Hostel Detroit

I was a little concerned as a single female traveler with an East Asian appearance and after not living in a hostel for years. The experience ends up fascinating. Super clean and welcoming vibe, great staff, and comfortable bed (by a hostel standard). Public transportation to downtown is not bad but indeed not frequent. I even once walked back around sunset. Takoi is a very nice restaurant nearby (if you crave for some Asian food. The price is a little high, though). Lucky has the BEST latte I have in town (actually for a while).

Nice Hostel, Good Maintainers and Clean. Enjoyed the stay here, Pros: 1) Clean Hostel, regularly cleaned 2) Nice maintenance team 3) Quiet 4) Kitchen to cook 5) Good books, it’s mini library they got Cons: 1) Far from Downtown, >1 mile 2) Old Beddings but clean for sure

I’m here in Detroit for work and needed to find a place to stay temporarily while I found housing. I’m so grateful I found Hostel Detroit! The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and supportive. I had never stayed at a hostel before and imagined the worst but this hostel is so cute, community centered, and artistic. Every room had beautiful design and thought put into it. And it was so clean! They even changed the bathroom mat what felt like daily. As a woman traveling alone I was nervous but I felt so safe here and even made some friends along the way. I can’t recommend this place enough!

This was my second stay at Hostel Detroit and once again they didn't fail to impress. 1. Communication with the hosts is very quick and convenient. I had some snags and changes in my travel plans and they were super accommodating to meet my needs. 2. The hostel is always nice and clean. This is so important when you're sharing spaces with others, so I am always glad to see that the bathrooms, kitchen, and other shared places and clean and tidy. 3. It is so peaceful at the hostel. While it is a bit of a hike to get into the City and I expect visitors might prefer something closer to the sights and scenes. But the peace and quiet of the location makes up for it. While it is close to the freeway you barely hear it. We also noticed a difference of about 10 degrees between the heat of the city and the cool of the neighbourhood when we returned to the hostel. Hostel Detroit forever!!

I stayed in a 10-bed dorm. The hostel is located in a pretty convenient area – you can walk to downtown Detroit in 20 to 30 minutes, and you can rent a bike from the hostel, which is the recommended means of transportation if you're visiting downtown Detroit. There is a street full of restaurants just an 8-minute walk from the hostel. That being said, the hostel is situated in a quiet neighborhood and can be quite dark at night, so if you're returning late, it might be a good idea to get an Uber (if you can find one). The room is spacious with plenty of space to store your personal belongings. There are small lockers for you to use, but they are probably not large enough to store an entire backpack. The mattresses are comfortable to sleep on; the only complaint I have is that they make a lot of squeaky noise, which woke people up in the morning, from my observation. There is no curtain, so unfortunately, you may have to look at your bunk bed neighbor falling asleep. The hostel feels clean, and I like the common area, which is spacious. However, one thing I am cautious about is the limited number of bathrooms. There are only two shared bathrooms on the first floor, and there are two dorm rooms on the first floor, which often means there is a wait for the bathroom. Since the toilet and the shower are in the same bathroom, it can be inconvenient when you need to use the toilet but someone is taking a shower. However, there is a sink in the common kitchen and in the laundry area, so I might consider brushing my teeth there during my next stay. The hostel does not offer complimentary breakfast, but I do see people cooking in the common kitchen. While it does not organize activities, it offers recommendations for things to do, see, and eat in downtown Detroit if you ask the friendly staff. Overall, since this hostel is located in a convenient area and is affordable, I would recommend it to anyone visiting downtown Detroit.

Me and my partner stayed here for one night. First time in Detroit and we had a wonderful time! We rented bikes from the hostel and biked around the city. The neighborhood is great and the hostel people were super sweet. The room and bathroom were very clean. I would stay here again.

I once lived in this hostel when it was an apartment building in 1984. I'd love to go back and visit it one day. I lived upstairs in the apartment no the left. I'd love to see how it has developed into a hostel over the years and just to take a walk down memory lane.

I’ve stayed in around 30 hostels in Europe and the USA and Hostel Detroit was easily my favourite one! Everything’s just perfect about it, I don’t even know where to start. First of all the location is excellent. It’s close to Downtown and Grand Central but still on the edge of a far-reaching suburbian landscape where you can see the fascinating history of the city all around you. Being there felt like as if I was in a magical realm. There are old family houses, churches, skyscrapers, old banks, post offices and railways. Sometimes they are abandoned and standing on their surrounded by empty plots of land where buildings once were. Detroit is reviving though so you can come by farms, coffee shops, restaurants, galleries and many other businesses there. There is also plenty of first class street art everywhere in the city. Downtown has numerous skyscrapes and old buildings. Their architecture is wonderful and had a similar feel to Manhattan but the streets are quiet and there’s not much traffic. The hostel itself is an old brick house with lots of character. It was tastefully reconstructed and decorated and it has a lovely vintage vibe. I loved the pleasant dub music you can hear inside and I saved the playlist on my Spotify. I still listen to it months later. The hostel also has many books about Detroit. My room was nice and spacious and there is a nice calm back garden. The kitchen is great and well equiped and washing machines and dryers are completely new. You can even use them for free! One of the greatest things is that the hostel rents very good bikes and I had an absolute blast cycling around the city. And the best thing for the last. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Hostel Detroit is not just their workplace but also their mission as it is a non-profit enterprise whose goal is to facilitate visitors to explore the city. The staff is open to share their knowledge of Detroit and gave me many useful tips. They were very chill and offered me to leave my luggage at no extra cost at the hostel after checkout hours. When it was time to go, my bus to the train station didn’t come. I was stressed out because my train to Chicago was about to leave soon. I went back to the hostel and a lady at the reception helped me to get a Lyft and I managed to catch my train thanks to her. I hope to come back soon. I could easily spend two weeks there and would have a great time. I felt very safe in Detroit and the people I met were nice and friendly. Even though my stay was quite short, it impacted me profoundly. Thank you so much for everything Team Hostel Detroit. The best hostel ever!!!

Very warm, cozy hostel! It's something you don't experience at HI hostels. The staff is very friendly and you can feel that they're treating you as friends. The hot water is running fine and wifi is good. The space was a little small for a 10 bed dorm room but I won't complain about it. The area doesn't look so heartwarming but it doesn't change the fact that this hostel is awesome!

I've never actually been inside the hostel, however, I love that they host free/donation based yoga classes every Thursday night in the summer! Mollie is a wonderful instructor and I'd recommend taking her class wherever she's teaching.

Outstanding hostel that had comfortable beds, very good customer service, clean rooms and speedy wi-fi. There was free luggage storage and free laundry use after 8 PM during my stay (ask staff in advance to use it), lockers, excellent customer service, free parking lot, a tv/movie room, and bikes for rent. It was in a decent location (about 2 miles from downtown) but not a great location if you do not own a car since public transit in Detroit is not good, so be prepared for the slow buses or just use Uber/Lyft - it was about 7-8$ US for a trip to downtown. There was some free breakfast food like bread, peanut butter, coffee etc that was adequate but I have seen better breakfast provided at other hostels in the USA. Overall, this is an excellent hostel that provides a very good value.

Never, never, ever stayed in a hostel before it was like staying in a dorm to be quite frank. It was cheaper than a hotel. They provide you with sheets, towel, and kitchen appliances. Other families stay in the hostel as well. It is very secure they have codes to get into the building. Different codes for each door which made me feel safe. They had a bathroom on each floor but with 20 plus people staying there you have to wait your turn. Wifi was available here. The place did have amazing artwork on the outside of the building. Everyone was nice and made you feel welcome. My overall first experience was a pleasant one.

Even though I was mainly CouchSurfing during my fall 3-month North American trek, I didn't mind staying here for a night after reading about their mission of education on their website. Sadly, I didn't get the full hostel experience of meeting other travelers since I was only staying one night and already had a ticket to see the Red Wings at Joe Louis. The hostel was easy to get to from the Megabus stop at Rosa Parks Transit Center. I opted to walk the 1.4 miles mostly along Michigan Ave and had no problems. The only thing scary about walking in Detroit is there aren't many walkers around since the city was built around the automobile. Also too many empty businesses and houses. I wasn't emailed the code to the entrance so I had to call, and someone eventually showed up to check me in. TIP: Make sure to get the code before you arrive!! After being shown around the place and storing my backpack, the young lady who checked me in (ugh, forgot her name) gave me a map of central Detroit, where the hostel was located and places to explore. The hostel is located in Corktown, former home of Tiger Stadium now called Ernie Harwell Park. There are still traces of Tiger Stadium around the Park like the old fences and old parking signs. The hostel is also located near Michigan Central Station, nearby bars, Astro Coffee, Slows BBQ and other places to eat. I learned later from my CouchSurfing hosts that property values in CorkTown are on the rise as it's becoming a more desirable place to live. Hostel was clean and homey. I enjoyed talking to Jeff who was the night manager at the time. He said it was OK to store my backpack even though I was suppose to checking out. He would be there at night to open the door since the code would change when I got back. We talked a lot about sports, Joe Louis Arena, the new Red Wings Arena (nooo!!) and giving bobbleheads to kids. I received a free Henrik Zetterberg bobblehead at the Red Wings game. While I would have loved to keep it as a memento, it took up too much space in my backpack and besides I'm an LA Kings fan. So Jeff ended up giving it to a kid like he said those things always end up for him! What a sweet man!

This is one of the best hostels I've ever stayed at. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The manager sat with me for over 30 minutes on my first day and wrote a list of must-visit locations as well as hooking my group up with a local tour guide to show us some off the under-the- radar interesting places and meet some Detroit artists. On our last day we were even treated with a delicious Mexican breakfast. The entire place was very clean, and fairly quiet. Though still friendly, the crowd tends to be mellow - this is not a huge party hostel. It has no pub or food purchase options, but it does have multiple useful and clean kitchens. We stayed in the large bunk room for 6 days and it was comfortable and safe. I was worried about temperature since we visited in a heat wave but the air conditioning was great. Free wifi, a communal computer, lockers, and bike rentals available. I has an fantastic and once-in-a-lifetime trip to Detroit, and Hostel Detroit was a big part of that.

One of the high points of my entire life was showering on the second floor of this hostel and looking out the window to gaze at the eerily beautiful abandoned 18-story Michigan Central train station. For those of you not familiar with it, Michigan Central is the building that's sometimes referred to as "the centerfold of ruin porn" or the "Acropolis of the Midwest." For me, life doesn't get much better than that. I've stayed in a lot of hostels over the years, and this is absolutely one of the best. It's set in a surprisingly rustic part of town just across the expressway from the trendy Corktown. Unlike popular hostels in other locations, the walls aren't plastered with petty rules- largely because it tends to attract respectful travelers who care about the world around them. I've met some truly amazing people there... travelers involved in urban farming initiatives, community organizers volunteering in town, chefs starting a restaurant in town, digital nomad IT professionals working via Skype. It's not surprising to have a neighbor randomly offer you a spoonful of bee pollen. "Good as a 10-ounce steak!" he told me. Proprietor Michele is super laid-back and this permeates the entire environment. Despite the relative lack of rules, it's a quiet hostel and is a great place to catch up on sleep. One of the most useful amenities of this hostel are the bike rentals- at $10 per day, *much* cheaper than its only rival in town. And, it's a good, safe part of town for biking. This is the right place at the right time. The city is changing fast, but I can only hope this hostel stays the same.

As far as U.S Hostels go this is top of the heap. I stayed here over the weekend and really enjoyed my stay. I am somewhat local right now but know I will come back for a vacation in the future. The bed was comfortable and the neighborhood is very quiet. I also appreciated the abundance of wall outlets in my bedroom. They can change room configurations pretty easily to accommodate your group and offer lockers at no extra fee.The staff is beyond helpful and the space is clean conducive to hanging around. They have separate male and female bathrooms with "female hygiene products" in the bathroom for those unwelcome vacation surprises and both bathrooms are nice. The Nancy Whiskey Bar down the street was hoppin' and I hear the hostel offers tours or itineraries if you want to learn more about the area or find other stuff outside of the immediate neighborhood, just ask. If you're wondering if Detroit is a good place for a getaway I would say YES and the folks at Hostel Detroit can help you maximize your vacationing pleasure.

Overall, this hostel is very homey, with lots of Midwestern hospitality that feels specific to Detroit. The hostel is located in Corktown surrounded by friendly neighbors and empty lots. It's close to the infamous ruins of the abandoned train station, and some new redevelopments and businesses like Astro Coffee, Slows BBQ, and Mercury Burger. It's somewhat jarring (even coming from a city like Cleveland), but over the weekend, I learned to accept the landscape as is, and also to accept the history as is. Detroit is one of the most fascinating stories out there for an American city, and I have great hope for it. The hostel has a very homey feel -- they do potluck dinners with the neighbors on sundays to build trust within the neighborhood and guests are invited to join in. There's an urban garden in the back where you can feel free to use the veggies for your own cooking at the hostel. It's ironic that such an industrial city has gone back to almost rural, make-do roots. I suppose the city has always been a make-do city. I didn't receive the keypad number combination in our confirmation email, but luckily, the host was there to let us in. We were able to rent bikes to travel around the city. The bikes are pretty janky, but they lasted the trip of about a few miles down to the riverwalk. We had bike locks at the time, but I'm sad to hear from other reviewers that there are no more bike locks around! That's too bad. I was hoping to run into some interesting guests while we were there, including urban planners. I would have loved to hear more from there. There were a bunch of guests doing an art show at Belle Isle, but we didn't get a chance to catch up with them at the show. There were very loud European visitors who came in at 3am on Friday night, talking loudly and complaining about the management. This was disappointing, and I felt in some ways that it was very uncouth. All the other guests were very respectful, quiet, and interested in the city. The main room is shared by all guests (unless you get the private room), and while I was comfortable on my top bunk, I agree with others that it would be nice to have a female-only room.

This place is great. An avid traveler myself and urban warrior, I traveled to Detroit with a friend for some urban exploration. Stayed two nights here. Easy to get to from all around the city. Arrived by Amtrak and took an Uber (awesome!). Easy walk to nearby Michigan Ave with Slows, Mercury, Astro etc. I will say it can be an intimidating walk at night. Rented bikes for the day, was a great way to see Detroit. My friend and I biked around 16 miles around the city, downtown, and up to the Heidelberg Project. Never felt unsafe. I brought my bike lock and had to rent one for my friend. Absolutely love Corktown and the Michigan Ave Corridor. Nemo's has shuttles to Comerica where we saw a Tigers game. Took the people mover downtown a bit and saw some great architecture. Met some great people at the hostel, some Italians traveling through the US. They ended up meeting me in Chicago for dinner one night. Its places like this that really give a true feeling of a city and its people. Headed here in two weeks again. The city has so much going for it. This hostel is definitely apart of it!

Shared a private room with my boyfriend last week. Was glad to get in when I booked last minute during tigers opening weekend. The manager was nice. The room was clean. No issues at all. It's a bit out of the way,but there's a taxi card there for a very friendly lady. No issues there. Will be staying there again this weekend!

My stay at Hostel Detroit was the best place I could have stayed during my recent excursion to Detroit. I find Joyce's review to be very accurate, too. It was a great way to get very close to the post-industrial culture of the town. The mass media paints an incomplete picture that is very different from how the city really is. During my stay I had so many great discussions with locals and visitors alike about the culture of the city. My budget was very limited, so staying at the hostel was the only way I could make my trip affordable. I was also able to use their kitchen, so I could save money by making my own food. Contrary to popular notion that there are no grocery stores in Detroit, there actually is a cool, international foods grocery store right nearby, as well as a Whole Foods in Midtown. If you want a really comfortable stay in a plush private bed in a private suite--but have little interaction with others and not see the city much--then I'd suggest staying in a chain hotel in the suburbs. But if you want lots of exposure to the uniqueness of the city and great conversations with cool travelers and don't mind the communal living, this place is for you.

I have NO complaint about this cutie friendly place. And if any of my friends say they're 'bout to visit Detroit, I'd definitely recommend them this. It's easy to walk to from the Greyhound Bus Station, and from here, you can explore downtown, Greek town, just by walking for about 20 mins. I have no pb with walking so this is a plus. The hostel was very clean, cozy, and colorful funny-decorated. The manager Jeff was so friendly and helpful. I came quite early and couldn't check in until 3pm, he kept the bed for me when the person left. TIPS: 1. call to make sure you're sent the access code, then come after 9am, since the code is just activated after that time. I luckily had Jeff helped me out with this issue when I came at about 7am and the door didn't let me in. 2. prepare not to be shocked with Jeff's appearance since he looked a bit like an old homeless man lol. But he was so friendly and willing to give me a map and where to go and where not to go, which was very helpful.

Hostel Detroit was a solid introduction to hostel experiences in the US. I would definitely stay there again. Great location to downtown, Corktown bars and Midtown, and easy on/off the freeway to other sites and parts of the city. And really easy to find. I had no issues finding street parking and my car was safe on the street. They offer parking but really, it's not needed. I stayed in the small dorm, which was 4-bed, and a good size, but it's mixed (men/women) so, you never know what you're going to get. My experience there was fine, but I may spring for a private room next time. There are 2 bathrooms on the second floor which is great, and two kitchens. The common areas on the first floor are a little snug and not very welcoming to hanging out for a while, but people also sit outside and hang out too. Overall, everyone on staff was really nice and helpful and answered questions or made recommendations. You don't have lockers in the room but you do have smaller lockers for valuables downstairs. Not many people use them, but it was nice to have. The only thing I'd flag for future guests is that there is NO AC in the house, so during the really hot summer months, there are fans available, but that's it. Thanks for a great visit to Detroit!

If you have had the opportunity to travel abroad you understand the difference between a quality hostel and a hostel from hell. Hostel Detroit is fantastic. It is clear the masterminds behind it know how important it is to have a good home base when exploring an unknown place. The idea of creating a place for travelers to "stay, explore, and learn about Detroit" was what motivated Emily Doerr to get the ball rolling. She, with the help of many volunteers and donations, opened Hostel Detroit's doors in North Corktown in April of 2011 with the goal of teaching each visitor about the history and evolving future of the city. So not only was this place developed from a great idea, there's a ton of heart and soul put into it. That "made with love" feeling is obvious when you walk through the colorful, clean, and comfortable rooms of the hostel on Vermont Street. Hostel Detroit is run through Goodwill as a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit. They rely heavily on volunteers and donations, however they had quite a few travelers staying there when Chelsea and I toured it. There are a variety of options for rooms, from $27/night for a single bunk in the group room to $52/night for a double bed in a private room or $60/night for a shared private room with a bunk bed. You can make reservations online. I was having a difficult time putting our experience into words to do this place justice so I came up with FIVE highlights: Décor- Not only did Hostel Detroit smell good as we walked through, there was also something to look at everywhere you turned. Each room is decorated by a theme of a different Detroit neighborhood. Cool. Location- Although a Downtown location would make getting around easier, Corktown has a lot of offer. They also have many suggestions for transportation. Staff- Jeff, the manager and a retired teacher, gladly toured us around. He was such a genuinely nice guy who had an apparent passion about his job and the city. I could have stayed and talked with him all day. We also witnessed his interaction with people staying there and a couple of new arrivals... I'm sure they felt the same way we did. Ambassador Program- Ambassadors are trusted volunteers who drive guests around to explore the city to compensate for Detroit's lack of public transit. Enough said. Affordable- When compared to a hotel room for the night, Hostel Detroit is so much more affordable. Not to mention, the experience you get... plus they offer free laundry, kitchen use, WIFI, and advice. They were just on Curbed Detroit's list of essential hotels for 2014. So next time you're staying Downtown, check them out!

The hostel is in a central location in Corktown. There are open fields and beautiful trees in the surrounding area which gives the feeling of a rural landscape. I went during Memorial Day weekend with a nearby electronic music festival scheduled. There were several people from far and wide staying in the dorms. I woke up at around 6 am to the sounds of birds chirping and strangers snoring. I was never so energized in the morning as that day.

Great hostel! Staff is the best ever!! Atmosphere is like you are at your own place. It has different living rooms, so if you want to hang out with people you are fine, but if you want to stay alone and relax you also can! Beds are comfortable and shower is hot and abundant water! Great place! Highly recommended! 20 minutes walk to Downtown only. I will surely stay here again when I come back to Detroit! The wi-Fi is very good and they also offer a printer in case you need it!

Probably the greatest hostel in Michigan, definitely the world. Staff is the bomb and space is dreamlike.

Had a great stay here over the past weekend. Location is pretty good, close to Slow's and some other Michigan Ave venues but you'll need a taxi or bike to get most anywhere else. The hostel itself was really nice! Great common spaces and private rooms. The bunk rooms looked very nice, too. The upper-floor bathroom ran out of hot water in the morning but otherwise everything was in great condition. The staff was incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable. Bottom line: Yes, I would definitely stay here again! Planning to stay here when I visit again in the summer.

I can't say I was there long - I came to Detroit with a heavily planned schedule and did not spend much time at the Hostel. They had a nice set up, with a kitchen, complementary tea, clean common spaces and bathrooms, and with LOTS of references for tourists. If you came to the city to tour around, you'd be set here! (Note to visitors: Please don't wander around the neighborhood taking pictures of people's houses just because they can't afford to fix them up right now. I spoke to someone who lives in the area, and this is very disrespectful. Treat people like humans, this is their home. Just say NO to poverty tourism.) So why two stars, you ask? There was no optional separate space for women - they do not offer a safe space for women, and so women who don't feel comfortable sleeping in a room full of men are SOL, apparently, unless you want to pay more for a 2-person room. Second, when I came back the second night, they had taken all the sheets off my bed and I had to go hunting for new ones. I suppose I was particularly grumpy because it was 11:30pm when I came back and I had to get up at 3:45am to go catch a flight. But then, my stuff was not where i had left it, in a neat little pile next to my bunk bed. It had been moved, and mixed with someone else's stuff, into bins that were pushed under the bed. This is just weird. Don't touch my stuff, please. Thanks for the cheap sleep though. Next time, I would crash with friends.

I've never stayed at any other hostels but my friend and I stayed here last year and just this past weekend. Each experience was excellent. The beds are comfy, area is quite, neighbors just chatty enough (you'll get a good story I promise!) and it's next to my MOST favorite building in Detroit (besides the Guardian) Michigan Central Station. The people who work here are VERY helpful and friendly. I highly recommend this hostel to anyone who wants to visit Detroit and get to know some fellow explorers and locals. Great place!

I've stayed in quite a few small hostels and for a small hostel this hostel is really good. The hostel is in a restored building and they did a great job with the renovations. The staff is friendly and the hostel is close to downtown Detroit. I like the art and the artistic interior design.

The spot was pretty cool overall. We came and made a full house so the bathroom situation was a little difficult but other than that the hostel was pretty dope and cozy.

I have to revise my review of Hostel Detroit based on my most recent visit. This nonprofit hostel (the only hostel in Detroit) has only one paid staff member, Michel, and my friend Martin and I had the great fortune to be greeting by him upon our arrival. He shared his knowledge of the city freely and offered incisive observations about the city's economic and political history - connecting them to present-day reality, a reality that he clearly loves. He was the best booster the city could have. He gave us wonderful recommendations for places to go and things to do. He debunked many of the most prevalent and unflattering perceptions of Detroit. He even offered up his own tours of the city. Michel is awesome, and he alone merits the 5-star rating I'm giving to Hostel Detroit.

Hostel Detroit was amazing! The staff was very passionate about their work and Detroit. Eric the night manager is quite the character and was very fun and helpful with what you needed to do and see. He spent an entire day showing me around and then went to a Red Wings game with me. The other staff was just as awesome! Everyone knew the coolest and best places to go. The thing that made Hostel Detroit one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at was the free tour on Saturday. Kevin our tour guide/chauffeur drove us all around Detroit in his car taking us to the coolest places. He was so knowledgeable there was not a question he could not answer. I had to work in the morning while I was staying there and the Wifi was great! I had no issues. The beds were decent enough for a hostel. All in all, I recommend this place to anyone and everyone. I will be staying here again. Thanks for the great weekend Hostel Detroit!

Neat little place that seems like a boardinghouse-turned hostel- multiple kitchens and single bathrooms. With this layout our upstairs private room was pretty quiet (except for the squeaky old bed with saggy mattress) and we were able to come and go as we pleased. All the staff were very friendly but we also felt that our desire to be independent was respected. Having a refrigerator and kitchen sink and a little hallway lounge area were really great. There's lots of literature around on things to do in the city. Neat little neighborhood, definitely a bit of a haul to downtown without a car, but with a rental car we were able to get everywhere we wanted to go quickly (and, of note, we parked a new-looking rental car (emptied of our things) on the street each night without any break in troubles. All in all, the hostel definitely improved our experience compared to staying in a hotel, and it's near Corktown (easy walking distance during daylight) which is a neat up and coming neighborhood.

Stayed there during Movement 2015 (DEMF).We got a outdoor spot in backyard we only used shower so our experience inside was very limited.The other guests and staff were personable.The only complaint I would have is the front door lock and handle was wonkey at best.Seemed like someone tried kicking the door handle off.Once inside the place had a homely feel to it.Evan was great and friendly. Thanks for the stay.

I have found Hostel Detroit to be a clean, well run, safe, and fun communal environment. Nearly everyone I met here has been awesome, respectful and seemed to appreciate their time in Detroit. Unfortunately, the trashy review by JARED W. below follows a drunken, belligerent arrival at the hostel at 2AM which included slamming doors, throwing things around, yelling into the hallway, and waking everyone up. We confronted him about his tantrum not in the vapid guise of a hostel employees, but as paying guests. He didn't know that Cori, Jakob, FranzI had cooked together and left the pot for whoever came back late, because he didn't care. JARED W's trashy review is merely the result of having felt emasculated for being called on his crass behavior. The problem did not lie with the impecable hostel or it's guests. The problem was a lack of respect on the part of a single guest toward many others.

I was in Detroit for 8 days and choosing hostel Detroit was definitely one of the best parts of the trip. Close to slows and Mercury in corktown - which is great - and the hosts, Eric and Taylor, made they stay great. the only place to stay in Detroit if you are looking to explore the city!

A great place to stay and get to know the neighbourhood. Friendly staff help you out and make the place look amazing. They even had bikes to loan for exploring. It was my first time in Detroit, and was surprised at how much fun I had riding around the city. Best of all, are the friendly interesting people that you randomly run into. They make any trip worthwhile.

Friendly, helpful staff. Quiet, clean, safe. I spent two nights there and hope to be back soon. If you want the real Detroit experience, you won't be disappointed here!

Great location to experience the REAL Detroit. Jeff, the manager was running this place on his own at the time of our visit over a long weekend, which is an amazing task considering the amount of people coming in and out. Very homey and welcoming, with lots of information on where to go in the city. Located close to Corktown and Michigan Central Station, as well as some pretty cool local Watering Holes. Some punks jacked our rental's wheels during our last night there. Although Jeff and the neighbours say something like this hasn't happened in a long while, it is something to be aware of if going with a personal vehicle. Guess for next time we should park in the gated lot, instead of on the street. Thankfully Hostel Detroit was extremely accommodating with our situation, and we were able to leave our belongings in our room until the second rental car was delivered in the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, the theft was a huge bummer. Although, had this situation not happened, we would have missed out on some pretty great discussions and stories with the local neighbours. Sitting porch-side, drinking iced tea, and reminiscing of what the neighbourhood used to be like gave me a real insight into the vivacious attitude of Detroiters, and a greater appreciation for those individuals who try to make it in the new American Frontier. Hostel Detroit is an important anchor for this community and made our trip to Detroit all the more memorable. I will definitely return to Hostel Detroit if I find myself back in the city.

I was lucky enough to stay at the hostel its opening weekend, and the staff there could not have been any more accommodating. In my four days there, I was able to see more of the city than I ever could have hoped to staying anywhere else. Everyone there is eager to show you their beautiful city, and encourages you to take advantage of everything it has to offer. The hostel is within walking distance of nearly everything, and a cab ride to Midtown or downtown Detroit is dirt cheap and easy. The beds are made from salvaged wood and are very comfortable, the hostel is very clean, and it's easy to feel right at home as soon as you walk in the door. My stay here convinced me to move to Detroit, and for anyone interested in seeing Detroit from the view of Detroiters, I highly recommend you stay here. Also, if you get the chance while you're there, find the Detroit Party Marching Band playing around the city.

I stayed at Hostel Detroit in November, 2013. It was clean and affordable and I met some cool guests there. The highlight, though, was a free tour of Detroit provided by Kevin, a co-owner and one of their "ambassadors." He took us to various points in the city to see outdoor art and urban agriculture. We ended the tour at Belle Island Park, where we had (free) sandwiches. The only motivation behind this was a desire to show the Detroit that he loved. It was a great stay.

I HEART HOSTEL DETROIT. Came here for two nights and I absolutely fell in love with this place. It feels like home, the staff is helpful and friendly and everything is in perfect condition. I will recommend this hostel to anyone visiting Detroit and hope to visit again one day.

I've been in many hostels all around the world, I've to say this is one of the most unique I've seen so far, for the most part what makes it special is the people running the hostel. I'll describe some facts, location is very close to downtown and the greyhound station for those arriving by bus, the hostel itself looks like a house and it makes you feel like you are at a friends home instead of a hostel. There is lots of books and tourism information for you to read, rooms are comfortable and the place looks clean and well set up. The BEST part for me is the people that run the hostel, they are very helpful and you will feel just like at a friends home with their company; also they are the best source of tourism information you might get in town. I will come back to Detroit, and I have already a place I can feel like home.

The hostel is fairly clean and comfortable, the staff are great, it's got a lovely homely atmosphere, the prices are very reasonable and the location is really good (although it might not seem that way at first). They're putting the soul back in Detroit.

Very casual and homey.Feels like staying in someone's house,with complete freedom.Surroundings are safe and quiet.About the only thing you ever hear is the pheasants.The rooms are spacious,the beds are comfortable,and there are lots of bathrooms,and-surprisingly-kitchens.

This is a fantastic place to stay! The people here are very very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The rooms are large, the kitchens are clean, the design is fun, funky and refreshing. It was a wonderful home base for us as we explored the great city of Detroit!

My stay in Hostel Detroit made my Motor City experience all the better. The staff are especially friendly and will go out of the way to see to it that all your needs are met: Eric, Alex, Gene, Sammy and Tayler are exceptional people that are accommodating and understanding. The location of the hostel was blocks away from bustling bars, warm cafés excellent restaurants and historic Detroit sites like the train station, old Tigers stadium and CPA building! The hostel is fun, hip and properly managed - if you have the chance to stay here, take it.

I lived in Detroit for 20+ years, in the Cultural Center area of the city. I was back in town attending to affairs for about a week last summer, and was delighted to find that a spirited hostel has come to life in the Corktown neighborhood. It's indeed friendly and home-like, as others have pointed out. It takes the "edge" off Detroit that visitors new to the city might feel. My bed was comfortable, the kitchens and bathrooms were clean, the neighborhood was quiet except for one weekend night when there was exuberant music from the local bar. I enjoyed the ambience of the neighborhood--its mowed empty lots, lush urban vegetable gardens, and houses that owners took pride in. It's a bit far to downtown if you don't have a car, but a rented bike or a taxi are reasonably priced alternatives. If you want to explore and even to understand Detroit, this hostel is a great resource. The staff is warm and knowledgeable, and all sorts of books, maps, etc. are available.

stay at this place if you're going to detroit. stayed there back in may & the staff was very knowledgeable about the city. bonus points for offering $10 bikes to rent; its easy to bike around the city as there are few cars on the road. a great example of why detroit is on the upsurge.