HI New York City Hostel

HI New York City Hostel Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard about HI New York City Hostel, I wasn’t expecting much. I mean, hostels in Manhattan usually mean cramped spaces and sketchy vibes, right? But this place actually surprised me in the best way possible. Tucked up on Amsterdam Avenue in the Upper West Side, it’s got this whole converted institutional building thing going on (I think it used to be some kind of school), but they’ve made it work really well. The three-star rating doesn’t tell the whole story – honestly, it feels more polished than a lot of budget hotels I’ve crashed in around New York.

What really sold me on this spot is the neighborhood situation. You’re literally a five-minute walk from Central Park, which is clutch if you’re one of those people who needs to escape the city madness for a bit. And the subway access? Chef’s kiss. The 1 train at 103rd Street is right there, so you can get down to Times Square in like twenty minutes without dealing with the insane crowds of Midtown accommodations. The Upper West Side has this interesting mix of Columbia students, longtime residents, and families – so you get actual grocery stores, decent coffee shops, and restaurants where locals eat instead of just tourist traps. There’s this little bodega right around the corner that makes surprisingly good breakfast sandwiches, and the guy behind the counter started recognizing me after like three days.

The hostel itself runs pretty smoothly – check-in was painless, the common areas stay clean without being sterile, and the kitchen facilities are actually functional if you want to save some money on meals. I stayed in one of the smaller dorm rooms, and while it’s not spacious by any stretch, everything feels sturdy and well-maintained. The WiFi works consistently, which honestly puts it ahead of some fancier places I’ve stayed. One thing to know: it can get a bit noisy in the evenings since there’s a good mix of international travelers and people in town for extended stays, but it quiets down pretty reasonably. The staff seems to know their stuff about the neighborhood too – they pointed me toward this great Ethiopian place on Broadway that I never would have found otherwise. If you’re looking for that sweet spot between budget-friendly and actually comfortable, and you want to stay somewhere that feels like part of the real city instead of the tourist bubble, this place delivers.

HI New York City Hostel Accommodations

Reviews of HI New York City Hostel

• Exceptional – Themistoklis from United Kingdom – September 12, 2025 (10/10)

  Good facilities, and mini shop in the hostel
  Water cooler on the same floor as the room
  
  What could be improved: Can be noisy due to the main road

• Awesome! – Herbert from Peru – September 11, 2025 (10/10)

  All! Great hosteling! Near to all!
  
  What could be improved: All ok

• Wonderful Return to NYC – Marisa from United States – September 11, 2025 (10/10)

  I had not visited this hostel since 2019/2020, so I was delighted to see that it was exactly as I remembered. There is a great atmosphere among fellow travelers, and the space is super clean and welcoming. While I did not have a meal, I grabbed several drinks from the cafe during my stay as well as some spare shower shoes (much appreciated!).
  
  What could be improved: The room was a little hot given that it was summer weather, but that can’t really be helped 🙂

• Exceptional – Nancy from Mexico – September 11, 2025 (10/10)

  All the amenities
  
  What could be improved: N/a

• Exceptional – Sheharyar from United Kingdom – September 10, 2025 (10/10)

  What could be improved: Wifi did not work at all for the multiple stays i had at this hostel, apart from that everything was perfect.

• Exceptional – Willow from New Zealand – September 10, 2025 (10/10)

  Everything it was amazing so close to the trains and everyone was so help full
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Excellent hostel – Gael from France – September 9, 2025 (10/10)

  Good beds, numerous washrooms. Everything is clean. The common areas are great. Good location. Overall great.
  
  What could be improved: The AC is very loud but efficient.

• Exceptional – Porter from United States – September 7, 2025 (10/10)

  Ckean. Staff was polite. Reasonably priced. Nice location
  
  What could be improved: I had to wait a very long time for a bed because someone had taken my bed. Then, I had to sleep on the top bunk.

• Great deal for solo traveller – Bart from United Arab Emirates – September 7, 2025 (10/10)

  Very clean hostel with numerous showers and wc, lockers and storage options. Location is great in upper west side near metro station and citibike station.

• Very Good – Qais from Germany – September 7, 2025 (8/10)

  The reception staff are very nice and helpful.
  
  What could be improved: The only thing I didn’t like is that the entire second floor has only one bathroom unit for men. It’s not just one toilet, but one shared unit with five toilets and five showers, still, it can get crowded sometimes.

Surroundings