friendly and the common area is ok.

I am saying this for your own good. You are in a very good place. But. Your electronic door keys annoyed me and my family. They didn't work five times in two days, and I had to contact you again to have them replaced. It was very unpleasant. The mattresses on the beds look like they've been there since World War II. You don't find these in Africa. And this is the center of Europe. Downstairs, in the common room, for some reason, aggressive music is always playing, like punk. Very loud music. It's impossible to sit there because of the discomfort. The shared bathroom next to the kitchen has no door. Since the first door was open, the ladies saw me naked. These reasons reduce the quality of the hotel stay. Be aware of this!

⭐️⭐️ (2/5) The idea of the capsule-style beds is really cool and unique — I liked the concept. However, there were quite a few downsides. When checking in, they took €20 per person as a deposit, but later claimed it wasn’t recorded and only refunded €10 each, even after I sent proof of payment to their office by email. The capsules themselves had poor ventilation, so it got quite stuffy inside. Breakfast was also quite pricey considering the quality. Overall, an interesting concept, but some serious issues with management and comfort need sorting out.

My experience at this hostel in Berlin was quite disappointing. Before arriving, I sent a message asking about the possibility of an early check-in, but I never received a response. I arrived at 6 a.m., and when I tried speaking to the night-shift receptionist, I was met with a great deal of rudeness. Before I could even explain that I only wanted to know if we could wait in the lobby until check-in time, he immediately interrupted me saying, “check in or check out.” When I replied “check in,” he continued in the same harsh tone, repeating that check-in was only at 2 p.m. — something I already knew. Later, around 10 a.m., another staff member took over at the reception — the same one who kept repeating that he was “from California,” always with a tone of superiority, as if bragging about where he came from. That was when I witnessed extremely uncomfortable situations. My boyfriend, other guests, and I were sitting in the lobby having coffee and tea while waiting for check-in time, when this receptionist began speaking loudly, calling the people who left cups on the table “pigs” and “losers.” At another moment, a guest asked for help retrieving her bag that was stored. He simply ignored her. When she then asked another staff member for help, he shouted from the counter, “I’m already coming,” even though she was no longer speaking to him. As soon as she walked away, he commented to another employee, again loudly, that there were “many crybabies here,” continuing his rude and disrespectful behavior. I do not believe that a guest — someone who is paying for a service — should have to witness or be subjected to this kind of attitude. This staff member’s behavior created a hostile and uncomfortable environment, completely incompatible with the hospitality expected from a hostel. I sincerely hope the management becomes aware of this and takes appropriate action, as the quality of service directly impacts the overall experience of the guests.

Just stayed in a capsule for a night. It offers a good amount of privacy and protection especially for a single night stay it was completely fine. Plus the location. With only couple of minutes from Oranienburgerstr you get basically everywhere around with tram or S Bahn. I really recommend a stay here. Plus the prices are just great if you’re looking for a place just to rest without having to share a room with others.