HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel

We loved our stay at the hostel. Nice folks, decent facility, and a truly world-class location. Especially great location for using the city's excellent transit system. That said, it's really important to understand that a hostel experience is not the same as a hotel experience. People who come expecting a standard hotel experience can be disappointed. Hostels are a bit more of a do-it-yourself thing, as they should be. I've stayed in many over the years, in the U.S., Europe and Australia and this is one of my favorites.

Located within a national park and historic area. It sits above the warehouses at Fort Mason. It is a great location, but requires a Bart, bus, and small walk if taking public transit. It does have free parking which is awesome if you are driving. If you love mature, this is your spot.

This is a very chilled place, great staff & a fantastic view of Alcatraz Island & the Golden Gate Bridge from the dining room. There's very high ceilings, it's a former army base at Fort Mason & has great views across the bay.

Room was quite muggy and hot. I hated the bathroom situation, the bathrooms were completely small and felt like a public bathroom. Showers felt not very private - they are private but I would’ve preferred a door or something that I can lock whilst showering. Roommates okay, bedding okay. Location is dodgy to walk to from Fisherman’s Wharf at night/in the dark - felt very unsafe walking around 8pm when it was dark. Watch out for coyotes too. It’s a great location in the morning to walk around and get to other touristy places. I personally would recommend staying at this hostel for a night then heading to another hostel - I had a much better experience at the green tortoise hostel (see my review on that by checking my profile - not paid). Overall I was satisfied with my stay, I knew what I was expecting but there’s definitely room for improvement considering that the other hostel I stayed at was cheaper and better. It’s nice to provide a free breakfast and kitchen area. I didn’t like how some of the other hostel guests decide to get changed in the room - it makes me uncomfortable considering it was with no warning and they didn’t check to make sure no one else is awake/around. Not really a great start to the day to see a random woman changing and definitely not socially acceptable to do so either. The hostel is not bad but it’s not good either. I treated it as merely a place to sleep on a budget. No bed bugs which was great.

Be warned - If you (like me) have spent time in hostels in other parts of the world, the USA experience is a bit different. I am not squeamish about hostels and honestly, I’m not trying to rag on the place. They have a good location, in my experience the staff are really trying, and the amenities are serviceable. But this was not pleasant. I lasted a night before I got a hotel and checked out early, losing two nights accom with glee. First off, it smelt absolutely rank. Like a mix of boiled cabbage and stale sweat. This was enough to get my hackles up immediately. Second, the parking is about 300m away in another area, with little lighting. It felt quite sketchy at times walking up to the main building, especially at night with your possessions. I think the blurb about the hostel needing proof of international travel is fiction. Plenty of people ‘between homes’ at this hostel, and honestly it felt more like I was in a men’s refuge than a fun place for travellers to meet. The hostel isn’t so much a place for young people or solo travellers to meet, but used as accom by a very wide range of people who can’t afford anything else. This environment makes for fun times when you’re engaging in a communal experience with peers, and very strange times when you’re sharing a room with 50+ year old men who certainly seem to have ‘made the room their own’ during an extended stay. I say this to try and help you avoid the same experience I did. USA hostels are not the same as other parts of the world. Do not come here expecting a social or fun environment. It felt like a prison, and genuinely looking at the photos again made me feel queasy. I’ll never forget the smell.

Ask to stay in building 241 it's separate from the main building and has a mini kitchen so you can get food at safeway down the hill and store it. I've been coming here for years. Sage checked me in and was awesome and very nice. If you like views of the bay you won't be disappointed. I came here for fleet week and the view up on the hill to see the Blue Angels fly was fantastic. I highly recommend this place!

I know it’s hard to expect a lot from sub-$50 accommodation, but still.. So, I’ve stayed in both HI hostels in SF in Downtown and Marina last year and this year, and the direction they’re going is frightening tbh. In Marina I was told by the “housekeeping” that I need to get a private room to avoid random room checks (how many work hours you spend on “securing the pillows” in the dorm?) Then, the same “housekeeping” would open the door wide open while I am standing in the towel, and apparently I am not entitled to privacy, since it’s “shared accommodation” and I have to change in the “toilets” - that’s the exact words of the “manager”, that seems to have escaped the gulag recently and brought the corresponding values to the table (how’s that from the LEGAL perspective? Check California Civil Code, maybe?) And the fact that I came to the reception angry and “with an attitude” apparently voids my right to complain and gives the right to the reception person to directly confront me (how’s that from the service perspective?). I can have whatever attitude I want, and if you’re getting into my private space, what kind of attitude are you expecting? They would also lecture me on how I should “behave” in this respectable establishment.Since when does staff gets to dictate how a guest should feel? I’ll partly omit the other stuff, like why do bathrooms that are closed for “cleaning” are closed for HOURS? Overall, staff (not all of them) just doesn’t give a damn neither about their work performance or your stay.

Pros: - Location is great - On the cheaper side of hostels in SF - Generally Quiet Cons: - A large # of people here are not travelers and "between homes" - Paid parking - Feels cold. I just felt "off" walking in. It felt more like a jail and didn't have much of a "homey" feeling. Overall it served its purpose as a cheap quiet place to stay in SF. although they did have signs of activities I didn't see or participate in any.

Great price, and free parking, breakfast, and wifi! Clean and cozy. I was attending a 2-day event at Fort Mason and it was an absolutely perfect choice. It's a 7-minute walk. I got a private room with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. A shared bathroom was down the hall. For free breakfast they offer bread, bagels, peanut butter & jelly, and oatmeal. Coffee & tea too. Most of the staff were pleasant lol. I'm a solo traveler over 60 and I saw travelers of all ages. Don't sleep on this deal.

I prefer staying in hostels over hotels any day of the week. They offer such a unique experience to my stay that makes me feel like I am a local instead of a tourist. This hostel is located at the historic fort Mason, it was a military fort back in the day and it was even a temporary hospital/refugee camp during the SF fire. I was traveling by myself and decided to stay in the biggest room they had wich held like maybe 30 people. Yeah that's crazy to share a room with that many people but I figure it would not be full haha I was wrong. I got there and the room was packed with what seemed like a group from Denmark of Sweden, there were maybe in their 20's age-wise and they took what seemed like the whole room. I got a bottom bunk bed on the corner of the room near a window (I was lucky I did not get to be in the middle of all that). There was no ac or fans so the window was open and I made myself at home and went to sleep. I must have been so tired that I did not hear the big group of people get up and leave. I woke up to a nearly empty room, at the end of the day when I cam back there was maybe 7 other people in the room with me. We were all spread out and the room was so quiet and peaceful compared to the night before. It was a military barack so I knew there was a chance of sharing a room with that many people. None of them spoke to me but that's fine. The building I was in was separate from the main building but it did have 3 showers/bathrooms with plenty of space to get clean. The building also had a small living area with a full kitchen to make meals in. There were also lockers available just bring your lock. Breakfast was in the main building downstairs and it has plenty of seating, there is also an outside patio with seating. I decided to eat outside and with the sun rising to early and being next to the water I got to see and experience the famous SF fog. I am not kidding when I saw I could see Alcatraz island from my table during my meals here. They also have a movie room with theatre seats and a huge TV you can watch anything on. In the upstairs they have a beautiful and cozy living area with lots of books and games. I really enjoyed my time here and would love to stay here again. With everything so close I would consider this the perfect location. One downside to staying here is climbing all the way to the top of the hill after a long day of walking. There is parking available if you are driving but that's about the closes you get to not walking up here. I also made the mistake of staying out past sunset and I had to walk through the park at night and there were no lights to illuminate my path and I felt a little unsafe. On another night I went back up the backway and once again there was a lack of street lamps to show the path. Thankfully I saw 2 other girls walking the trail at night and asked if they were going to the hostel, they said yes and asked if I could walk with them together for safety, they said yes, I am so thankful for that. It was such a great feeling waking up in the morning and feeling that breeze from the bay. The smell of the trees and the sounds of the boats making the waves crash against the clifts is an experience I hope to enjoy again.

The thing that I like most was, I had a few of the bay on my window off Street parking is free and appeared safe. I was literally hundreds of feet away from the bay and could watch the Fleet show from the patio.

I'm staying in a room with another woman who snores so loudly that ear plugs can't mask it. It's woken me up several times. I came to the front desk at 6am to rest for 57 minutes and find a place to continue resting before my alarm goes off. The front desk attendant could not only care less that I needed to continue resting but suggested I pay for another night entirely if I were to use another room for an hour and had absolutely no compassion or empathy for what I was going through. It's disturbing to be woken up twice by another persons snoring when you're exhausted. And then! To ask for some assistance and be met with attitude is just upsetting. Why not be cool and just let me rest somewhere if there's an open space? I've already paid and I would be checking out shortly after. That guy at the front desk is obviously a narcissist and shouldn't be working with people.

Have stayed here a couple of times. Beautiful location and comfortable beds. Walked to the food trucks on Friday night and enjoyed live music.

Room number 23 has windows that don't work and we had to prop up the windows with recycling and garbage cans also the windows are very rusty and gross. It smells so bad literally you have to open the windows when you come in and if you don't it will smell very bad for the rest of your stay. The staff are very nice and helpful but they make you have you child's name and birth date witch i don't understand because you should only need the person who is paying for it and other adults but why your child's. One good part about it is that your right next to the water witch is nice 3 stars

Awesome hostel, great amenities and vibes. Not stressful or crowded. Free parking. Nuff said.

This was such a fun place to stay!! Its located in the beautiful NPS area of Fort Mason, and offers excellent views of the bay, Alcatraz, Golden Gate, and so much more. A lot of things are easily accessible from the hostels location including fisherman's wharf, ferry, cable car stops, and transit stops to anywhere else you'd like to go. The staff that we interacted with did seem a little distant, but generally were well informed and helpful. There are many postings around the front desk with events to attend around the hostel, as well as plenty to do on your own at the hostel (pool table, movie theatre, small library, historic reading about fort mason). The rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and common areas were really clean and tidy and the space really makes you want to connect with fellow travelers. We stayed in both a private room and 4 girl only dorm. The private room wasn't well ventilated, but it is an old (historic!!) building so it wasn't much of a surprise. Breakfast was provided and was delicious! Local coffee, fresh fruit, toast with jam or butter, cereal, etc. Would highly recommend hanging out in the fort mason area for a bit if you have a spare hour. NPS keeps the area really nice. We particularly enjoyed walking around seeing the canons and visiting the community garden.

Overall I like this hostel. I have stayed there twice and were satisfied both times. I'm not a kitchen user (I can't stand the smell of peanut butter and it seems all people who stay in hostels eat nothing but peanut butter), so I can't rate it. The bathrooms were adequate and clean (for a hostel) and the staff were friendly. Make sure to bring at least a 15 foot extension cord for your electronics. Both my rooms only had one outlet.

San Francisco is well known for their exorbitant prices on hotel accommodations. Rather than overpaying for a hotel room on a weekend trip to SF, I decided to stay a night at a hostel. Decided on this hotel located at Fort Mason since it had good reviews and was away from the hubbub. The location is a little difficult to find. If you are coming here by public transportation, I would take a bus and get off near Van Ness & Bay rather than one that takes you to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. It is a longer walk from there. The hostel is located in an area formerly part of an Army complex so the interiors of the hostel have a very utilitarian feel to them. There is a really nice open park called Great Meadow Park just a short walk from here. The location is a bit hidden so you will need to walk or drive wherever you need to go from here. There is however a decent farmers market on Sunday mornings at Fort Mason that is worth checking out. As for the accommodations, there are a number of options available including dorms of many sizes and private rooms. I had booked a bed in one of the smaller dorm rooms and had requested a single bed in the dorm. However I was instead giving the top bed of a bunk room which I was not happy about. The dorm room had some storage lockers available, though they can only fit items like a backpack, but not a suitcase. Make sure to bring a lock if you do. As for the dorm bathrooms, they were a bit old and didn't feel very private. On the bright side, the hostel offers a free breakfast albeit basic with offerings like a bagel and coffee. My stay here ended up being not very good and I didn't get any sleep. The room was very warm, so the window was left open a bit. But a mosquito was buzzing around me while I tried to sleep and I noticed a bite near my ear. Also I heard what sounded like some arguing early in the morning outside that sounded like a guest being kicked out of the hostel. Suffice to say it was a rough night. Overall, I didn't enjoy my stay here. Though I liked the location since it is away from the main part of SF, the accommodations were uncomfortable and not worth staying at for more than a couple days if you can help it.

everything was expect one thing if there are 4-6 people sharing room there have to be enough arrangements for phone charging or other electricity charging equipments for everyone. please fix that. i been to the other location of this hostel they are always the best.

I stayed at this Hi Hostel from 3/10/17-3/12/17. While I was here I have one of the best times I have ever had in California. It is located on a former military installation that at one time General Douglas MacArthur and his dad General Arthur MacArthur Jr. both were the Commanding General. I could see both the Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz prison from my room. It is only about two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39. There's a lot to do that is really close and convenient. They have a really big cozy sitting area with a nice little fire-pit of sorts I don't know how to actually describe it other than a fire pit that you can sit around and talk to people that you meet. Every morning at 7 AM they set up a free breakfast for all the guest of the hostels and there is a nice selection of bagels, oatmeal, fruit and orange juice and coffee. You are also able to store food in the freezer and fridge and able to use some really professional cookware. Also if you need to do laundry it is only $1usd to wash and $1 usd to dry. They also have an on-site café where you can buy salad or sandwich or get something to drink be it alcoholic or nonalcoholic. They also have a blazing fast Wi-Fi that is free. Also your room can only be accessed with the key card which is good for security and if you have a bike or rent a bike in town they have a secure bike room and I secure luggage storage room. I highly recommend anyone planning to visit San Francisco in the near future to really consider staying here as it is really cheap but it's still extremely nice and all the staff are super friendly.

My girlfriend, Dani Campos from Brazil saw this hostel online, but was unfamiliar and unsure if the Ft. Mason Hostel was a nice place to stay. Dani made the grave mistake booking herself online while in Brazil at the Mason Street Hostel. Dani was not happy at the Mason Street Hostel and for good reasons-Tenderloin District! O=:-O Oy-Evay! Dani had no choice but to stay at the Mason Street Hostel until I returned from my camping trip from Millerton Lake. I picked Dani up upon my return to NorCal and showed her the Ft. Mason Hostel. Dani said she will stay here with her sister next time I am not in town. Anyway, here's the complete list of NorCal Hostels should you find yourself with unexpected guests descending upon your humble abode because you have no room for your guest! American Youth and San Francisco International Hostels Ft. Mason Bldg., #204 By Fisherman's Wharf & North Beach Bay @ Franklin San Francisco, CA 94123 This is the NICEST, Cleanest Hostel! 415.771.7277 Ample car parking at this hostel! Rate: $19/night/person Van Ness Bus Transfer Point around Maximum 14 nights/month corner from Ft. Mason/North Beach Call for vacancies Majestic view of Golden Gate Bridge! Rodeo Beach Hostel in Marin County-Ask Ft. Mason Hostel for phone number! Ample parking to park your rental car and please bring your 7 mm wetsuit , surfboard, & 1 week supply of food/beer (no grocerey stores for miles-remote location), too. Beautiful Marin Headlands & Pt. Bonita Lighthouse-scenic place to mountain bike riding, hiking, jogging, sight-seeing, and just plain chill out at the beach. Kinda windy, so please wear layered clothing, bring a beach blanket and beach chair. Chill. Montara Beach Hostel-PCH 1 Past Pacifica & Devils Slide-Ask Ft. Mason Hostel for phone number! Ample parking to park your rental car and please bring your 7 mm wetsuit and surfboard, too=Mavericks if you dare surf these monster waves. Lighthouse Hostel & PCH 1-Ask Ft. Mason Hostel for phone number! Ample parking to park your rental car and please bring your 7 mm wetsuit, surfboard, & 1 week supply of food/beer (no grocerey stores for miles-remote location), too. Bring your binoculars to view Ano Nuevo Seals and Walruses. The Hostels listed below are located in sketchy areas of San Francisco, so be careful walking these street locations at night: 312 Mason St. O'Farrell/Geary San Francisco, CA 94102 BEWARE-TENDERLOIN DISTRICT! 415.771.7277 Rate: $21/night per nonmember; $18/night/member; $25 membership/year Maximum 14 nights/month Bay Area residents not allowed to stay Call for vacancies China Town YMCA 855 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 94108 415.576.9622 415.782.2260 FAX Rates: $31/night (small single), $33/night (large single), $41/night (double), $5 refundable key deposit Men only Call for vacancies YMCA Hotel 220 Golden Gate Ave. between Leavenworth & Hyde San Francisco, CA 94102 415.885.0460 SFAI Rate: $650/28 days (w/SFAI enrollment/registration data) Co-ed Call for vacancies Green Tortoise Guest House 494 Broadway @ Kearny San Francisco, CA 94133 415.834.1000 www.greentortoise.com Rates: $19/night for a dorm bed w/free breakfast; $49/night for a private room w/free breakfast; $20 key deposit Maximum 21 night/month Call for vacancies The Globe 10 Hallam Folsom St. between 7th and 8th St. San Francisco, CA 94103 415.431.0540 Rates: $16/night for a dorm room; $46/night for a single room 2 months stay with option to extend Call for vacancies International Student Center 1188 Folsom St. Between 7th and 8th STRICT STREET PARKING-TICKETS! San Francisco, CA 94103 415.487.1463 Rate: $13/nightSpace available but they usually sell out by noon, daily Call for vacancies

I was a bit nervous about staying in a hostel since I hadn't done so since my teens, and I had vague memories of lots of noise and little sleep. But when I had to be in San Fran for a 3-day training, this place had by far the best rates. I also heard great things about the hostel from the training organizer (he runs trainings at Fort Mason several times per year), so I thought I'd give it a try. I booked a private room and it ended up running a bit over $400 for 3 nights, which was a steal for the area. And I had a fantastic experience! My room had views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge! The hostel itself was clean and welcoming, and the staff were always very professional and friendly. I had several meals at Cafe Franco, which was just a few steps away from my room (and has a fantastic quiche!). The breakfast is basic (yogurt, granola, oatmeal, coffee), but did the job. My only complaint was that my room had a slight odor to it - like someone had smoked in it at some point and the smell had never gone away. But it was minor. I did have a weekday stay in early December, so it was definitely the off-season, which probably accounted for the quiet. The hubbub was picking up when I got my bags and left on Friday evening. At any rate, I would gladly stay there again. (Provided I can secure a single room!)

Amazing place to stay! Very spacious, tons of amenities, and energetic staff. I have stayed at hostels all over the country, and this is definitely in the top for location. Definitely worth the money, and I will be returning in the future.

My friends and I stayed here for the Outside Lands Music Festival. Being students and constantly trying to save money can be limiting, but our love for music didn't stop us from balling on a budget! This was our first hosteling experience and it couldn't have gone smoother. Everyone working was so friendly and generous, they answered any question we had and helped us with no hesitation. This is definitely an experience where you have to be comfortable with living a life of essentials only. This is not for people who need a sense of privacy, or luxury. BUT, this is a great was to meet new people, become environmentally conscious, and save money! I will be coming back if I ever need to spend the night in a city again.

I happened to stop by here during a NorCal trip with 16 high school youth. I have stayed at other HI Hostels before for work purposes, so I know how it works. We were lucky to book the plant (20 bunk beds, three restroom and a small kitchen) for a reasonable price. The kids really enjoyed staying there, but we were a bit disappointed when we tried going to the game room. There is only one pool table, no board games and the TV room was not working. This hostel is ideal for individual travelers, but not for big groups. Lastly, the continental bfast was extremely scarce compared to our previous stay at the HI Hostel in San Diego. P.S.: Staff were unapproachable and seemed a bit lost when I first checked my group in.

Stay here for the views and location! However, Need a decent, clean, place to sleep? Staying in SF where there is no good parking or don't have/need a car for this trip? Stay at this hostel located at Fort Mason... My wife and I stayed in a private room. Decent size for the two of us and clean. We had our own semi-private kitchen, although we ate in the main kitchen bc breakfast was free. We also had a semi-private bathroom and shower. Only one other room had access to it. Very walkable - about 10-15 minutes from everywhere you want to be when visiting SF. If it's too far, all public transit is a short walk away as well.

Great hostel. Spent a week here, and liked almost every part of the experience except the beds. I just don't think they are that comfortable, and the upper bunks are a bit tricky to get into (the mattress is about six inches lower than the top rail). Also, the air circulation varies wildly, so even though my room overlooked the bay, we had poor air ventilation for some reason. The common areas are great and big props for the ADA wing, which was really convenient for my visually impaired friend. All in all, a great asset to the HI family. Oh, and while Safeway is nearby, it's not the easiest walk at night because the path is not lit at all. May the force be with you.

Even though it smelled like feet and it was hard to sleep due to the loud snoring, I'd stay at this hostel again! For $29.99 a night you can stay at the Hostelling International Hostel at Fishermans Wharf. The $29.99 per person price tag includes a bed (they have bunk beds so you won't know who your bunk mate will be unless you book with a friend), shared bathrooms with showers, lockers for your belongings, free Internet use (they have computers), pool tables, a few lounge areas and even free breakfast, which includes bagels, frozen waffles, fruit, orange juice and coffee. They also have a menu you can order from if you don't like the free offerings. They also offer private rooms for two peeps that start at $85 a night. My favorite thing about this Hostel is it's location. It's located inside Fort Mason and is walking distance to many of the tourist attractions like Fishermans Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghirardelli Square and the Marina district, which has a vibrant nightlife scene. My buddy and I recently stayed here because we arrived in SF a day before we were scheduled to and needed a cheap place to crash for a night. Like I stated above, besides the room smelling like feet and all the dudes snoring I can't say there was anything I disliked about this hostel. And if you're wondering, yes, its safe. Two bunks down from us were two very attractive young girls (couldn't be older than 24) who were sleeping in a room full of dudes who ages ranged from young to really old. And no, they weren't there with any of the men (my buddy asked them). I'd totally stay at this hostel again, especially if it's just me and my buddy. However, for privacy reasons and comfort reason if I visited the city with my wife and daughter, I'd probably choose a hotel over this hostel.

First off thanks, Josh S., for suggesting Cafe GoLo as a walking distance eating option. Great advice! This was a nice place to stay on a short jaunt up to the Bay Area. Indeed, walking distance to Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli, and all sorts of other places. We got a private room, which was pretty much just big enough to fit the bunk bed, dresser and a locker for keeping things (see photo to illustrate its size: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hostelling-international-fishermans-wharf-san-francisco-2#glndoxf-FZ_nLaanQ_2L_A). Didn't matter how big the room was. We only needed it for sleeping and holding our things while we were away, anyhow. I don't know what room others might have stayed in where they could clearly see both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, since there are so many trees between the hostel and the bay. Our room had an obstructed view of water. Still, it's just a place for keeping our junk, so I wasn't bummed about that either. My absolute favorite thing about this place is getting up in the morning, walking out to the road along the bay and watching the fog roll over the Golden Gate Bridge, and breathing in the cold air while listening to the choppy water hit the rocks below. The price to stay at this hostel is well worth it getting to wake up and have this experience right outside the door. On a clear day, standing on that road, you can see the Palace of Fine Arts' dome among the houses. It's almost surreal in some way. The Exploratorium set up a few neat things along the road near the hostel. I think most people's favorite is the House of Days, down the hill, which takes pictures of the sky every day.

We got a private room in the hostel. First we booked a hotel in the city centre and after one night we diceded to go to this hostel. Best dicision we could have made. Super stay for a good price with good service and nice location! We booked a private room but as well the dorms seems to be fine. We loved the beatifull sunset with the gg bridge right on the back of this hostel. We were really happy we could stay here.

I've stayed in many hostels and this one ranks amongst the top. Really nice property, helpful and friendly staff, gorgeous green spaces ala Fort Mason, close-ish to In-n-Out (ok, maybe a good 10 minute walk) but most importantly, CLEAN. A really good mix of travellers here keeps it from being a frathouse, like some hostels tend to be. I mean, if that's your thing, it's all good whatever. Obviously, the quality of your roommates will determine your experience but you can't really hold the hostel responsible for people raised by animals. Shoutout to the 50-something year old Japanese man who seemed to try to make the most noise during quiet hours by waking up at 5am, unpacking and repacking his shit everyday, leaving his phone alarm to ring for about 30 minutes while he took an early morning dump and slamming the door every time. Tldr; this hostel is great. God help you if you have an old Japanese man as your roommate.

I've stayed at Fort Mason multiple times and have always had great experiences. It's certainly not a hotel if that's what you're after, but it has a lot of amenities in hostel terms. The grounds are beautiful with the iconic Golden Gate view, the beds and dorms are clean and functional enough, WiFi and parking (usually such a bitch in SF) are free, and the bagel & juice breakfast at Cafe Franco overlooking the waterfront is such a nice way to start the day. Plus, getting anywhere in the city from here is simple - just a quick walk, trolley or bus ride will get you where you need to go, and if you prefer more guidance, there's usually a table with someone equipped with detailed directions during the day. I've met and had some adventures with many interesting people from around the country and around the world, and have witnessed the cooking of some pretty elaborate meals in the big communal kitchen. The shared spaces are comfortable and safe at all hours and the folks working behind the counter are always helpful, willing to give suggestions on what's going on, and they have great taste in music to boot!

Highly Recommend - Great Hostel & Location. Bay Views, park-like setting at Fort Mason. Very clean, beyond reasonably priced, great Bay Views, free parking!!, wifi, breakfast, plus 2 huge kitchens downstairs for guests to use with lots of refrigerator & dry goods storage space. Very safe location, each dorm room has electronic door lock, only those with key can enter. Storage space under bunkbeds, bring a lock, comfortable bed, clean bed linens & towels provided. Large communal bathrooms / showers, very clean, (seperate male / female). Small theater area, free movie & pizza night. So many pluses+++

We brought 12 Girl Scout for a trip to San Francisco and stayed here. The price and location was great! Breakfast is included. It was a short walk to the piers, where we explored both the Aquarium and the Exploratorium as well as souvenir shopped. The bus stop was close by so we could take the bus to the Golden Gate bridge and to the Academy of Science. We were able to get 2 rooms to ourselves and the girls (in pairs) could move freely about relatively safely. The hostel workers were accommodating to everyone's needs and questions for directions and recommendations. The parents and I can't rave enough about what a great location to stay if you are price-conscious.

Hostel was good, besides the fact I stayed 4 nights and my bed changed every night. But I wasn't notified- staff just came and moved your stuff and you had to then find it! Also a room if I think 16 bunks but only 4 power outlets in the whole room!

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. Hostels offer shared accommodations for independent travelers in dormitory rooms with shared facilities. And of course, private rooms are available as well, though the Fisherman's Wharf location has no private baths. Tucked in the far back end of Fort Mason, this hostel is perched on a hillside overlooking the bay with views of Alcatraz and The Golden Gate Bridge. It's much more quite and remote than the other city locations which is one of the main draws. Your accommodations here include continental breakfast, wifi, and parking! Yeah, parking in San Francisco. HI-Fisherman's Wharf also has a foosball table, pool table and juke box downstairs adjacent to the kitchen. This location is especially good for groups and folks who appreciate a more natural and mellow environment.

The room was so cold that I couldn't get any sleep. They don't provide blankets so I had to sleep with my jacket and socks on. Restrooms are very old, the toilet wasn't working. They offer a very poor breakfast. I don't think I will be back here any time soon. Bad experience. I don't understand the good reviews that people is giving to this place.

We had a blast at your hostel. My son made some new friends from overseas. He loved hearing the languages different travelers were speaking. He realized that not everyone speaks the same language in this creative universe of ours. This was a real eye opener for him to listen to the world around him in your lounge. The weather in San Francisco is outstanding, so refreshing, we traveled in from Las Vegas, Nevada, and loved the cool breezes at breakfast as we ate with all the visitors and made new friends. Loved your maps of the globe surrounding your walls as we entered the complex. Thank you for being so kind.

Posting for my brother who doesn't have a yelp account. "Our stay at the fort mason hostelling international was fabulous , thank you so much Danielle we had a great time, and the location is a memorable experience of a lifetime I'll truly cherish. So thank you with best regards Leo and Jaclyn Barabad"

On September 24, as part of National Park appreciation day, I joined a small-group bike ride from HI Hostel Fisherman's Wharf (located in Fort Mason Center) to HI Marin Headlands. Both facilities are in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGRNA), and the ride between - across the Golden Gate Bridge - covers some of the most beautiful terrain in America. The Fisherman's Wharf Hostel was a great place from which to launch. We started with breakfast at Café Franco - inside the hostel - before getting on our bikes. Good food. Low prices. A view of the Bay. What more could you want in the heart of San Francisco? While checking my backpack before the ride, I realized that I had forgotten to pack some important items. I went to the Hostel staff, and without getting into unnecessary details, they helped me acquire the items that I needed and checked ahead with their colleagues in Marin to make sure that I would be comfortable there per plan. Overall, it was fantastic service! I cannot say enough good things about the warm and helpful hostel staff. This is not a review of the ride but I will say that I learned some good paths across San Francisco, especially the marked route known as "the Wiggle" which is a twisting path that leads bicyclists from upper Market St. to the Golden Gate Park Panhandle while avoiding car traffic and steep hills. The Wiggle just happens to pass through some of the prettiest parts of San Francisco's famous Noe Valley neighborhood. Our route was: Fort Mason - Polk St - Market St - the Wiggle - the Pan-Handle - Golden Gate Park - Land's End - Seacliff neighborhood- Presidio - Golden Gate Bridge - climb to Battery MacArthur overlook - descent to Point Bonita - Hi Hostel Marin Headlands. About 20 miles one-way, and as I said before some of the finest urban and rural scenery and sometimes both all at once. I biked back the next day over the Golden Gate Bridge and then along the Bay via Crissy Field and Marina Green which is a much more direct route. What impressed me most about both hostels were the large public rooms and fantastic locations inside historic buildings. Hi Fisherman's Wharf had a Café, a computer lounge, a small movie theater, large kitchen & dining area, and several comfortable, public lounging areas. The Hostel Marin Headlands was much the same but on a smaller scale (no Café, no theater) but beautifully located, and with a large and warm public lounging/reading/eating area. Both facilities were perfect for meeting fellow travelers and engaging in friendly conversation. Final note: although both hostels offer a limited number of private bedrooms, you should expect a hostel experience. Pillows, blankets, towels, and linens are provided but you make your own bed and do your own cooking. I slept in a shared dorm-style room with three other guests. The bed was very comfortable, and I slept well. Overall I greatly enjoyed the hostel experience: I met a broad range of people of all ages and nationalities. I did NOT meet anyone at either facility who did not appear to be a guest. I felt safe and welcome at all times. And the prices were certainly right! For travelers on a budget and anyone who wants to avoid a plastic hotel environment, I highly recommend the Hostel International Fort Mason and Marin Headlands facilities.

I stayed here over the Labor Day Weekend, had a blast. The parking was adequate, the facilities clean, views of the bay spectacular. The personnel are very helpful and accommodating, one lady even wanted to share her coffee with my Ceeester : ) who was visiting from out of town (caffeine withdrawals after hours). I particularly remember and appreciate Sunny and Sophia, these guys are the best. Sunny is kind, soft-spoken, knowledgeable and patient. Sophia was very helpful, full of energy, eager to help and share her knowledge about the hostel and just basically anything about SF. Sophia has a great sense of humor, adept, inestimable as she is beautiful. : ) Thank you for the wonderful stay. BTW before I forget, through no fault of the hostel you will be housed with wonderful people who love to slam doors (especially when they know you are tired walking all over SF and you are trying to sleep) and don't clean after themselves; overall it is still a good bargain. Family-friendly establishment.... check!!! Love it!!!

Got there early to make sure I got a bottom bunk but they were all full. I requested a coed dorm and they put me in an all male dorm with snoring guys and inconsiderate people who slam doors. Woke up in the morning to see the empty bottom bunk still there.

My boyfriend, buddy and I stayed at this hostel over Memorial Day weekend and were pleased with the location and cleanliness of the rooms, bathrooms and common areas. Prices are cheap, about $27-$29 per person per night, and the room we stayed in slept 10 people in 5 bunk beds. The hostel provides their own bedding and towels, though you can bring your own towels if you'd like. They don't permit personal bedding for hygienic reasons, and no food/drinks are allowed in the room; you can keep all of that (including alcohol) in the kitchen downstairs--just be sure to put your name and check out date on your property. Guests are given a card key to access their rooms. Lockers are provided underneath the bunk beds with two per bunk. Each locker is about half the length of the bed and is as deep as the width of the bed. Bring your own combination lock/padlock. Our room only had one outlet that barely worked. Luckily I didn't really need to charge my phone otherwise the only other option would be to bring my phone up to the front desk and have them charge it. The bathrooms are very clean and are like any gym bathroom with three toilet stalls and three showers (at least in the women's upstairs bathroom). I think the guys' bathroom had two toilets and two urinals according to my boyfriend. Oh, and be sure to bring flip flops. Seriously, there wasn't any hair on the drains and the pressure was pretty good with warm-hot water. Parking within the Fort Mason area is free and isn't a far walk at all. Just be sure to park in the designated lot/spaces and not in front of the other houses. Guests are also given free breakfast tickets for each guest and each day of their stay. Breakfast is served everyday until 11:30 at Café Franco and includes one bagel or two waffles, a piece of fruit, and a cup of tea, coffee or orange juice. Everyone cleans up after themselves and the place is big on composting and recycling, like all of San Francisco. Downstairs is the kitchen where you can play free games of pool, watch a movie in the small movie theatre or grab a drink from the vending machines. Upstairs is a lovely common area where you can read or relax by the fire. Did I mention the free wi-fi? Had I known that I would've brought along the iPad. You're a five minute walk downstairs to North Beach, about 10 minutes from Ghirardelli Square and maybe 15 minutes from the main areas and attractions of the wharf, including the restaurants, shopping areas, and the Bush Man. By the way, there's a cannon on the property, which is pretty awesome and is an excellent prop for taking inappropriate photos. We'll probably check out the hostel located in San Francisco proper, but I can definitely see us staying here again in the future.

My boyfriend and I has a rental car for a couple of days in San Fran and this place includes parking which is hard to come by. We stayed a total of five nights and were very satisfied with our stay. We were on our last leg of our road trip so it was nice to have something mellow and not like a party hostel. I noticed most guest were senior citizens and some families which is fine since we only spent time at the hostel at night an wanted quiet evenings to ourselves. Since the nightly rate is real cheap ( we booked the 22 person shared dorm room) it was a great deal and central enough we could catch the public transit to all the major attractions. It's in walking distance of fishermans wharf and Lombard street which has great little food places and wine bars. I did have a hard time sleeping the first couple nights with that many people coming in as out of the room at odd hours. I left the window open to air the place out because it started smelling like feet if it wasn't opened during the day. Our 'roommates' were all pretty considerate in keeping their area clean. Other than the loud snorer I felt comfortable. If you are a light sleeper I highly recommend getting a private room or if you have a large group it might be worth it. We dormed in room 1 and it was in the main building with the cafe, kitchen, laundry room, and movie theatre so it was all very convenient for us. Though it is older building the Facilties were clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. Just some tips for those staying awhile you can replace the bed sheets at anytime and sometimes blankets since the wash once a week. For girls - the rent out hair dryers and people donate hygienic stuff so u might want to ask if they have something you may need. It's little tips like that make this place easy to coupe with the heavy traffic. The people tend to travel in groups and keep to themselves. so it's not a "social" atmosphere but it works if you have a friend or group with you. Breakfast is ok but don't expect to live off one fruit and waffles/ bagels every day it gets old. Security is ok. You need a key card in the evenings to get into the hostel. And each room has it's own swipe card. There are lockers under your bunk bed and outside in the hallway you can use, don't forget to bring your own lock

MY INCREDIBLE STAY~CATION at THE FT. MASON HOSTEL In 2008 I had my first hostel experience at Pt. Reyes, it was my intro to hostel life as I was walking over the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, a journey of 42 days and at least 37 hostels of all sorts. My 2011 adventure in San Francisco was 14 nights at the Ft, Mason Hostel. It is situated in the only National Park in a Major City ~ MY HOMETOWN ~ SAN FRANCISCO BY THE BAY! It is a Hostel and I got what I wanted, a place to meet internationals who I could shre My City with. Yep, I slept in a Unisex dorm with snorers galore and I SLEPT and probably SNORED too! The dorm was crowded and could have had two or three fewer bunks, but i was safe and warm. I did get shuffled around as I had only 5 nights originally. I would book a 4 bunk, all female room the next time The staff works really hard and seldom get a chance to chit~chat as they are truly busy. In fact, one of the staff members, Constatina, said she regretted that she couldn't be that gracious, just too busy. Everyone was accommodating ~ they charged my phone at night, replaced my lock card when I misplaced it and did what they coukd do to make my stay pleasant. Fernando is full of knowledge for the club goers and will give you a long list and a map if you want to have a fun filled night. Constatina looks like she belongs on a fashion shot, nice to see her style as it is not "The Hostel Look"! There are new mattresses that are "Bed Bug Resistant".. I was devoured by THOSE LITTLE BASTARDS and had itchy welts for a week that were huge. The BBs must have nestled in the comforter. Take an antihistamine to stop the itching. I was introduced to them in Spain. The little buggers are vicious and everyone denies they exist. You'll love the location as it is nestled in an area overlooking the Bay with a small forest diffusing the view ~ what a view. You can also watch Sunrise and Sunset with the Golden Gate Bridge as the back drop. I never felt insecure walking from Van Ness and Bay back to the hostel, even late at nite. You will discover short cuts to once there. Public trans is great from there also. One bus goes directly to Golden Gatepark, another to the Golden Gate Bridge, also tons of buses at rthe corner of Bay and Van Ness. The Breakfast Bagels are from The House of Bagels in S.F., there are about 6 varieties ~ they are New York Belly Bombs and will sink to your belly whether slahtered with butter, jam or peanut butter. The coffee would never win any prizes for being muscular, it is weak and brown. You have to try the ho'made pastries. Larissa made a fabulous pineapple cake and I ate it TWICE....... I'd do it again. Ineed to go back for one of their oatmeal cookies. For a lovely smile and warm greeting, Adrian, is sure to please early in the morn. Check out Cafe Franco for cheap eats at night. Francesco is an interesting older dude who runs the show at night, they named the cafe after him. He is a living institution. I love to cook and I cooked a number of meals for my new friends. I did a Mexican nite, a Chinese ite and some good ol' "Merican stuff too. I shared MY FAVORITE CITY by taking someone out to see PICASSO at the de Young ~ it was Picasso's Private Collection that came from the Picasso Museum in Paris. Cocktails at The Top of The Mark ended a special day as we could see the Golden Gate Bridge, Grace Cathedral below us ~ how Magnificent, also Huntington Park across from Grace is a charming French style garden and mini playground where hounds of all sizes and srtripes gather to romp. I walked miles seeing San Francisco from many vantages and enjoyed it all..... Chinatown is an obstscle course, the old Chinese ladies all wear razor blades in their elbows so you get their attention when they want you out of the way, which is ALWAYS. I love The Mission but HATE, YES HATE, 16th and Mission as it is Derelict City and the sidewalks are a gum depository ~ shameful But, the sights, sounds and smells from bodegas will capture you. The hostel may not be The Ritz but it sure is fun and the people wh You'll be amazed at what at a broad spectrum of EVERYTHING can be had at the hostel. It is wonderful that older people stay there too. Plus you get some odd balls and curmudgeons. And some like me! The kitchen and dining room are a big plus. There is reefer food storage and dry goods too, all on the Honor System. Having a kitchen meant I could share my cukinary talents. there are plenty of pots and pans, plus lots of dishes and utensils. You can also get sloshed there at dinner as we did one night after a trip to Napa! I just may go back next year, I really enjoyed my stay!

Before I go into detail, I just want to thank whoever came up with the idea of 'Hostel' and having one in San Francisco for a poor person like me so we can still afford to travel to expensive cities like San Francisco. I'm still amazed by number of people don't know what hostel is. Also amazed by people thinking hostel only exists outside of United States. The movie 'Hostel' has definitely done more damage to US travellers than Slovakia (if you tell me Slovakia is a dangerous place without visited there, I will literally tackle you from behind, watch your back). My friend was bit skeptical about the idea of hosteling for the weekend. But the truth is, I can't afford to spend $119 +tax a night. That's just too much for me. $25 including breakfast, internet, and tax? I'm your business! We arrived to this hostel via BART train and SF bus. It took us long, but we managed to find it. Just follow the sign 'Hostel' when you get to Fort Mason. They also have free parking, so if you get a rental-car, you'll find this place much easier than us. First, the staff. They're nice and polite. I asked few questions about the area and they were helpful. They weren't overly nice or anything, but attentive and willing to help out. Probably solid B or B+. Second, room & bed. We stayed at co-ed 24beds room. Once you enter the room via access card, you'll see 12 bunk beds. Find your bed and settle in. They give you linen, sheets, and pillows. The beds are clean (cleaner than I expected) and room is in good condition. The only problem? amazing harmony of neighbors snoring at nights. OMG, I had the worst experience with these guys. It was almost like listening to snoring on Beat by Dr.Dre headset. Amazingly clean, crisp, and bold bass sound of snoring. One night, about 4-5 guys snored together and managed to kick 4 people out of their beds and sleep on common room's sofas because it was too loud. Unless you're deep sleeper, I mean DEEP sleeper, this can be a problem. B without harmony, C- w/ harmony Third, common room/kitchen. They were alright. Kitchen/cafe is always nice when you're lazy to go out for bites. The location of hostel makes bit tougher for people to go out and get foods because you'll have to walk good 6-7 blocks before reaching to Marina District or Fisherman's Wharf. I didn't try cafe but they looked alright. The hostel serve free breakfast in the mornings but they're minimal. A cup of coffee and waffees. That's it. If you're a breakfast must person like I am, I highly recommend heading to Marina District and try 'Cafe Golo' (I've written reviews on yelp too). They're about 5 blocks from hostel and offer excellent foods. C+ Lastly, the bathroom. It's almost equal to bathrooms you used from college dorm rooms. They have hot water, so that's plus, right? Bathroom is separated by boys and girls, so no worries there. B Overall, I had great experience. $25/night is an excellent value if you're visiting the city and can't afford to spend nights at hotels. Most residents were young people but there were few oldies too (grandpa oldies). Not sure what they're doing, but they don't bother people. The hostel has planned activities throughout week so you can check them out as well. They also arrange nearby attractions such as Napa Valley, Bike Rent, Yosemite. If you're backpacking through USA, this place could be great option for you for your SF stop.

this hostel is located on the top of Fort Mason, a massive looking green grassy hill. The view it provides to numerous scenery is quite pleasant. I can see the massive landscape of San Francisco along with sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. It also is separated away from the main city since it is on higher land so the area around it is quite quiet. In fact, too quiet sometimes especially at night and it feels deserted when you are outside. WHen I got dropped off the first night, it looked like a huge abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere but complete darkness. In the day, definitely feels like I am in a blissful nature surrounding. PROS -nice, beautiful location and friendly workers. girl at the desk let me use their luggage scale to weight myself in the lobby. definite plus in customer service! -nice and spacious main lounge with an endless supply of interesting people to make conversation with -FREE FILTERED HOT & COLD WATER! As I dislike California tap water (ahem...I mean swimming pool water) I was so happy to see numerous water filter stations with nice and fresh drinkable water -nice community style kitchen and complimentary breakfast they offer is simple and delightful. nothing to complain about here. offers fresh waffles being made by a cook right in the kitchen -nice getaway from the city yet still close and accessible with a quick walk or drive -rooms and bathrooms are clean despite sharing with the whole room CONS -I know this is a hostel but what I did not expect is that the main dormitory holds about 30-40 people! Most hostels have dormitories that hold 6-8 people max but when I walked in and saw 20+ bunk beds, I was shocked. Luckily, the quiet policy has everyone allowing each other to sleep in peace after dark. Not too big a deal since it is a hostel and not some 5 star hotel. -At night, the landscape can be somewhat hazardous if you are traveling by foot. From the main road in the city, you basically trek through what is essentially a freakin jungle to make it up to this place. In the daytime that is fine and dandy when you can see the ground and everything around you but at night, there are virtually zero lights on the pathway to the hostel. One could easily fall or get lost. Also, if someone were to kick someone's ass or rob somebody and get away with it, wouldn't be too hard here with the near pitch black darkness leading to the place. Although unlikely, it popped into my head. Maybe I am a bit paranoid but I was glad I had carried my tiny tactical flashlight emitting 160 lumens to light my path or blind a potential attacker. On foot from the main road to the hostel, it is about a 10-15 minute walk. I would stay here again if I were in SF.

Booked to stay a night at the Wharf hostel for one night while in SF and, OMG, horrid! What's up with these amazing 5-star yelp reviews? Way confused by these reviews; we must've pissed off the key-giver somehow to get the ROOM IN HELL that we got. Our room looked nothing like the pictures online. I didn't expect much, but I also didn't expect to get NO sleep in our room of filth. The beds were coffins, there was a funny smell emanating from the corner of the room, and I think we got put in to a basement somewhere, we could hear feet above us all night! Couldn't even use the bathroom, somebody defiled it. On a positive note, free parking! We sped off (in horror) to the lovely Marin Headlands to spend our last night in SF, and holy crap, what a beautiful and stunning and an UPGRADE of a place!

If you are going to San Francisco and want a great location the Wharf area, then this is the BEST place to stay. From my room, I could see both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Hostelling International - Fishermans Wharf is within walking distance of Fisherman's Wharf which is one of the most touristy places in San Francisco. My partner and I booked a private room for 5 nights. The rooms are clean and we got a free breakfast in the kitchen every morning. The breakfast isn't anything special only waffles, bagels, bread with butter or peanut butter and juice, tea or coffee. I would highly recommend checking it out. It isn't anything worst than a hotel other than you share a bathroom and shower with others. Just like college. =) And as always, Have Fun!!!

This was not the nicest place. Probably not the worst either. After staying at the beautiful Marin Headlands Hostel and camping on Angel Island, coming to the FW Hostel was a shock to my system. The staff was friendly, however the overall vibe of the place is a little off. I booked a co-ed room and did not feel comfortable at all. The bathrooms were not clean, and I did not feel safe leaving anything at all except clothing in my bunk area. There was supposed to be a kitchenette in this dorm, but there was only a fridge and microwave and no dishes at all. Not helpful. The little cafe is nice enough and easy if you don't want to cook. The main area kitchen which I had to use was relatively decent, but very crowded. This seems to be a very busy hostel. There was a group of kids running around all evening in the main lobby area. I didn't mind that so much, but again not a great atmosphere. I felt very uneasy at this hostel, and had to be hyper-vigilent about my belongings so I was very tired the next day. If you are considering this place, maybe a private room or same-sex room would be better. The men in mine were very stinky and one guy snored like a freight train all friggin' night! I would use this place as a quick pass-thru stayover. Get outta there and go to Point Montara (gorgeous!!!) or Marin Headlands and relax and rest easy in beautiful surroundings.

Crashed in a private room for New Year's. Central location (near Marina/Cow Hollow nightlife, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Sq, etc). Vista points (Sausalito, GG Bridge, Alcatraz). Picnic/BBQ spot in backyard overlooking bay. Near grocery/adult beverages (Safeway). Bike rentals available. Complimentary continental breakfast (other home-made items available for purchase). Lockers available (bring own lock to save $). Private rooms available ($75/night...can sleep 3)...def bare-bones, but clean & warm. Paid Internet available; free wireless. Decently clean bathrooms & showers (hot water--yay!). Free earplugs, nose strips, hair dryer, iron. 24-hr counter (check-in whenever). Staff isn't overly bubbly, but is effective. Limited free parking in lot. Call ahead to reserve spot. GREAT DEAL FOR THE LOCATION if you don't need frills for your thrills.

Really lovely staff, a kitchen, a cafe with great options, a good location, and a view. Plus more. San Francisco was amazing, and I'm so glad I stayed at this hostel. I'm half dead at the airport, and I wish I could think of a more eloquent way to discuss this place. It was wonderful. You should go.

I was very happy with my experience at HI Fisherman's Wharf. The hostel was very clean, good food, nice facilities, hot water every time I took a shower (not something I'm used to at most hostels) and best of all amazing (and FREE!) group activities that truly made our trip. I highly recommend the pub crawl, Chinatown tour, Mission tour and movie nights. We got to meet some amazing people and see parts of San Francisco we've never seen before. The hostel was pretty clean, the staff were super nice and I loved the fact that there was food on-site that you could purchase if you didn't feel like going out. It is also conveniently located by three different major bus lines and a short walk to the Powell/Hyde cable car. The view of the bay is breathtaking and they also offer free parking on-site. This is definitely our go-to hostel in San Francisco.

I had so much fun staying here, met some amazing people, and the location is perfect!

The HI SF Fisherman's Wharf hostel was perfect for our Girl Scout troop. We came for the 2018 Girl Scouts Golden Gate Bridging event and decided to stay at the hostel instead of a hotel. I am so glad we did! The location couldn't have been better: close to sightseeing spots/restaurants and Girl Scout shuttle pickup for the day of the event. The facility itself is historic (old), but clean. It is perfect for groups that want to use shared areas such as kitchen/dining room/living room/movie theater room, etc. The staff was fantastic: they knew more about the bridging event than we did! They host Girl Scouts every year, so they are prepared to deal with a hostel full of little girls. From food, room assignments, luggage storage for early/late arrivals, shuttle to/from airport, you name it...they knew what we needed. 2 tips: reserve early (start a year in advance) and bring ear plugs (little girls are so much fun!!!) All in all, I am very happy we chose to stay at the hostel with a bunch of other troops. In my mind, this is the best lodging option for a community event like ours... and making new friends!

So why not five stars its because their matresses are too thin. I just could not sleep on my side on those matresses. Now the positives for this place if you try to find an hotel in this area be ready to cough up anywhere from $200-300/night. Its right on the edge of fisherman's wharf and the golden gate recreation area. If you are looking for a more active stay in san francisco plenty of bike rentals and walking trails. If you like walking this is a great jumping off point for a half day hike to the bridge and yet you are not far from public transportation to the heart of the city

My boyfriend and I have stayed at three different Hostelling International locations in San Francisco, and although we were very happy with the Union Square and Tenderloin locations, we were completely disgusted by Fisherman's Wharf. The building is old and doesn't seem to have ever been remodeled, so even the private rooms are extremely cramped and reminiscent of a college dorm- but worse. The shared bathrooms are absolutely filthy, and are not consistently cleaned. We didn't see a housekeeping crew once during our stay. The entire hostel has a pungent, musty odor, and smells like urine. While the front desk service was friendly and prompt, they played music loud enough that it could be heard from our room until 12am. Also, the boats coming into port were blasting their horns all throughout the night. Between the music, the boats, and loud groups of teenagers, you better hope that the hostel doesn't run out of their free supply of earplugs. Beware that there are some things that even earplugs can't cover up- like the family of French people yelling at their children outside your bedroom door at 8am. Some other smaller details that added to the general unpleasantness: there was only one outlet in the room (located by the bed), no chair or desk, and very little air circulation. On a brighter note, the hostel is in a good location, the continental breakfast is a nice touch, and there is free wifi. However, the other Hostelling International locations offer the same amenities without the filth and noise. In total, one night at Fisherman's Wharf cost us $109 for a private room but shared bathroom. Nothing about our experience here justified the price, and we are appalled by the quality of this hostel. I recommend avoiding this location at all costs, and instead booking a room at the Tenderloin or Union Square locations. To be perfectly fair, their Tenderloin hostel is the best one and close to many bus stops. Don't be afraid of the area, it's not that rough.