Hostel Memphis

Hostel · Cooper-Young

Hostel Memphis

Hostel · Cooper-Young
1000 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104

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Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null
Hostel Memphis by null

Highlights

Nestled in the vibrant Cooper-Young neighborhood, this laid-back hostel offers cozy dorms and private rooms, all with a welcoming vibe and complimentary breakfast.  

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1000 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104 Get directions

hostelmemphis.com
@hostelmemphisatfirstcongo

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1000 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104 Get directions

+1 901 612 1010
hostelmemphis.com
@hostelmemphisatfirstcongo

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Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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Robyn

Google
Absolute gem! We stayed for just one night in a private room for 2 and felt its warmth and friendly, welcoming communal vibe at once. Hazel, Mylo and Alex are excellent custodians of the space and could not have been more helpful with our endless questions about the (amazing) neighborhood. AM coffee is plentiful and strong, and there are many spaces to hang out, work, and socialize. Highly recommend.

Tanya C

Google
I really enjoyed my stay at this hostel. It was very quiet and had great facilities and also a great price. Loved the area with the restaurants and eateries nearby. There don't seem to be many hostels in the USA unlike other parts of the world which is a shame but I'd definitely recommend Hostel Memphis

Tanya Stang

Google
The staff are extremely helpful. They made me feel right at home. The room was tidy & clean. The bathrooms are clean. (Must have clean potty for me.) Located in the cutest part of town. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Polly M

Google
Really disappointing. The photos on the website fail to show the mould on the ceilings, the taped up air conditioning unit to the window, and the general run down environment. I understand this is a hostel but upon arriving we were so surprised at how different this place looked compared to the photos. We were booked in for 2 days but left after 30 minutes. The woman at the reception was apologetic which we appreciated, but a very bad introduction to Memphis

I H

Google
I love the cooper-young hostel! I had such a lovely time getting to know the neighborhood, Penny & Hedwig, and other locals. I felt very comfortable and it was a chill and welcoming vibe. There were other people staying at the hostel that seemed affiliated with the church downstairs. They were very friendly, but not around much. My only negative is that there isn't a washing machine in or near the hostel. The showers/bathrooms were clean, the room was tidy and with a good amount of space. The kitchen had everything you needed and if you ever had a question Penny & Hedwig were so easy to chat with. The energy felt so good that after my first day I decided to extend my stay by several more days. Thank you 🥰🙌🏾

Alexa Jackson

Google
I’m so happy that I found this place. I wish Hostels were more common and came back around. I highly prefer this style of stay to a hotel or Airbnb. The bed was extremely comfortable & clean. The kitchen & bathrooms were clean too. Overall a thoughtful, cute & spacious place. Cleaner than most decent hotels! I only stayed 1 night but got to chat a little bit with a handful of different travelers and the people hosting. Great conversation with Penny and Michael too! This place is ran so well and kept up nicely which I appreciate so much in a stay. Everyone was kind and respectful. I felt safe and comfortable here. I’m thankful to have found it! Hope to return to Memphis again soon!

Anya Colussi

Google
Great accommodation in a fabulous neighbourhood. Partner and I stayed in a private room for a few nights recently and couldn't be more satisfied with our experience at Hostel Memphis. Clean, quiet, friendly, comfortable. Staff were helpful and took extra care to make sure we arrived safely after hours.

Madison Canales

Google
I had a very pleasant experience staying at Hostel Memphis. It was just for a night, but the location is very convenient and the parking is free. I slept like a baby in the bed, it was very comfortable! It's about the same standard I would expect in a European hostel (not sparkling, but not gross at all!) and would highly recommend if you're looking for a cozy place to shower and sleep.

Cindy W.

Yelp
We needed a place to safely leave our brand-new car during our road trip from Dallas to NY. After numerous searches for a decent hotel in downtown Memphis and the surrounding area, I came across this hostel. Having only stayed at a hostel once in Copenhagen, I knew what to expect. But my boyfriend was a bit uneasy about sharing a dorm room. So we booked a private room (we still needed to share the bathroom). The layout of the hostel was very welcoming. Instructions were well written, and you get the check-in info via email. Our private room was a small bedroom with an AC and two windows. There were about four individual bathrooms instead of a dorm room-style shower/locker room. Breakfast was included (bagel/coffee/tea), and the parking lot was well-lit. Given we only needed a place to sleep for 6 hrs, this place met our needs. We even go to meet some people during our short stay.

Stef M.

Yelp
A safe place to stay in midtown Memphis. They now offer a continental breakfast some coffee , tea and pastries. I stayed her for 6 nights recently. It's a nice area a few restaurant s around a parking lot . The room was air conditioned and clean the bathroom s were always available. I hope to return another time

Ellen C.

Yelp
I stayed here about 1 wk ago and can report this is a solid, well managed& maintained, and most of all, safe place. While there are local buses nearby (No. 2 and No. 36) to the downtown area (bus ride about 25-30 minutes, limited operations on wkend, be sure to check the local bus website beforehand.) Without a car, one would need to plan ahead to get into the Memphis downtown area. It is doable if you are not rush for time! I appreciate there 4 bath/ toilet rooms, so there is no line in the morning! Penny and her very helpful team work hard to keep the kitchen and the entire place organized. Daily bagel breakfast is a bonus.

N J.

Yelp
I stayed in a single, separate bedroom. It was nicer than some hotels I've booked on the same road trip. It was clean and secure. The separate bathrooms were plentiful--never a line for shower. And the area cannot be beat. There aren't any motels/hotels that are just feet away from Cooper-Young neighborhood's excellent Memphis record stores, bookstores, and restaurants. Highly recommended, even for older travelers looking for a better alternative to hotels.

Laughlin T.

Yelp
The only hostels I stayed in before this one have been in Europe. And I was blown away by the wide amenities, cleanliness, furnishings and the very friendly staff. I stayed 7 nights and met people from at least 5 different countries. If you want the best cultural experience Memphis can possibly offer, Hostel Memphis should definitely be the foundation for your stay. A wonderful place.

Maggie C.

Yelp
Do not waste your time with the Hostel Memphis. They take advantage of the fact that they are the only hostel in the area and use it as an excuse to leech money from young, poor travelers that are in a foreign place. Instead of being helpful or understanding, which you would expect from a HOSTEL, the staff only care about getting your $28 per person. My friends and I were passing through Memphis late one night on our way back from a month-long backpacking trip. Hostel Memphis was our only option financially. We planned to do what we had done this entire trip at other hostels: couples would share beds to cut down on costs and take much-needed showers. After driving straight through from Arizona, we arrived just before 11:00 PM. Three of the five of us entered to pay for our beds, while two of the group went to purchase supplies. After paying, we learned several of their policies that they DO NOT list on their website: --No one can share a bed --You must present an ID. For many, this may present no issue, but for college students nearing the end of a long trip, not being able to split the cost of a bed was a huge strain. The three of us were checked in and our bill had to be split between two cards as none of us had the funds to absorb the total $80. The rest of our party returned, this is when we learned our friend had lost her ID. The staff was completely unsympathetic to our situation. It was past 11:00 PM. We were exhausted and unshowered. We were in an unfamiliar and dangerous place. They refused to make an exception to allow our friend to stay the night without an ID. This essentially meant they were turning our entire party away, as we could not send an 18-year-old girl out into the Memphis night alone. Apparently, the Hostel Memphis staff is fine with this idea. We were forced to find other accommodations. We asked for a refund because we had not used any facilities and spent no more than 15 minutes total in their building. Despite the very unfortunate situation, they told us this request had to go through upper management and we were not guaranteed to be reimbursed. After multiple attempts to contact their bookkeeper, Nikki, and explain our situation, one card was ultimately refunded and the other (mine) was promised to be refunded. After waiting weeks for this refund, I contacted Nikki once more and was THEN told that the refund inexplicably would not be completed. I'm exhausted dealing with this establishment. They make things intentionally hard and have no sympathy for someone in my situation. They're charging me for a service I did not receive. If $40 is make or break for a business, they really should not be in business. If you're forced to stay here, be sure to check for urine stained sheets and fleas as other reviewers have reported on. But really, you should just keep driving.

Jane S.

Yelp
This is my 5th time staying here, and I love it every time! The beds, bathrooms, linens and kitchen are always kept clean. They are so welcoming and have a wonderful shared community that opens with arms wide to guests. The area is super hip, too! Lots of awesome restaurants and things to do within walking distance. It's only a short ride over to downtown to explore that too. Couldn't recommend this place more and it makes me feel great to be supporting the church. They do incredible work in the community!

Kerry C.

Yelp
It's entirely possible to stay in a clean, safe, friendly place in the heart of Memphis for $15 a night. That is, if you don't mind sharing and cleaning up after yourself. The place is Pilgrim House, Memphis' only hostel. The Pilgrim house is located inside First Congregational Church in Cooper Young. It's a little more cozy than the average hotel. When I stopped by, a college student was working in the library, the RAs were checking people in, and a man who had walked to Memphis from California was talking about his adventures with a small pack of Australians in the hostel's sunny kitchen. It's only $15 per person to stay in one of the shared dorms at the Pilgrim House. There are two single-sex dorms and one co-ed dorm, each with several sets of bunk beds. There are also a handful of private rooms, which are are $30 for one person (plus $15 for each additional person). There is a private bathroom, as well as dorm-style bathrooms. Guests are allowed to use the kitchen and the library, take whatever they want from the free food stash, and rent bicycles for the day through Revolutions Community Bike Shop (which is located in the same building). There's just one catch - because Pilgrim House is a hostel, they ask that everyone who stays there pitch in by doing a small chore. Most of the chores are things like unloading the dishwasher, taking the recycling out or sweeping the kitchen - they're light and take about five minutes.

Patrick T.

Yelp
The Pilgrim House in Mid Town, Memphis is an awesome place to stay for a week! This past week my friend Chris and I were finishing mixing a record at Ardent Studios and this was the best place to lay our heads, and meet some really awesome people! The Hostel is quite large and with plenty of rooms, both private and shared! We shared a room with 6 bunks in it! We always had roomates! There are lockers in your rooms if you want to lock your stuff up, but I never really thought it was a big deal! The Staff at Pilgrim House was great! Super helpful and for 20 bucks a person, it's a very nice cheap place to stay! Lots of parking and a block a way from multiple places to eat, drink, and be merry! You are assigned 1 chore a day while staying at the Hostel and I thought well this will probably be a hassle but it was actually really easy and takes about 2 minutes to complete every morning! It also makes you feel more at home and helpful! I loved it.. It also keeps the place very clean! They have both private and shared bathrooms and a huge kitchen with supplies for cooking! They have free coffee as well! All and all this was a perfect stay for us! Cheap, Fun, and we met people from all around the world!

K B.

Yelp
Wonderful place. Very clean, spacious and comfortable. Incredibly friendly and helpful staff.

Mike F.

Yelp
A friend and I stayed at this hostel while road tripping from TX to MD. The hostel is located on the back of a church. Upon checking in, the staff were very young but extremely friendly and accommodating. However, they warned us that there had been several crime instances in/around the parking lot recently and that we should keep everything out of sight in our car which was disconcerting. A police officer was even parked in the parking lot overnight. We grabbed sheets from their linen closet and headed to the bunk beds. The mattress covers were stained on a few of the beds and my friend had chosen what appeared to be a yellow fitted sheet. Upon opening it up, I noticed that the corners were very white and the yellow color was circular in pattern. Stretched out, it was quite clearly a urine stain. The sheets may have been washed/clean but it's ridiculous that someone would think that would be ok to put out for paying guests. Early the next morning, I was using the toilet and I felt bites on my legs and ended up pulling off 4 fleas before I could get out of there. I even filmed them as I knew my friend would be in disbelief. The hostel also has a policy of requesting/requiring each person to perform a house keeping chore before leaving. They have a bunch of index cards with chores from dusting to taking out the trash. Although the chores only took five minutes a piece at most, it was clear that the hostel relies solely upon these chores being carried out to maintain itself. The trash and recycle bins were overflowing/piled twice as high as they could handle with stuff stacked in front, there was a general uncleanliness/dustiness about the whole hostel, and the common area bathrooms were littered with wet towels/rugs and hair, had mold on the shower curtains, and were lacking soap/paper products. For $25/night, the hostel should be kept in greater repair.

Michael K.

Yelp
It's a pretty good place to stay for the price. Not much secure storage to lock away your things, but the staff is nice and the location is perfect.

G M.

Yelp
Driving through from NJ to TX, I stayed here in the co-ed female dorms for just one night. Charming is right! I really liked this part of town and the building. Being inside a huge, quiet, old building in the middle of the night like this made me feel like I was staying at Hogwart's. The wifi is fast and my bunk didn't squeak at all. It was very comfortable even if you're a tall woman like myself (6'1). It's not the cleanest place but they try. The mattresses are pretty stained up but didn't smell. The towels did have an old smell that became more apparent when they are wet. You might want to bring you own. No soap or anything like that so bring your own. If you're driving, I parked in the church parking lot to the right of the building and I didn't have any problems. I may or may not have seen a roach scurry in the kitchen when I was refilling my water bottle that night, but it ran too fast for me to confirm. There wasn't many others staying that night but there was this horribly intrusive older woman that talked from the moment I arrived until lights out about her life and gave me tips on mine (Hello, I don't know you and you don't even know my name or asked!) Some people need to realize that some guests are traveling and tired, and are not in the mood to hang out or chat. This is not highschool/college 2.0, learn to read the atmosphere. All in all, I would stay again but spring for a private room.

Andrew Y.

Yelp
This is a wonderful, comfortable place. We used Hostel Memphis as an affordable place for our wedding guests to stay for the weekend, and I really can't say anything bad. They have put a lot of money into renovating and upgrading the space in the last six months and it shows. There's new paint, a new continental breakfast, lots of new bed frames, sheets, carpet, and furniture. If you visited more than a couple of months ago, I'd highly recommend going back. It will feel like a completely different place. I also love the new manager and all the work she's done with the staff and the building. They were all very accommodating and helpful to our guests. A couple of notes after reading past reviews- There aren't any chores anymore (that stopped a number of years ago), and whatever issues they've had with cleanliness or service in the past, they've fixed it. From what I could see, the place was spotless and the staff was extremely friendly. Also, the hostel is still walking distance to quite a few restaurants and bars in the Midtown neighborhood. It's quite a pleasant place to visit.

Brock D.

Yelp
I have literally lived in hostels for 12 of the past 18 months, and this is the most pleasant, comfortable place I've ever set foot in. It's so nice that it's confusing. Seriously. I was convinced for 5 minutes I was in the wrong place. Then I saw the giant kitchen, talked to the super-friendly people, checked out the rad and big beds in the equally rad rooms, and grabbed a good old Bloom County cartoon collection (starting with Penguin Dreams and I'll work my way up from there) from their well-stocked library, and I was at home. Scratch that. If I had a home it still wouldn't be this nice. I'll update if I find a flaw later, but right now after 4 days of 12-hour drives across the US, this is a slice of heaven with habanero on top. (did I mention it's $15 per night? total. no fees. no nothing. hell, it cost me $35 for a patch of dirt 10 feet from the 101 in California just to set up my tent in a puddle. Memphis gets much respect from me for this.)

Seth W.

Yelp
I've been too allot of hostels around the world and this one actually ranks fairly high. Everything is super clean and safe, and just nice. The major con is it's a bit out of the city, but one bus will take you directly downtown. if your coming from the south via Amtrak you'll have to get a cab cause it's just too late for most buses and if your going south via Amtrak just get a cab cause it's too early for most buses. You have to do some chore while your here, which really isn't too bad, otherwise that's it. Just a nice simple clean hostel on the backside of a church.

Becca C.

Yelp
Pilgrim house is a truly lovely hostel in the middle of a pretty charming/hip™ neighborhood in Memphis. The hostel is safe and secure, and attached to a church/community center. This place has obviously been around for a while- their decoration and organization game is p fuego. I was really blown away by their organization: everything has a place-- to the library room, linen baskets, chore chart, etc. There are private and communal bathrooms, bigger dorms, a few queen sized mattresses. Their kitchen is really well stocked and organized, as well. The environment is really appealing and welcoming. Many of the other guests were older individuals, and some shared really cool stories. I kinda wish that they allowed alcohol in the hostel, or that there were more groups of humans socializing? But that could've totally been the given day I was there, +church rules, etc. Overall, Pilgrim house is p bomb, really cute. The kinda place one that's both perfect for conversation with new people, or curling up w a book and tea / being a lil corner hermit.

Courtney M.

Yelp
As far as hostels go, this one is pretty good! It's a church with a big parking lot, very safe part of town, too. The doors had security codes, which were changed regularly. I never felt unsafe there alone. Lots of cute restaurants nearby. The beds were OK. If this is your primary concern, I recommend the co-ed dorm, which had double beds that looked more comfy than the twin ones. If you're a neat freak, this place probably isn't for you. It's not the cleanest, but it's certainly not the dirtiest either. For the price and location, it's a pretty good place.

Jessica M.

Yelp
When we finally arrived at the Pilgrim House, it was like a breath of fresh air. That was when we finally got there. Prior to our arrival, we tried calling but found out that there phone lines were not working and that's why we were unable to contact anyone and make a reservation. My friend that I was traveling with also was a little apprehensive about staying there because the Pilgrim House is located at the back of a church and we weren't really looking to stay in a Christian youth hostel. Anyway, a person from the church finally let us into the building after nearly dehydrating outside in the fierce Memphis heat and the Pilgrim House felt like we had arrived at home. The set up seemed like a real house in that bedrooms were set up around living spaces. It is a co-op style establishment in that everyone who stays at the Pilgrim is expected to pitch in and clean up and that way it was maintained rather well. Remember to do your chores or no key deposit back! In hindsight, the only drawback to staying at the Pilgrim House was that a lot of the staff that works there also lives there. I didn't feel completely welcome because I knew I was on their turf. Otherwise, The Pilgrim House was a positive experience and I would stay there again. It is not a Christian retreat which we feared and I think it was 15 bucks a night for a shared room. It is located in a cool part of Memphis and right down the street from the hostel is the wonderful little coffee shop: Java Cabana.

D T.

Yelp
The Hostel is pretty nice, it's a very homey, kinda place. I like how the staff are, especially Dalton he was very nice and very helpful and explained to me how things work. Whenever I ran pass him he would be nice to say hi and check how's my stay is. I appreciated that very much. I do wish the the hostel would update a little bit on how it looks on the inside with more charm and cleanness of the area also maybe better bedding/sheets however it was still very homey and I did feel safe with the using a door code to enter, the lockers for my things. I also liked very much that all the best restaurants and sites of Memphis are near and Dalton would tell me what's going on in the area, like events etc like that. So I like the hostel a lot and would recommend it to others for sure and tell them to try to come in when Dalton is there to assist them and feel welcomed.

S. K.

Yelp
My sister and I stayed here for two nights while we were in town, and this hostel (along with the city in general) made me wish I could stay for much longer. Clean, friendly, and unbelievably cozy. Each day each guest has one small chore to complete, but it's hard to argue with that when you are staying in a safe and homey place for as low as $15 a night. I sprung for a bit more to get a private room, since I didn't know the place and was traveling with my young sister and some expensive photography equipment, but after seeing how friendly and safe the place is, I would go for the shared dorm rooms. Other charming bits: -- Common areas with comfortable couches and tons of books that people can read, share, swap, leave behind. -- Mordecai the cat, who lives in the hostel. -- Bicycle co-op in the building where you can rent bikes. -- Very friendly staff - R.A.'s who live in the building in exchange for covering shifts. -- Right around the corner from the Cooper neighborhood, with cafes, restaurants, bookstores, etc. A great place to stay in a great city. Try it out.

Holly U.

Yelp
My husband and I stopped in here for a night on a road trip through the South, paying just $30 for the two of us. They didn't have a private room available when we booked earlier in the week, so they placed us in a co-ed dorm with no other people. There were a couple of full-size beds, too, so we were able to sleep together. There was a door to a private room in the co-ed room, so there was still traffic in and out. The bed itself was pretty uncomfortable, but you really can't complain for $15 a night. My only genuine complaint is that it was very, very hot in our room. There was a window a/c unit, but it didn't seem to be able to cool such a big room. Compared to other hostels, it's very clean and has a lot of common areas. There is a big kitchen and a library, as well as a couple other sitting rooms with couches and funny-shaped pillows. The staff was friendly and gave us advice on where to eat and drink in midtown. The hostel uses entry codes on a few doors to get in, so it was nice not having to use a key. There was a handful of other people staying. I could definitely see myself spending a week here if I had time.

Jenny L.

Yelp
Pilgrim House is the first American hostel that I've been to, and it was great. The experience is totally authentic. You meet friendly travelers from all over the world who want to hear your story, share theirs, and just generally create a sense of home for nomads and road trippers. Their ammenities are very nice. I utilized the extremely organized and well stocked kitchen to make my first self-made meal since starting my road trip. The lounges are comfy, there is plenty of parking, and enough different kinds of sleeping and bathroom arrangements to suit your preference. The staff range from ...disinterested... to outstandingly generous and creative. There are so many of them around at all times that you can keep your antennae out for friendly vibes. Try asking them a bit about Memphis. This is a nice neighborhood in the city, so you can get good recommendations for restaraunts and shops within walking distance. Pilgrim House is a good approximation of the kind of hostel you would encounter backpacking elsewhere in the world. Give it a shot!

Thiago F.

Yelp
I made the reservation 2 months before I checked in. I was able to do everything by email. The staff was very friendly and they answered my emails promptly. The price was very good too. I was attending a conference at the Peabody hotel, so I didn't want to spend $173-a-night there. I ended up paying $25-a-night at the Pilgrim's house. The hostel is very clean and organized. Everyone that stays at the hostel has a daily chore. The chores are things like 'clean the bathroom', 'vaccuum hallway' and so on. I think the chores are important to keep the place clean; and also to let people feel like they are part of the hostel community. The hostel is located in a cool part of Memphis. You can walk to the bars and to the restaurants. Everything is pretty close. The only thing I didn't understand was a group of students that gathered one evening at one of the lounge areas. They didn't disturb me at all. But it was just something unusual to me, since they were not staying at the hostel. When I asked the guys that work there about it, no one could answer me. I think that the hostel is somehow connected to a church, and those students used the space for a meeting. I will definitely stay at the Pilgrim house if have to go back to Memphis again. If you're looking for a cheap, clean, organized and well-located place, this is a good option.

Tasos P.

Yelp
Great Place! Very clean very cozy. If you are staying in Memphis this is the place to be. They have full size beds in the dorm rooms, and they have private and public bathrooms. And for $15 a night, that's cheaper than staying home. It's a little far from downtown, but driving is easy, and the neighborhood is pretty hip. You have to do one chore each day wile you are there, but they are easy, and it only takes like 5 minutes.

Matty C.

Yelp
Just returned home from spending 6 great days in Memphis, at the Pilgrim House Hostel. This was my first experience at a Hostel, and was very pleasantly surprised. The staff were so kind and helpful, getting me up to speed with everything, and helping me with anything I needed. The facility was always safe and each public and private room were well kept, and made me feel like I was home and amongst family. The neighborhood surrounding is amazing, and gave me an almost bohemian vibe, with people from many backgrounds and walks of life, always made me feel welcome and at home. By far one of the best experience I've had in many years, and I hope to visit back here again in the future. All the best, Matty from D.C.

Mark J.

Yelp
Wholesome. True . Americana bleeding out the wall . For whatever that means. Fuck a holiday inn. Hardwood floors and clean at that . Showers a plenty. Staff who won't Kiss your ass , ain't that plus ! Memphis Tennessee is a place to visit and this is a fine place to catch it as it is.

Mary L.

Yelp
I will revisit again. Organized, friendly staff. Clean living areas. Clean restrooms. Plenty of parking. Restaurants nearby. WARNING: The neighborhoods nearby are crime ridden. Be careful if you plan on walking through them in the evenings. Hide your valuables in the trunk of your car if you park overnight. For $20 in a shared room its a good value. I would recommend the assigned chore be volunteer vs assigned, if you are staying for one night only.

Lauren L.

Yelp
I really liked staying at the Pilgrim hostel. It was clean the staff was friendly and the people staying there were nice aswell. The chores they have you do are super easy and take about 5 minutes max. It is in a safer hip part of town so you don't feel scared. Near by are some good restaurants too! I recommend staying here if you are on a budget and are up for an adventure!

Ayesha A.

Yelp
We actually booked this place thinking it would be a creepy church experience, and it would add to our southern experience. It did add, but not because it was creepy. It was totally awesome. The staff was SO nice. There is no indoctination like I expected as it's attached to a church. It's really sweet and large and nicely run. The whole 'daily chores' thing made us worry but it was actually really fine, the chores were something like refill the ice trays to throw out one of the recycling bins to wipe the kitchen stools. It takes between 30 seconds to 2 minutes, max. There's a lot of rooms, bathrooms, living room space. We got a private room and one space in the dorm, my only complaint is the private room, which is for three, had a bunkbed, with the bottom a double, so three of us didn't fit well, so the third just slept happily on one of the couches and we all ended up having a great night's sleep both nights. Totally worth staying at. I think it was way better than a hotel would have been.

Scott S.

Yelp
I almost didn't stay here because the website makes it look like this place is run by a bunch of stodgy old church ladies, but the staff are actually young and fun, and so is the atmosphere here. It's a bit far from downtown so you do need a car. It's super-affordable, one of the nicer hostels I've stayed at.

Simba S.

Yelp
I loved here at the Pilgrim Bunkhouse and I vow to return when I make my spiritual journey to Memphis again. This was where I met Gordy Boy, the most charming English gentleman I have ever met outside of England. His charming wit and his fun loving nature made him one of the finest companions I had met on my journey. The rooms were comfortable and tidy, as were the rest of the facilities, which they clean regularly. As suspected from the name the Pilgrim Bunkhouse is a resting spot in Memphis for fellow pilgrims on their spiritual journey. It is run by several monks and nuns that take great pride in their work. There was a lot of talk and rumors of a Reverend Tully who we had never saw but we heard that he was the one who founded the famous Beale St, where he allegedly played his trumpet on a rock and the famous blues bars rose around him. The make your own pancakes idea is usually a terrible idea (for example in Hostel Cat in Las Vegas) but here it worked magnificently. This is where I learned to make the perfect pancake to the dismay of my travelling companion Speculos and I have never been able to replicate it since. It was a great pleasure talking to other pilgrims and everyone enjoyed doing their chores that they were given, it made you feel part of a greater family (not to forget the bonus XP you get, I managed to get onto Level 34 because of that) One night however at 1AM, me, Speculos and Gordy were talking and a completely naked man walked past us without a care in the world back to his room. I only caught a glance but the other two saw. Was this the legendary Reverend Tully I had heard so many things about? All in all a great place to say. Apparently it's in a bad area but let's be honest, who in their right mind is going to take my horse?

Anna S.

Yelp
I really enjoyed staying here. The staff is friendly, and there are several common room areas with loads of books and board games, which just makes it a nice place to hang out. The breakfast is fine, not all that amazing, but totally fine. The wifi is pretty fast too. My one critique would be the beds - they're not very comfortable, and they all squeak when you turn in them. But they're definitely not horrible, and they're fine for a few nights. The area around the hostel is also really nice - several bars and restaurants within walking distance! Nice place!

Dan C.

Yelp
Overall OK as far as staffing and organization, but I do have to question security because one of the guests staying in our room who failed to respect curfew managed to "break in" at 3am and had the nerve to wake me up by putting his chihuahua on my pillow. It sort of means pretty much anyone can get in any time they want. Watch your stuff and your security if you're sharing a room.

Jenny Y.

Yelp
Definitely worth the insanely cheap cost to stay here. I've resided in co-op housing and traveled through hostels, and this place is much cleaner than the former and less institutionalized than the hostels I've stayed in. I stopped here for a night on a long drive from MI to TX, and the chore I got was wiping down the dining room tables, which took 5 minutes. Most people working and visiting the hostel were in their 20s, and everyone was very friendly. There were lots of maps and brochures sitting around for tourists' easy access, as well as local menus organized by geographical distance. The hostel itself is in the hip Cooper-Young neighborhood. Even if it weren't a safe neighborhood, the hostel sits on the third level of a building next to a church, and door codes are needed to get in. Probably the most cost-effective part of my trip.

Susan L.

Yelp
Stayed here for a night during a road trip through Tennessee. It was not at all what I expected from a church hostel! There was plenty of space, lots of comfortable loungey-areas to hang out, and a huge kitchen. They require that you do one chore while you're there that takes about 3 minutes (mine was wipe down the kitchen tables). The dorm rooms are cramped with rickety bunk beds so I didn't sleep very well. Then again for $15 it was fine for a night. If I was to stay there for longer, I'd definitely try to get a private room. The town near the hostel is cute with good restaurants, but it's definitely easier to have a car if you want to go down to Beale street at night.

Matt P.

Yelp
I loved this place. Very quiet. In a great neighborhood. Spacious. You can't find it on Hostels.com though, which is kind of frustrating. It was recommended to me by some people in Nashville who had stayed there. Cool lounge, big kitchen.

Jilian R.

Yelp
I loved staying here. Very home-y. The women in my dorm were all courteous. The staff is very friendly and I got a great run down of the facilities. $27 got me a cool bed (it was scorching last night), fresh shower, wifi, comfy couch to work on. They also offer a free pancake breakfast but I stuck with my protein shake, which I was able to mix up in their fully stocked kitchen. Each person needs to help out with a chore before they leave, but I was happy to take out the recycling. I would definitely stay here again.

Michael H.

Yelp
Awesome place to stay. Clean very nice staff free breakfast and very nice dorms. Would stay there once again for sure

Richard B.

Yelp
Not very cooperative, I wasn't able to stay here because I could not check in until 4pm, I had to be somewhere during check in hours, and no special arrangements would be made. I ended up walking 7 miles to the river through the parks and woods, and ghettos and historical districts and found a more accommodating place in town.

Lynette K.

Yelp
Didn't love this place...staff was type A about everything unlike most other hostels i've ever been to. take this place with a grain of salt. 5-7 miles out of town, you'd need a car. good coffee shops, antique shops and cafes nearby as this is a trendy outskirt neighborhood.

Kate S.

Yelp
We had a lovely stay. (We being my husband, 5 year old, 19mo old and me). Neighborhood was beautiful and friendly. Quiet, clean, and bright. Beds were not the most comfy but the private room was more comfy than expected. If you're an early riser prepare in advance to go somewhere else until at least 9. We went to Brother Junipers for a fabulous breakfast until we could check out at 9.

L B.

Yelp
When I returned here in 2012 it had been taken over by young students and did not have the good age and nationality mix it had previous year. Consequently, perhaps, it was radically less clean, the bathrooms in particular, and 'staff' was very unprofessional. I may give it one more chance but not more if it is not as it was in 2011.

Katia D.

Yelp
Great hostel in an excellent location. Coffee shops, bars and shopping all within walking distance. International visitors and helpful staff with local recommendations. Great price, breakfast included and often "leftovers" or shared meals with other travelers.

Andrea G.

Yelp
A friend and I booked a reservation here for one night, happy to have a very cheap place to stay as we passed through Memphis. We checked in, played with their really cute cat, and then left for dinner. When we returned, we met near disaster - the cars that had been parked on either side of us earlier had been vandalized while we were gone. Each one had a window smashed, and who knows what belongings were stolen from within the car. We immediately decided to head back downtown and wound up, thanks to the extreme number of drunk tourists populating all of the cheaper hotels, staying at the Peabody. After an outrageously expensive night of deep sleep on an amazingly plush bed, we finally got through to someone at the hostel to let them know why we hadn't returned the night before. When I explained the situation to the girl there, she seemed unconcerned. Her deadpan response was, "Yes, some cars were broken into." She then proceeded to ask whether we had left belongings there and said goodbye. There was no apology and definitely no offer of a refund. I mean, the girl obviously wasn't personally responsible for our crappy situation, but she didn't seem to care, either. I'm guessing that her nonchalance indicates that break-ins are not uncommon. So to those of you bringing a car (especially one filled with all of your belongings because you're roadtripping to LA to begin grad school...), be warned. You may not find it like you left it.

Jason R.

Yelp
This place is the bomb-diggety. I know people don't say that anymore, but hey, I'm older than the average hosteler (and smarter than the average bear, hey hey Yogi). Seriously, this was a great place to find after several days on the road sleeping in my truck. Very quiet, extremely clean, you can't beat the price ($15 plus $10 refundable deposit). Too bad there aren't more places like this.

Ross D.

Yelp
I stayed in the pilgrim house for 4 nights and I loved it. Never stayed in a hostel before and this was a great time. Yes u do chores but so what. I spent less then 20 minutes all together on the chores. For 15 bucks u can't beat it. Most of the staff were really great. Did see much of the cat. Every1 that stayed there were really cool. Had a great time n would go back there anytime. Thank you pilgrim staff u helped make my time alot more fun :)

Mike A.

Yelp
Wonderful place, friendly staff, and you can't beat the price. I paid $40 for the private room, which was small but cozy. The hostel is right in the middle of one of Memphis' most walkable neighborhood, and is close to everything. Would stay there again.