Long Street Backpackers

Had a pretty cool stay here overall. Things started off a bit rocky, but to their credit, the staff made up for it and handled the situation well. The vibe is chilled, well situated & met some cool people. Heads-up, if you're a light sleeper, definitely bring earplugs. Otherwise, solid spot.

Stayed here in August and i loved my 1 week stay with you guys. Your services from the reception,dorms and all the open spaces was amazing,not to mention the staff around they were so helpful. I met new friends from all over and made good memories. Thank you LSB for being my home🇿🇦 away from home🇰🇪.

Great vibe, but disorganised staff let it down||This place has great energy and a few genuinely kind staff members, but the management is all over the place. I was bounced between different receptionists who were clearly not on the same page — each giving different information, leading to multiple booking errors.||Twice my extensions weren’t recorded, and on one occasion I was told to confirm in the morning — only for the next receptionist to refuse, charge more, ending in being thrown out by the boss “There’s nothing we can do” this was a staff error??.||I didn’t mind the usual backpacker issues (noise, “wet room” bathrooms, no water at times), but the chaotic admin is what ruined it. Needs serious improvement in communication and booking systems.

Checked into Long Street backpackers on Friday the 8th of August and when I got to the backpacker, Shaker was the one who checked me in and he was gentle, kind and professional. He showed me the facilities and led me to my dorm and I enjoyed my stay for 3 nights and checked out yesterday, the 11th of August. What made my stay super amazing was playing Need for speed at the bar and catching up with old friends at the bar. Super bummed that the space is closing at the end of the month. I had a great time!

I stayed at LSB on two separate occasions this winter (South African winter). My main stay was during the entire month of June in the women’s dorm. I am a solo female traveler. Overall, I’d say you get what you pay for as it’s very affordable, but that phrase should mean just the loud music in the evenings, the weak charging ports, or the smoke (24/7 in every aspect of the property…😭) and not safety and health. I stayed so long because it was so cheap and I was planning my trip as I went, but in hindsight I should have left way sooner because it was not a very relaxing place. There was black mold and other growth all over our room’s and bathroom’s ceilings for my entire stay, but to their credit, once we asked for it to be removed they cleaned the hazard the same day. I just wish they had cleaned deeply enough to notice it on their own because I just thought they saw it but didn’t care about it. They just didn’t care to look. Also, when I first arrived, there were weird stains (photo) on my sheets, so I asked to change them and the blanket cover. The new blanket cover just had different (red) stains.. and the towels had many stains too. Just bring your own sheets and towels… There are also many roaches — I’ve woken up with one on me, which was super scary 😭 and I was on the top bunk. Lots and lots in the workroom too. I would recommend the hostel to invest in more roach-repelling plants to place around windows and doors because it was the key reason one of my roommates left to stay elsewhere. The hostel is on Long St, which is a big nighttime destination and so there are many beggars and robbers all night long and during the day too. What I didn’t expect is other residents asking me for money within the hostel — and men making sexually charged comments at me inside the hostel as well. To be fair, I didn’t tell the staff so they couldn’t have done anything, so I can’t blame them, only alert you for your safety. I didn’t tell them because the harasser was friends with the staff/volunteers. There’s a good balance of South Africans and foreigners staying at LSB and most are nice, minus some creepy guys that kinda ruined my sense of safety within the hostel. I felt that I always had to be on guard. :( Also, the place has a lot of volunteers, who have different levels of access I guess. There were more than a few times that I paid to extend for another night or two and the next day a different staff member would demand I pay again because the volunteer the night before could not update the system and didn’t write a note or anything. Always keep your receipts or have other records (bank apps, etc). I suggest the hostel be more organized and plan ahead for such situations. Overall, most of the staff/volunteers are nice, however, and they plan fun weekly events/activities which they post on the Whatsapp group and around the hostel. Thank you! 😊

I lived in Cape Town central for over 4 years, but it wasn’t until I stayed at my first backpackers that I truly got to experience the city in a whole new way. Discovering Long Street Backpackers was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. From their incredible daily activities and welcoming staff to the vibrant bar and cozy communal spaces, everything about it was unforgettable. I met so many amazing, like-minded people and saw a side of Cape Town I hadn’t before. I can’t recommend this hostel enough to anyone wanting an authentic and memorable experience. I can't wait to go back!!! Thank you all at LSB fam ❤️

Thank you for such a wonderful time and for everything you do to promote South Africa as we build our African nations. As part of my work, I often enjoy connecting with the backpacking community. It offers a valuable insight into the progress of tourism, perceptions of safety and security, and wider perspectives on cultures and human freedoms. With all my heart, soul, and friendship to you all!

Loved my stay here, rooms were very clean, walking distance to most tourist spot, lots of good options, staff was also great and helpful, even tho I am not a party person, I still enjoyed the noise during the night and definitely staying here on my next visit to Capetown