HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Fantastic stay! Staff are very hospitable, friendly, and always willing to help you out. Felt so welcomed at check in. I knew then that it’s going to be a pleasant stay, and was right. Housekeeping staff are always so prompt and thorough daily. I felt very safe too. Place felt so homely and it’s got all you need for travel. Hot enough showers, soaps provided, nice clean bed, and more. City location is great too. Recommend!

I stayed for 7 days as a stage tech at the moscone center. I stayed in a private room without the en suite. It's very cheap and that's a big pro of the place. There's not much of a view and you have to share bathrooms/showers but that's not an issue at the price point I stayed here for. It's clean and they gave me clean towels when I requested. The laundry machine and kitchen are very convenient for traveling workers. It's also pretty close to grocery stores, clothing stores, loads of restaurants, and transit to get anywhere far away. The cons of staying here at least in my opinion is the lack of any tvs in common areas and the en suite bedrooms. I also didn't meet too many people bc there isn't much of a chance to outside of the living room and most people in there are usually doing stuff on a laptop.

1st Time Staying in a Hostel. My Roommates were All Amazing 😊 The room was very small...needed a desk or something to help organize your things on. Carpet needed to be cleaned, lots of Spots 😕 Carpet around the Corners & Side of Beds very Dusty. Drawers under bed were very Squeaky, front desk receptionist did try to spray them to take away the noise. All of Front desk Employees Were Very Nice & Helpful! I would love to Stay there again in a Better Room with No Carpet, a Desk & Chair & Full Bathroom. Area felt Safe to Walk in, Very Close to Moscone Convention Center, 10 min. Walk & Close to Eating Spots, Macy's & Nintendo Store~1 of 4 in the World 🌎 🥰

The beds were comfortable and the location was great. The staff was really nice and the kitchen super spacious! I’d only suggest adding a WhatsApp group for guests — it would make socializing a lot easier!

Great place run by incredibly kind people. My room had the windows boarded up because of construction so it got a little hot in the room. There is no free breakfast (the Google listing says there is). Apart from these issues I had an amazing stay. The kitchen was very convenient to have my own meals, there's a laundry if you want to use it, and the luggage storage option for the last day was very convenient. The place is centrally located so all tourist places are a quick transit ride away.

Clean and efficient, attracts mostly polite guests. Beds are comfortable. Lockers are under the bed so can be a pain to access but, mostly ok. Carpets in the rooms should have been replaced a decade ago. Kitchen is clean and open.

The women only rooms was fairly small but the beds were comfy. Unfortunately no curtains and the bed so I didn't feel like I had as much privacy as other hostels. Having an under bed locker in a small room has hassle but as least it was a decent size box. It had Aircon in the room but it made the room quite cold. ||The hostel offered various walks on different days of the week but I didn't join and just did my own thing. It was well placed for transport options.

I would stay here again for a QUICK TRIP. Pros - Close to a lot of things and very accessible (it is actually in downtown) - Rooms were clean and guests were respectful and quiet - No real issues with the stay Cons There were two things that turned me off the most: 1) Front desk- I observed and interacted with about 6 staff and what I found with all of them (except one younger white girl) is that they were all very nonchalant. They weren't rude or unprofessional but they also weren't friendly, welcoming, or engaging either. I saw them eating, being directly on their phone, and having personal conversations with coworkers right at the front desk. Since when can you eat and have a phone to your face in front of guests. Keep in mind these observations are with multiple guests around. The second thing being "no unregistered guests" in the room. Now if I were in the shared room that is completely sensible but if I am paying for a private room those rules shouldn't apply.

A few different times this hostel has availability listed online that does not accurately reflect actual availability and the HI site allows you to book the room, even though everything is booked. Also the HI needs to stop hiring kids to run their hostels. Professionalism used to mean something.

Get a single room with en suite bathroom. Clean, comfortable and affordable. The problems are outside--homelessness, urine, not a great neighborhood.

i won't lie, i was skeptical. some of the reviews on here made me question what i was getting myself into, but wow i was no where near disappointed!!! this hostel was amazing!! the lounge area, bedroom, bathrooms, kitchen, lobby and elevator were kept clean. there was ample fridge space for your groceries as well as shelf space and lots of space for dining! so much area to hang out in the lounge area(which is also quite comfortable and offers a uke, acoustic guitar and sound bowls). there is even a foosball table that can be utilized until quiet hours at 11pm and wow it was SO much fun! there's also a smaller lounge room with some big relaxing chairs and yoga mats to play on. it was exciting to see that they have movie nights on a projector in the lounge area on certain days, as well as mario cart tournaments! my partner and i got a private room and it was a nice surprise to find out there is a sink in there so we don't need to leave for teethbrushing or face cleaning. clean towels were provided as well. something else i love about this company is the pride they take in being eco friendly! they offer toilets that use your hand washing water for toilet water so it doesn't go to waste. they also have various compost and recycling bins! i'd also like to add that the streets feel pretty safe in a couple of blocks radius(coming from someone who is comfortable in NYC). the lobby door is also locked at all times unless you have your key to scan or someone lets you in which i appreciated! this was my first hostel experience and im so eager to go back!!! we came during halloween and they even had some costumes you could borrow or masks to decorate in the lobby :) the building is so old and so cool it makes it fun to imagine what it was like before renovation! i truly feel so grateful to have been here. thank you to all of the staff, including the cleaning and kitchen staff, for keeping this place awesome :)

It's a very central location, which can be noisy. The rooms are basic as you would expect for the price. The staff, at least when checking in late evening, are very unfriendly. Don't seem like they really give a shit. Looking at their phones the whole time, Not a smile, not a greeting, just blank faces, trying to look as bored as possible. if I was manager here I'd fire them. .

This was my first time staying at a hostel, so there's not a whole lot to base my experience off of. I will say though, that it exceeded my expectations. I read reviews of other hostels before and some were quite wild and unappealing. However, this place was very nice. I liked how they had a lounging area for guests to hang out (not referring to the lobby). The communal kitchen was amazing. They have a shared fridge for everyone to put their food, and even a spot for food you don't need anymore, so it can be up for grabs. I only stayed for one night, so unfortunately, I couldn't use the kitchen to its full entirety, but I wish I could have because it basically had everything. The room itself had two bunk beds- two people on each side. Luckily, I came when there was only one other person. Our room had both a shower and a toilet. Sink was outside of the bathroom, which was convenient for handwashing and getting ready in the morning. Carpet was a little dirty, but I reckon that its hard to maintain that type of thing when its a hostel. Best part about the room was the charging station above my head. It also had a little light we could use. My biggest complaint would be the bathrooms and showers in the hallway. And while the concept itself was great (very accessible), I didn't like the layout of them too much. Bathrooms basically only consisted of a toilet and a sink (which was connected to the toilet and seemed gross asf, so I didn't use the sink there...). Shower was next to the bathroom but lacked a sink and was too small for my taste. Additionally, there were not a whole lot of spots to hang your towels or put your belongings so I had a hard time keeping my things dry. Showers had this neat little light that shows how much water you're wasting- so very environmentally-friendly. Service in the lobby was decent I guess. Didn't interact with the persons there too much to say, but they did offer help any time we needed it. Oh, and a plus was the bowl of earplugs in the lobby (since we share rooms with other people). I'm a /light/ sleeper. My only other critique was that they didn't allow me to take my boyfriend to the communal lounging area; it was restricted to only paid guests. For the rooms, I understand, but I was hoping I could spend some time with him inside the lounge instead of the lobby. Moreover, it wasn't like I was taking a full party inside.

Evening manager very curt with me when I dropped off my bag for a friend to hold until I checked in the following night! Other than that I had a great stay!

Stopped by for a friend and the person at the front (Deavon) was extremely helpful! He was very knowledgeable about the prices, and the areas of San Francisco as well. I would recommend this place just for him, will be referring more international friends here!

i went for one night with my friend and stayed in one of their private rooms since it was our first hostel experience. i honestly really enjoyed my stay! the showers could be a little cleaner but at least for me it wasn't gross. this place is a great affordable choice if you're visiting san fran for a short period, and if you don't mind the dormitory vibes. the walls are thin, so be mindful of noise at night. there are multiple parking options around the building, but the easiest and closest one is the parking structure right across the street. my friend and i had our car parked there until we were finally leaving sf. bless the public transportation system over here lol! overall i felt safe and comfortable. i wouldn't mind staying here again :)

I stayed here for a single night last night and I had a positive experience overall. I was actually here for less than twelve hours total, because I arrived at around 11pm and I left at 10am the following day. I made the reservation for the single night about a week ago, and by the time that I arrived they had my information and room assignment ready to go. My room had only two other people in there, and I managed to get decent sleep for the night. The only caveat being one of the roommates arriving after 2am to start adjusting and preparing his suitcases. I woke up fairly early because I was accustomed to the east coast time, and I made my way down to he kitchen for their free continental breakfast. The breakfast included hard-boiled eggs, toast, and cereal. I picked-up a banana also. This place has a lot of character with its age and unique architectural characteristics.

I would like to offer my experience as a nine-year member of the Hi- international hostelling I'm pretty sad that a decision was made to keep the kitchen off-limits to guess. Due to Covid-19, they want to make sure everyone was ok but some of the guesses were not happy to hear or see the kitchen off-limits to cook your menu. I'd work offsite / self business /freelance documentarian and photographer. I have collected video conversations with a guess on the experience in dealing with the covid-19 but explaining to me how disappointed they were that the kitchen was off-limits and no one was able to cook meals to save money. "I understand, I also want to do the same" We understand that COVID-19 is the problem but the problem can be controlled if they would implement it, two persons, at a time in the kitchen. Other hostels and independence hostels are doing it. Honestly, I spent $347 in taking out food but if you subtract $70 from that amount. " I was Helping out and feeding a Japanese homeless person that was always around the corner asking for help but this is all in a total of eight days Yes, there are no spoons, forks, and no silverware no cups,  no bowls, and as I said before take this with a grain of salt I do understand that you want to keep people safe. Groceries overtake our food is always better to save money because everyone is struggling right now. The kitchen is closed from 12 am to 7 am but I am not so sure if I agree with the hours. I'd get up at 5 am most mornings checking email and starting out my online workflow. As an editor retoucher and filmmaker, I would like to have access to a kitchen to start my day. There was a guest staying at the hostel and she refused to buy takeout so I bought takeout and share it. Not only I share my food but I shared a $200 bottle of Japanese Hibiki and whiskey with guests over 21.  I think staff should be more time into explaining the rules and what is available to guests checking in. This includes rules and I do believe in the document we all sign as we check in but they don't explain that either. The only thing that has been asked and I'd quote " You do not smoke in the building" I'm sure people are smoking in the building as I write this. How do I know this? Someone thought "a guest I had gone off to the dispensary nearby" No, I'd reply back. He replies then someone is smoking in the building and I was on the five-floor. Hmm, I don't have a sense of smell "car accident" but the point here is, both parties have an understanding before the agreement is finalized. Now let's talk about the rooms, the rooms were clean I had the best view in the best window seat because if you watch my Instagram it was a lot of funny activity and I was recording constantly from the window. But San Francisco needs to deal with a homeless man that's always in front of a hostel threatening to guess if they don't give him money. This was recorded on my GoPro one night.  Now to be fair I think the pricing is absolutely outstanding and as a member of the organization which is a 501 C3 but I do want to make this experience even better for everyone else in the future. Ladies and gentlemen if you do not have a membership, you do not save money but you still can get a good deal. I do recommend staying at HiUSA hostels, Hotels can be very costly, and some hotels will charge a security deposit which can be a pain. "the return window for that security deposit can take 7-14 days" you're limited to access to certain areas or services unless you pay for it. This is at a hotel. There are no hidden fees and security deposit charges at the hostel This is not my first time here either. It's about the fourth time because I normally go to the city center but right now the City of San Francisco is in a contract with HIUSA renting that space. Keep up with the newsletters on HIUSA. But this time around it was the opposite it was more expensive to stay and I did not anticipate that the hostel will close the kitchen.  UPDATE: came back to the hostel, the first 7-8 stay I was able to use the microwave and hot water dispenser but now, the cleaning staff purposely turn off the electricity to the kitchen to all microwave and hot water from the Circuit breaker located outside the kitchen door. Yes, the kitchen is just pointless to have open when we can even get hot water. I remove a star because this is a new lockdown order in san Francisco. What about the paid quest for staying in the hostel? check out the videos to this review Video link here https://youtu.be/q707BZ7yM90

Ive stayed at quite a few HI hostels so I guess my standards / expectations are quite high. This is not the best HI hostel I've been to but after weighing the pros cons I would still stay again especially if I needed to be in the downtown area. PROS: Super convenient. It's easy to catch cable car, Bart, bus. I was able to walk to my bus to Sacramento. You can easily walk to Union Square, Fidi, Chinatown, and lots of retail shops and grocery stores and drugstores. Kitchen access. Trader Joe's and Target are nearby so lots of people were cooking in kitchen to save money. There were plenty of microwaves, stoves, sinks to accommodate all of us so we didn't really have to wait for others to finish. Good vibes. Staff at front desk were really friendly and welcoming. And even the cleaning maint staff were nice as well. Had some great conversations with my bunk room mates. I appreciated the social but respectful atmosphere. CONS: Tight / stuffy bunk rooms. Compared to other HI hostels, the bunk rooms were pretty tight. There was no air. You could turn on a fan but it was very loud. Also the lockers were metal cages that rolled under the bed. It was dusty underneath and drawer was too tight to pull out when others were in the room so I ended up not using it. Bathrooms. No dorm style bathrooms here but I found the bathroom process a bit cumbersome. The sink was in your room and in the hall you had to go to a shower closet then a separate toilet closet. You couldn't really get ready all in one place. Lack of quiet space. There wasn't really room to sit or work in peace. The bunk room was too tight and stuffy. The common room was spacious but always had music pumping. The dining area was always full of people chatting and cooking. There was "quiet room" but it was only large enough for one person in it abd there was always one person in it (at all hours of the night).

I recently stayed here and had a chance to stay at more hostels so here's my update. I'm adding more stars for ease of check in, and since most hotels/hostels in SF have inadequate heat, I'm focusing on other parts that were "wins" for the stay. But I still can't give five stars until the heating/cooling situation gets fixed and I'm honestly nervous about my upcoming stay regarding the climate control, and SF still has some cool nights ahead. Pros: Walking distance to BART, buses, and shopping. Ease of check in. Luggage storage day of check in and check out. Laundry (have to pay), and lower taxes than regular hotels to book a private here. Cons: no parking. Yep I know a lot of hotels don't have parking here but let's get real- it'd be really nice. Climate is my biggest con as I've mentioned. It gets to the point you really get tired of asking about heat / climate control in hotels, unfortunately I've gotten to this point. Early check out. 11am. Noon would be way better- a lot of places are doing that now. And a con for me always seems to be when you have to pass the front desk of places to get to your room. Great for security for their business I'm sure but for privacy not so much. Thankfully most of the staff greeted me, or smiled, or seemed helpful. Only got a weird stare from one staff member & not sure what that's about but I'm almost positive they will see this review and maybe be nicer? Lol Still, I'd stay here any day over the Samesun. & I get hotels.com rewards night at this property. On a budget, it does the job. I returned to give it another chance & I think overall HI will fix the climate control issue I've experienced this winter staying with them especially since If you go through reviews in SF a lot of them mention the climate control in hotels so I know I'm not the only traveler concerned about this. Best thing to do is treat it like camping and get your best insulated gear to sleep through the night if you're a cold natured person & God bless us lol.

For the convenient location and the necessary amenities, I was impressed. The kitchen with the microwave, stovetop, shared frige, dish racks and available hot/cold water makes the place feel like home. The bathroom has a toilet lid faucet to fill the toilet tank while washing hands to save water. The shower is supplied with shampoo/body soap. The beds have linen and towel. Patrons can save money and meet people of different languages. The hostel have been around a long time, so there's wear & tear on carpet, doors and stairs. It's made up by strong Wi-Fi signal.

HI San Francisco Downtown is conveniently located for exploring the surrounding neighborhoods of San Francisco. The front desk staff are all polite, friendly and ready to offer you some sound advice. Next time i need to spend the night in the city, I would definitely return for another visit.

HI Hostel San Francisco Mason Street was my first experience staying in a hostel and if it is consistently like it was to stay here, then I'd definitely do it again. The rooms here are incredibly affordable and while you may not get the privacy of a hotel to yourself, the spaciousness and availability of rooms makes it so that you'll more likely not feel overcrowded. Despite the age of the building, it's been kept up with modern amenities. The hostel has Wi-Fi available to guests; power outlets, USB charger ports, and a reading light at the head of each bed; and a dedicated space to do work, eat, and relax. On top of that, the hostel also has free breakfast, hosts community events for guests, and more. All of this combined with its proximity to Union Square and the entirety of Downtown makes it a great choice for just about anyone. I'd definitely consider staying here again next time I visit the Bay Area.

This hostel has a divine energy... its a castle turned to a hostel to serve a great purpose to those who cant afford a castle... highly recommended.

I tried to help an elderly and handicapped friend get a room here ..one of the staff members was really nice and helpful , but the person checking us in was unbelievable. He would not talk or communicate. He only asked for ID etc , but would not acknowledge any questions or any conversation. It's hard to believe someone like this works in hospitality.This was an older Caucasian male , the younger staff members were actually helpful . I felt bad that he was so unhappy in life that he couldn't act like a human being

I am a life member of HI and have stayed at around 20 hostels around the U.S. and Canada. Here are my positives and negatives about the location: POSITIVES: 1. The cost, for the area, can't really be built. If you factor in the free breakfast, comfortable room (with stellar comforter when it gets cold), common areas, and good Internet, I can't really imagine staying anywhere else downtown. 2. It is near everything. 3. The rooms are colorful and I love the under-the-bed lockers, which are pretty large, as well as the bathroom/shower in the room as well as the ones that exist in the hallways. 4. The free breakfast is good and includes unlimited bread, bagels, bananas/apples, oatmeal, coffee, milk, juice, etc. What more could a hostel traveler want? 5. I thought the staff were great and constantly helpful. I accidentally left my sunglasses and cases at the front desk when I checked in and then realized a few days later what had happened. SOmeone saw them and put them in storage so I was able to retrieve them easy. 6. Speaking of storage: the hostel has a large and spacious luggage area to leave your stuff on the first floor after you have checked out, but before you are leaving town. Very convenient. NEGATIVES: 1. I happened to be in SF over Labor Day during a record heat wave. It's not anyone's fault, but buildings in SF don't have AC and often fans because it's not supposed to get hot. Just know this and don't complain if it does get hot. 2. It was really difficult to sleep due to the never-ending outside noise. I thought the HI Downtown San Diego was bad due to being smack in the middle of the Gaslamp District, but SF was worse. Just a constant, all-night cacophony most often supplied by drunks, the homeless, and sirens. 3. There is only one elevator and it is common for it to be super busy. Walking is good anyway, but just know this may be incumbent, particularly with luggage.

I hadn't planned on staying here, but since it was close to where a friend of mine, whom I haven't seen in 20+ years, it fit the bill, as I didn't have to spend too much time navigating all the one-way streets. I got a private room (2 beds) with a private bathroom, which for me, was worth the extra dollars. Yet, still more affordable than nearly anywhere else in the heart of downtown SF. However, getting here was no easy task. Even though I never got lost (yea), in driving South on Mason, I was in the wrong lane for the garage, which was on the other side of one of many one-way streets. So, I had to make a BIG loop to get back here, which took a bit of time since the streets were so crowded with vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, mopeds and cyclists. Once I parked, and dispite the chaos in the lobby, and several guests milling about, the place was relatively clean, quite (excluding street noise) and comfortable. Even though there were 3 staff members checking people, it took a bit of time as those guests/new residents had a lot of questions. I got a private room (2 beds) with a private bathroom, which for me, was worth the extra dollars. Yet, still more affordable than nearly anywhere else in the heart of downtown SF. In a Hostel, things work a lot differently than elsewhere. You get a badge that contains your name, checkout date and key card all in one. The elevator reminds me of those in Europe (small, sliding door and manual operated door + only 1 floor at a time; 1st push, 1st go. So, you could find yourself going from the lobby, to the 4th floor (I was on the 5th), then back down to the lobby). The room was small and sparse, but functional. Good for a night. Though I wouldn't want to be here for an extended amount of time. At night, the curtains are too thin, so all outside lighting filters into the room, leaving the room in a perpetual dawn. While the noise from inside was minimal, the street noises were intrusive (luckily, my hearing issues helped a lot here). An interesting experience. But, not one I would care to repeat. Boy, what a racket they got going here! I paid a $6 toll to drive 6.5 miles, $176+ for a small room, and I had to take my linen down with me. Then, to top that off, I had to pay $35 for parking, and I wasn't even there 13 hours! Sheesh!

made my sf experience a whole lot better, definitely will return. the front desk was very helpful and kind even helped me find parking

odd place It's not a "motel" or "hotel" most amazing bed I have slept in for years... location... ummm, bars, traffic, too much Doubt I will come here again. Thought that I would save some fundage... nope... Work your yelp madness and find something a bit better...

Solid place if you're on a budget - even for private rooms. The carpet, bed, etc. could use a refresh, but everything was clean, and the room was actually quite spacious. I took the earplugs on the table to be a good hint to use them, and they worked fine to drown out the city noise.

Hi hostel International Downtown is a good place. I like being near to Union Square in San Francisco California. The crowd here is YOUNG!!! I am over 35 and I felt a little bit older than everyone. Bunk beds and lockers in every room. I do not advise bringing expensive computers or jewels to this place. Breakfast is good. This place is a great place to be social! I met a very nice Army vet at Breakfast...and he was a little bit older than I am!!! No animals allowed.

So this was our first hostel experience. The actual stay in the room was fine, but the confusion at the front desk and their lack of experience made our trip very difficult toward the end. Positives: The private room with bathroom was clean and neat when arriving. The lounge, movie room, and kitchen are convenient for down time. They also let us store our luggage and rented bikes in their storage area inside, even after we checked out. The hostel also offers lots of discounts on touring and activities around the city. Negatives: The gentlemen at the front desk accidentally charged us for an extra day, which was refunded, but unprofessional. And they also didn't tell us it was refunded until later in the day so we walked into our room being set up for the next guest. They also gave us a shuttle ride to the wrong airport which could have been extremely bad if our flight wasn't canceled. If the few bad things didn't happen I'd rate it higher.

This hostel is in a perfect location -- super close to Union Square so it makes sightseeing super walkable! Their free breakfast in the morning is awesome. They have oatmeal, bagels, toast, fruit, tea, coffee, cereal, etc. and the kitchen is really clean and well managed by the staff. I arrived at around 10:30-10:45pm and the front desk staff were nice but I was surprised that they didn't tell me where anything was, since I had never been there before. The room I stayed in was a shared women's dorm which was cozy (and small, but I don't really care about that) and the bed I slept in was nice. The room had absolutely no air circulation though so I was uncomfortable most of the night. But I think the toughest part of staying at this hostel is how noisy it is outside. People inside the hostel were quiet but the noise from outside was so bad. Lots of people who are homeless were fighting, singing, banging on stuff almost the entire night. The noise from delivery trucks was bad, too. Definitely bring or buy ear plugs!

Only reason for a 2 star review is because they did refund me for the second night without hassles I was supposed to be there for 2 nights when I arrived with my family to the room I noticed a musty smell sheets smelled old or as if they just get washed in plain water luckily I took my kids tablets so they had some entertainment because there was no TVs beds are small I guess it's not a bad room for a tourist trying to save a buck on a decent room but if it's a family going to visit SF I definitely wouldn't recommend staying here spend a little more and consider something a bit more modern and hygienic oh and parking is across the street and it's 35$ for overnight

This is my first hostel experience, & I was beyond pleasantly surprised! This place is decorated very trendy, is clean & provided such good amenities. Plants everywhere made it feel homie. The woman working in the kitchen in the mornings is rockstar!!!! Kudos to her! I can't get over how much I enjoyed staying here. Also the location is perfectly centralized for many tourist attractions.

Staying at a hostel is always an adventure, while I am definitely an elder given the age range of their usual clients, it is still a good place to stay and made to feel quite comfortable. I work at a nonprofit and need to be careful of budget this is definitely a great alternative to the $300-$7000 hotels in the area if you don't mind rooming with other people and sharing a bath/shower.

Overall an average experience.. What you'd expect from a hostel I suppose (not like the movie). Definitely worth staying here to save money. Worst thing I'd have to say is all the junk emails I receive from them nonstop now. Simple check in & out.. Reserved beforehand online since I came here for a popular half marathon so everything gets booked/raised prices. I only stayed one night so I didn't really get to explore.. Didn't visit kitchen unfortunately. No fridges! They have one in basement? But for my purposes I needed breakfast at 5am before my race as well as other guests so they said only one worker at that time may not be able to retrieve our food in a timely manner. Free continental breakfast that I didn't get to try either.. For the room I stayed in, male & female with 6 bunks. Each had a locker underneath but bring your own lock! It was clean enough for me..

When it comes to hostels, I don't really expect much but I was beyond impressed with this particular one. The price was great, considering that it's in Union Square. It's walking distance to (mostly) everything, including a stop for our hop on hop off bus (5 minute walk). As for the room itself, it was wonderful. The room was clean, the bed and pillows were comfortable and the space was the right size for us. The bathroom was good but mind you, the sink is not in the bathroom. We rented an ensuite because shared bathrooms gives me nightmares. As for the noise level, it'll depend on the person. I slept well. My bf on the other hand couldn't sleep the first night. I think the secret is to tire yourself out because the second night and after, my bf slept better. Our room was on Mason Street so we heard bums, the sirens, drunkards, the cars etc. If you are sensitive to noise, they do offer ear plugs which are located near the elevator As for security, it's pretty safe. They lock the front doors at 11ish pm or so and every time you walk in, they require you to show your hostel id (which is given to you upon check in). They also offer continental breakfast of bagels, fruits and coffee/tea. I personally loved it because it was a great snack to bring with us while we were having our adventure in San Francisco. They also have computers and printers to use (not free) and password protected wi-fi. That's the great thing about hostels. They offer these amenities for a very good price. If you are feeling adventurous and/or want to meet people at the hostel, they do offer activities such as pub crawls, movie nights, etc. I can't say anything about that because we didn't sign up for these activities. Would I return? Definitely. If you decide to book a room there, I would book it through the phone oppose to doing it online. We got a cheaper price via phone.

I effing love this place. To start, the location is second to none. It's about a block from the BART station on Powell, which is also right next to the terminus for the cable car going to Fisherman's Wharf. Front desk staff is young, international, and very enthusiastic. I spoke at length with Reuben discussing the recent sprucing up of the hostel and how I thought it was amusing that in the lounge areas of the hostel, people would all have their laptops out sitting on the many bean bags. He joked that one elderly guest said that she especially liked the lounge areas since they were akin to a library! lol. Yeah, that's not usually the vibe that hostels go for, but I thought that it was fine and many of the guests are just products of their time where face to face communication seems to be going out of style. A small breakfast even comes with your stay. Bagels, toast, and coffee. No eggs and bacon, but this is a hostel, get over it! Got a private room with a bunk bed which was hilarious since I haven't slept in a bunk since I was about 12, so this was an experience. Room was small and clean, sink in the room, bathroom and shower next door. For the private room we paid $92, and if you stayed in the dorm, it's $32 per bed. The strengths of this place lie in the staff. Very dynamic and engaged cadre on the younger side. They have a warm vibe and set the tone for this laid back downtown hostel. There are also several electronic water filters which are awesome and they dispense hot and cold water. Touchless hand sanitizers are also around which is nice. Kitchen has stoves, microwaves, and a couple of restaurant sized sinks. The showers even have free eucalyptus body gel which isn't half bad. I'd return!

I was in San Francisco for a conference for 5 nights. The location was perfect for me to walk to Market street (10 minutes), the Ferry Building (20 minutes) or Chinatown (15 minutes). The front desk person was very kind and helped to save me a little money. The room, private bunk, was clean and did not smell. I had a sink and mirror in the room as well. There were two lockers for personal items (bring your own lock though). The neighborhood was pretty safe. Notes: 1. If you book early, you will get a better deal... 2. Bring your own lock for the lockers... 3. If coming from the airport, take the BART to Powell Station for $8.10 and walk a few minutes to the hostel... 4. Breakfast was only bagels, bread, apples, and coffee/juice... 5.... And as always, Have Fun!!!

Hi Hostel downtown San Fran was in the heart of the city. You could get anywhere you needed easily with where it was located. When you first arrive you will check in and they provide you with a room key along with a badge. During your whole stay you will need these to get in and out of the building. If you arrive before check in time and your room is not ready they welcome you to store your luggage till you come back later, which is better then any hotel's policy. If you do stay at this location do try to get an outside room with a window. The building I believe was built in 1901 so on a hot day it will be extra hot inside the bulding since it has NO AC. Keep in a mind a lot of the older buildings do not have air conditioning. We noticed all types of people staying here from international to Americans and of all ages. We even saw adults with babies staying here at the hostel. This location also provides a place for you to store food in a fridge and also provide a simple morning breakfast which includes: bagels, bread, bananas, apples, peanut butter, and cream cheese. Pretty simple but if you have no allergies it is a great basic breakfast that can fill you up each day. Most hotels we originally looked at that were located downtown didn't even offer breakfast. So from here you can easily walk to China Town, Union Square, or just anywhere downtown really. If you want to reach out a little bit further you can even obtain a bus pass from your phone or at the local Wallgreens down the street. Restaurants are all over the place so you won't have to trek far to find some good tasty food. You may have to trek uphill some but in this area there were not any super steep hills you had to worry about. The staff here are very helpful and kind. If you bring alcohol they will store it for you in a fridge to prevent anyone under the age of 21 obtaining it. In addition, if you want to change out towels on some days they will provide you with those as well. Feel free to ask them any questions, their pretty knowledgeable about the city themselves. We were fortunate enough to meet the managers wife of the place and she was extremely sweet with us and hoped we enjoyed our stay. On the second floor you can find a large bathroom with a shower. On the other floors you will find single bathrooms and single shower rooms. They kept the place clean and tidy and people seemed very friendly. You will share space with people and if you want to meet and make friends then staying in a Hostel may be a great choice for you. You can go out of your way to avoid people as well but it is a very nice open dorm room format feeling I enjoyed a lot. So for our first Hostel experience I would say it was AMAZING! Just make sure to book in advance if possible, you will save a lot more.

Please, allow me to preface this review with the "Employee" disclaimer. I am rating all three locations here in San Francisco, giving the most honest feedback, not only as an "insider" but as an independent traveler who has stayed in several hostels worldwide. Downtown is centrally located in the hustle and bustle of Union Square which is appealing to visiting guests. Hostels offer shared accommodations for independent travelers in dormitory rooms with shared facilities. And of course, private rooms with private baths are available as well. This hostel is your basic Downtown Metropolitan City hostel. This six story building hosts about 200 guests. The rooms are basic, with shared facilities on each floor. The kitchen leaves some to be desired as they do not have proper cooking facilities. Fortunately, the location offers enough food options in the surrounding area that it's not too much of an issue. Though this property is often in high demand due to it's location, I'm not as drawn to it as the others.

Stayed here 4 nights with my mother in 4 bed dorm with ensuite bathroom. The staff was excellent and very helpful, the grounds were clean and I was glad to see they worked to be environmentally friendly. Bedding was provided and also clean, the storage lockers are large! Bring a small lock or pay $4 for one at the desk. The location is amazing close to local transit and major tour bus stops. Bagels and fruit provided for breakfast. Recommended!

"Rates will fluctuate depending on the date you are arriving" Hosteling international Ok I m not a big fan of hostels but had to stay here because of urgency. While trying to book the room on the phone I could feel the unpleasantly professional behavior of the employees, it was confirmed when I came to check in, when the guy expressed a fake concern. It's like they don't give a shit if you are having a bad time. Anyway I wasn't asking either but please don't be fucking fake. Movin on.......This place is quite expensive even after considering that it is located in downtown. Like a school housing this place has , common kitchen, lounges, theatre, small computer room, common shower rooms etc. One things I liked was that this place provides opportunity to interact with other hostelers( from different nationalities) in common rooms. The place looks nice as its, carpeted Although it feels like the place needs some good space utilization. For an instance there is a decent space for kitchen and lounges but shower room and toilet are feels like public 'plastic box' urinals. I mean come on..... With the pictures of the hostels hanging on their walls, it feels like they are trying to endorse. Oh yeah they do provide breakfast in the morning which I think goes like this bagels, jam, butter, oat meal, oranges, coffee, served by a Spanish speaking lady who gave me a weird look when I mixed butter in oat meal. One last thing, this woman, who seems to be the manager of the hostel, is clearly having a problem while walking because of her high heels but is still walking anyway......Persistence I guess.

Located in Union Square to make it easy to bar hop and find great restaurants nearby. Also within walking distance to the Giants stadium and the ferry station. It is a little ways away from the Golden Gate Bridge, but within 30 min of uber ride and 45-60 min of public transit. The place could be cleaner. That being said, this was the first hostel I've stayed at that had a bathroom in the room, which is quite nice. Being where it is, it does get loud at times throughout the night but it's really not too bad. They offer free breakfast with few fruits, bagels, orange juice, and coffee. A lot of people come down for breakfast, which is a great time to mingle with others.

I paid around $140-$160 for a private room with double bed and it was not worth a single penny. The following night I booked a 4 star boutique hotel on the next street for the same price for a luxurious experience. This is what went wrong with my experience: 1. The room had a funny smell. It was a very old, musty smell that was really overpowering. It smelled kinda like piss to me and it was particularly strong in my bedroom. 2. Hence, I opened the window and I COULD NOT SLEEP A WINK that night. The windows are badly constructed and outdated to the point where you could hear the slightest wind movement. The windows KEPT banging continuously all night. It wasn't just a gentle or soft bang but it sounded like someone was beating down the walls- it was practically worst than the sound of lightning. Secondly, the windows do not lock and someone could have broken into the room easily because there was a fire escape. 3. I have never been more glad to be able to leave this place after one night. Unless you're staying in a bunk bed in shared room. Their privates rooms ARE NOT WORTH THE PRICE AT ALL. AVOID. Save yourself the trouble and your money's worth.

Great location, right near Union Square downtown. The San Francisco Hilton is right here, Macy's, H&M, the Galleria, SF Center, the convention center, etc. It is also totally within walking distance to Chinatown and the financial district with great eats and stores. If you have shopping bags, you might want to be low key about it. Keep in mind that Union Square is also right next to the Tenderloin which is where the homeless people gather, so don't go away from downtown and the Union Square. Meaning don't walk further into the city pass Mason toward Taylor and toward Ellis. Stay toward the bay, toward Powell and Sutter streets. Dress down and you won't have any problems. The cost is about $30 per night. There are 4 bunks per room and two rooms are connected by a shared bathroom. The hostelers gather in the community rooms where there are couches and you can get internet access for a low fee. There is a pretty cool coffee shop right next door. I had some crab thing there that was surprising good. If you want to store your luggage, there is a place right next door where you can rent a locker for about a buck. It's is clocked and you program the locker with your 4 digit code. If you appreciate the traveling student kind of life style, you'll like this place. I had one other person in my room that I never even saw. Of course you have to take care with petty crime if you room with folks you don't know. The bunks aren't that comfortable but what do you expect for a hostel. It's kinda of low energy in the hostel, but in this great town - it's what you make of it. There are other locations for Hosteling International in SF, this is the only one that I have stayed at. Try the other locations if street people make you nervous. Great location, great value, convenient, accessible.

Cute decor, clean common areas, clean room (stayed in a private), clean bedding and towels, clean bathrooms. Free breakfast was simple, just bagels and fruit, but it was plenty and filling. Front desk staff was very friendly and happy to answer all questions, service staff not quite as friendly but they do a great job of keeping up the hostel. I stayed in a private room, 2 bed, 3 person max (bunk with full on bottom and single on top) and it did the job. There's a sink in the room which was cool, no need to leave the room to brush your teeth or wash your face. They also provide a few coat hangers and a hair dryer. I didn't actually spend too much time at the hostel but I didn't have any issues when I was here. Do recommend for those traveling on a budget. Also, if you book at least a month in advance the rates tend to be a little cheaper!

I'm comparing this place to the only other hostel I've ever stayed in, which was Hostelling International Chicago. The Chicago branch of this chain made me rethink the word "hostel" into something I actually would consider as an option on my travels. The San Francisco branch made me rethink that newfound enthusiasm and really makes me think that the Chicago branch was a diamond in the rough never to be found again elsewhere. First of all, I'd like to disagree with a few things people are saying. 1. In the hostel's favor, I will say that this is seriously NOT in a bad area. You can walk around at night time as a single female and be left alone, aside for beggars who are harmless and are present in every major city. This is not the depths of the Tenderloin, but rather a pedestrian area with plenty of stuff open very late and many normal people about. This is NOT the ghetto. 2. This really isn't a block away from Powell St. BART. It's more like 5 blocks, and long ones at that. You don't want to get off the BART with all your luggage and walk here, unless you're used to backpacking, or something. It's quite a walk, and from the station to the hostel is all uphill (albeit not as steep as Nob Hill). I wouldn't really call this place "convenient to public transport". It's a good half mile to the station. 3. This hostel just isn't fun. There is nothing to do. There are a few flyers with events, but they don't even list the dates, or whom to contact to take part. The kitchen CLOSES at 10pm. WTF? At the Chicago HI the kitchen was open 24/7. There is only 1 elevator, and it doesn't really work. Someone got stuck in it during my stay. Also, the button can only process one request at a time, so you keep having to push it for 10 minutes until it lights up and registers your request. Expect to spend at least 15 minutes waiting for the elevator so unless you're on the 7th floor with luggage, consider taking the stairs. 4. There is no lounge. No movie room. Absolutely nothing. There is a very small hallway full of traffic since there are rooms all alongside it, with 2 fee-based computers. There is then a small open area with 2 bean bags, and a sofa. That's it. No one ever hangs out in the public area either, so you won't be meeting anyone interesting here. HI in Chicago had an honest to goodness library with tons of books in many languages (that also served as a meeting room), a HUGE cafeteria (with a 24/7 kitchen, tea, and coffee), a movie theater room, a game room, a giant lounge with tons of computers, foosball tables, comfy seats, and more books, and a smaller lounge with snack machines on each floor. Not here- this place has 2 bean bags on the second floor and absolutely nothing to offer guests. 5. The entire place feels and smells humid. It smells disgusting, especially inside the rooms. I had a private room that smelled like a mix of dirty feet and 3 week old burnt chicken. The private rooms with shared baths are all bunk beds, not very convenient. Why not have separate beds like in the ones with private bath? The room was large enough, but aside for a sink, there was NOTHING there. Not a chair, not a desk, nothing. If you're paying for a private room you at least expect a small desk and chair. 6. The noise leve is ridiculous. If you're on the Mason st. side, forget about sleeping as it will never happen. Noise 24/7. I happened to be on the inside of the hostel, not facing the street, with a window that faced another wall, so I wasn't bothered by street noise, but this place is so loud and badly insulated that it feels as though you're trying to sleep out in the middle of the street. You will hear ANYONE who walks by or speaks even at a very low volume outside your room. You will hear this the entire time you are trying to sleep as people arrive and leave at all hours. You will simply not sleep. 7. The maid walks in on you trying to change BEFORE check out time. She knocks, ignores you when you say "wait a minute" walks right in, stares at you naked, and then leaves without apologizing. Mentioning this to the desk got me a "yes, they can enter to clean before check out time if they want to". Nice. 8. You have to show your pass (attached to your key) to staff every time you enter. It gives the whole place a bad feeling. HI Chicago was smack in the middle of an urban area as well, and they didn't have that kind of attitude. Instead, they had card-controlled doors. It's much less offensive. 9. There is nothing wrong with the staff per se (and they weren't any better in Chicago) but they're not friendly, or helpful. They're dry and simply do their jobs, nothing more. 10. The shared bathrooms are NASTY. The bathtub was filled with black pubic (and some head) hair. I would have never stepped foot in it. They need to clean those way more often. Overall, there are at least 10 older, mid-range hotels in the area that will get you a clean room with your own bath, desk, and chair for ~10 bucks more. Why stay here?

This place is a home away from home. wonderful feeling of community! clean and warm- welcoming. The staff are helpful and considerate! My special needs daughter was treated very well and I only ever want to stay at HI Hostels!!

This is my second time here and it's always a good time. Marc at the front desk is so welcoming and accommodating that he made me instantly feel comfortable. Whether traveling alone or with companions, this is a great inexpensive way to explore the most happening part if the city in a fun and secure way. Highly recommended.

This was a great place to stay in downtown San Francisco without breaking the bank. The location is close to the Powell St. Bart station (for those flying in to SFO), near Union Square, a short walk from Chinatown, and among lots of shopping. The inside of the hostel isn't much, but the staff is very friendly and the place has everything you need for a comfortable stay. We stayed in a private room that had a bunk bed, a sink, and a table & chairs. They provide sheets, towels, and a pillow - you just have to make the bed and return them at checkout. The toilet and shower were just down the hall and were decently clean. Breakfast is included - but don't get too excited. It consists of a bagel & a glass of OJ/coffee (which worked for me but left my friend hungry within 30 minutes of eating). The atmosphere was typical of any hostel - lots of travelers who are all very friendly and great to strike up a conversation with. There is free WiFi in the building (which helps when you're traveling and looking up things to see on Yelp!) though the signal wasn't strong enough to get it in our room (it did work fine in the lounge). The cost runs about $30 per person/night and you can make reservations online or over the phone. Overall, this was a great place to stay in SF and I would recommend it to anyone traveling on a budget.

Love this hostel. Do not love the naked Stay Puft Marshmallow man in the next building (just look for the binoculars on the windowsill). No woman/man should accept a naked guy jacking off while oggling them as just being part of the "San Francisco experience". Keep your curtains closed here and at any location where you don't want to be the star attraction of some freak show's free show. Again, I love this hostel. It's clean, close to Union Square, the staff is friendly and breakfast includes a bounty of items that meet their loving ends in a toaster- how Nature intended food to be cooked. Sigh, why can't they make Tasers with dick-seeking projectiles for just such an occasion? Now that would be a teaching moment!

I spent a great weekend in San Francisco here while attending a convention. Most of the attendees booked months ahead to stay in hotels like the Hilton, but I booked my bed relatively close to the convention weekend. It was the only place in the area with availability, and as a perk, I saved money while still being in the same area as all the people in hotels! I booked a bed in a shared room, and it was cozy, small like you expect a hostel to be, but not cramped. Breakfast was also included, and I enjoyed fruit and bagels. The whole place has a fun, friendly vibe and now I'm thinking about planning more trips to their other hostels.

Seriously one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in (and I've stayed in many). Great location (near BART, Muni, Union Square, a bajillion shops and restaurants), great price considering the location and how high SF lodging prices are, comfy rooms, clean bathrooms (and a good amount of them, plus I loved the sink toilets!), decent breakfast, free coffee/tea all day, lots of activities during the week, cool tv/movie room, really kind employees and fellow travelers. I assume the people who give a place like this negative reviews are the kind who don't normally stay in hostels, hence a previous reviewer's confusion that it's not a motel or hotel (duh, it's a hostel, that it's in the title!) and that it's in a busy location. If you want quiet while you're in SF, you might have chosen the wrong city to travel to, not the wrong hostel.

I stay here almost every time I go home to San Francisco (2-3 times a year for the past 3 and a half years since I found this place). It's close to everything, easy to travel to and from, and offers a safe, comfortable place to rest my head during my travels. Note: If you make reservations online, call the hostel to confirm. I once used an aggregator and my reservation was in the system but my payment was not. I usually just call and do it over the phone. The staff are always nice if sometimes a bit slow (as in 'delayed,' not as 'in the head') and the place is always spic-and-span. The lounge can be a quiet respite from the world outside or it can be a bit rowdy as new friends are made and people ramp up for (or down from) their activities in the City. I have seen it on both sides of the spectrum and all stages in between. It can be quite loud; it's on the edge of the Tenderloin near Union Square and an Irish pub can be found across the street. To expect Four Seasons-quiet in this area, in an old (OLD; the elevator is safe, yes, but a bit rickety and a reminder that the hotel has seen its share of history) hotel... sorry, that's just silly. Even considering hostel-mates being considerate as they come in and out of rooms at all hours, the City itself adds the background noise you would expect. Can it be annoying? Sure. Is it normal and part of the environment? Absolutely. They offer ear plugs at the front desk for a reason. There are always some sort of social events planned and the folks who work and stay there always seem ready to lend a hand to help you find something, share a cool spot found on their adventures, or share a chat. I have made many friends here from all over the world. The kitchen is convenient and large. The included breakfast is a great snack, but don't expect someone in there cooking pancakes and bacon. Cereals, breads, fruit and juice is usually the go-to spread and it's a nice offering... if a bit bland. That said, it's nothing more and less than should be expected. It's a backpacker hostel, not the Fairmont. The beds and sheets are clean, but the mattresses and blankets were a bit musty last time I was there. The public spaces and bathrooms are always clean and I have never had a problem with hot water. Security and storage are great. I bring people here when they travel with me (some of them hostel virgins!) and I will be going back, making new friends, and enjoying my home city from the comfort of "my" hostel.

I've stayed in lots of hostels so I know what I'm getting into... So I was totally surprised by how clean and well-run this one was! We stayed here for New Years because it was the only room left in the 3 hostels we checked out in SF... Ended up being a private room w/a private bath and it was awesome! Super spacious (for a hostel), comfy beds (for a hostel), fun colors in our room, funny little signs posted around the joint, can't beat the location, super friendly/accommodating staff, I mean I've stayed in some pretty sh*tty places... So I can't say enough about this place. Didn't try the breakfast. We were never awake. Only possible complaint might be the noise outside but you're in SF... there's earplugs at the counter--use them.