Is parking available at the property?

Nearby parking is available for USD 35 per night, located 82 feet away and open 24 hours.

Is breakfast offered at the hostel?

Breakfast is offered and is described as delicious, although specific details about the type and serving hours are not provided.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is by 11:00 AM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request.

What accessibility features does the property offer?

The property features step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities, including public areas and rooms.

Where is the hostel located in relation to key landmarks?

The hostel is located in Union Square, just a 3-minute walk from Union Square and 12 minutes by foot from the Moscone Convention Center. It is also close to various attractions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Oracle Park.

Are children allowed at the hostel?

Children are allowed at the property, but specific age policies for free stays are not detailed.

HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Average nightly price at HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
January	$76
February	$90
March	$132
April	$79
May	$78
June	$108
July	$91
August	$100
September	$107
October	$98
November	$82
December	$71

What guests think

At HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel, travelers praise the central location near transit and Union Square, friendly staff, and welcoming common areas with a useful kitchen, though recurring complaints note elevator outages and limited temperature control in some rooms.

Cleanliness is frequently praised, yet a few guests reported dirty or smelly bathrooms and damp, musty carpets. Rooms range from basic dorms to surprisingly spacious privates, with occasional noise, thin curtains or dim lighting affecting sleep. Breakfast is usually included and very simple, though some reviews mention confusion or lack of variety. Overall, expect a budget-friendly hostel with lively shared spaces and a few maintenance and comfort compromises.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests like the welcoming lounges, well equipped kitchen, and useful laundry. Recurring issues include elevator outages and limited or no in room temperature control.

Related guest reviews

10

Michelle

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really nice and helpful staff, attractive comfortable lounge area, great laundry set up.

10

Andrew

Apr 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot in the heart of downtown San Francisco! Plenty to do around the area. Nothing five star here, but clean and comfortable at a great price. We chose a private queen room with an en suite bathroom. Pictures accurately describe the room. No heat or AC with the older building unfortunately, but they do provide a small desk fan should you need it. Great water pressure with an eco-friendly, LED shower head to monitor your consumption. Free continental breakfast in the communal kitchen, nothing fancy, but good to have so you can grab a snack before stepping out to explore. Overall great stay!

10

Nancy

Aug 11, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

I have stayed here 2x and having stayed at another hostel in SF this is the one I'd recommend. It's so clean and comfortable, with a great lounge and kitchen and lots of friendly people.

8

Jehu

May 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The only thing I didn't like was that the elevator didn't work and it was difficult to carry the suitcases up 4 floors both to go up and down.

10

Mary

Jul 2, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

My friend and I each stayed in a private room with its own bath. I was pleasantly surprised with how large and comfortable the rooms were. The staff was very friendly, and the the communal areas were clean, and nicely decorated. I enjoyed mingling with the other guests, and although we didn’t take advantage of them, I thought it was great that the hostel offered events like pub crawls, and walking tours for the guests to socialize! If I had any criticism, it would be that I there was no way to control the temperature in the room. Overall, it was a great short stay, and I would definitely return.

8

Kellee

Feb 21, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Great location near a myriad of public transit options, breakfast was always the same but a solid start to the day with it being included, and generally a clean and fun vibe throughout the hostel. The biggest drawback during our stay specifically was the elevator going out of service during the 2nd or 3rd day of our stay and remaining broken, and we were were staying on the 6th floor.

8

Paul

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quiet, cheap, clean hostel with good staff. Just gotta fix the elevator. Good kitchen and laundry. Comfortable bed but creaky springs every time you roll over. A convenient location for transport around the city. One block from Union Square. I would stay here again. ps: Lime scooters won’t make it up the hill.

2

Akriti

Apr 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The dorm was smelly and the washroom was choked, full and disgusting. The elevator didn’t seem to work at all and I had to change to a private room with triple the price because of last minute inconvenience. I got the room 4 hours post my check in as the staff at reception didn’t know how to upgrade the booking.

10

Isaac

Jun 13, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

It's the nicest hostel I've ever stayed in. The exterior was under renovation as well as the elevator during our stay, but I wouldn't hold that against them. It was perfectly fine accommodations for a few nights.

10

Alfredo

Oct 23, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Air conditioning not working well

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Cleanliness

Many reviews describe the property as clean or spotless, but some report dirty or smelly bathrooms and damp or musty carpets in certain rooms.

Related guest reviews

10

Dustin

Jan 21, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Hostel was clean and service was extremely friendly!

8

Lina

Jan 16, 2024

·

Being my first experience in a hostel, please consider my comments with a degree of caution. However, I believe there are aspects that could have enhanced my comfort during the stay. Enjoyed: - Charging station and light above bunkbed. - Water-saving system in showers. - Showers and bathrooms in hallways. - Kitchen with communal fridge and 3-compartment sink. - Hostel provided earplugs. - Mini hangout area next to the kitchen. Areas for Improvement: - Dirty shower in shared bedroom. - Dirty carpet in the shared bedroom. - Shower in the hallway lacked shelves and places to hang towels and clothing. - Unappealing sink on the toilet (it was cute, though). - Room damage policies in shared rooms could be clearer and include a way to identify responsible parties.

10

Ma. Deborah J. Dela

Nov 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

My second stay here. The first stay was great, shared beds with 4 other girls, room was in the second floor, very nice, clean and quiet room, breakfast was substantial too. I was impressed, so on my second visit to SFO, I brought my daughter with me. Was given a 5th floor room, for 3 people, but only me and my daughter occupied it the whole 2-night stay. The room smelled of dirty, old and wet carpet. We arrived almost 12 midnight, and only had a day to tour the city, we didn’t ask for a room-change for it was a waste of time. I would still stay in this hostel the next visit, for it’s very near the Powell station and lots of connecting transportation to everything, but I’ll be sure to ask for a room change if the room smells.

10

Andrea Issanagui

Nov 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Stayed in a female dorm for one night. It was comfortable. The only thing was that the carpet felt moist and I didn’t know why. Bathroom was outside the room but huge and with hot water. It’s an old classical building right in the middle of everything. Breakfast was basic but appreciated anyway. Would definitely stay again.

8

Sarah

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The Good part: The hostel is very cute and cosy botique hotel style. I loved the common rest space where you can hang out. The place is spotless and the location is excelent. The bad part: Most of the gests were desapointed as the room description stated that breakfast was included but there was no breakfest served to any of the guests. Luckilly there was a well equiped kitchen where you can prépare the food that you ca buy for yourself. My bed was next to the window that overlooked a parking lot lit through the whole night and the curtens were not thik enogh to block the light which felt almost like daylight. Not very pratical for sleeping. Also you have to make your own bed upon arival which can inconvient for your sleeping roommates if you arrive late at night.

2

Akriti

Apr 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The dorm was smelly and the washroom was choked, full and disgusting. The elevator didn’t seem to work at all and I had to change to a private room with triple the price because of last minute inconvenience. I got the room 4 hours post my check in as the staff at reception didn’t know how to upgrade the booking.

10

Farahnaz

Jan 11, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Can’t say enough about this place. I was on a business trip with hotels booked up and over priced and this place saved me! I had a private room (323) which was great. Place is spotless and I a germ freak. My room was very spacious and bathroom was so clean. Staff is amazing. They include breakfast too. Location was one block from Union square which was perfect for me.

10

Diana Wilson

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful experience. This was my first time in SF and first time staying at a hostel. I chose to stay in the private queen room. The location is awesome, right in the downtown area and close to public transportation. There’s free WiFi and a modest free breakfast (toast, cereal, boiled eggs, coffee). The second floor has a lounging area and a foosball table. The staff was kind and helpful. It was very clean. The room was spacious.

10

Esteban

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is my third time staying @ Hi hostel SF downtown.... Excellent location, super nice and friendly staff, literally 3 min walking to union square plaza and macy's..... rooms are always clean.... I had a great time meeting people from other countries.

10

Rinky

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very unhygienic and disgusting the restroom are not clean and they smell very bad that we wouldn't even use them. I hated staying here every minute

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Rooms

Rooms range from basic dorms to spacious private rooms and are generally comfortable. Sleep can be affected by street or construction noise, thin curtains, dim lighting, creaky beds, and limited temperature control.

Related guest reviews

8

Harsh

Oct 1, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

The stay met my expectations. The en-suite bathroom was spacious. The breakfast included eggs, bread, coffee, and banana. The room was bit congested for two bunk meds.

10

Andrew

Apr 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot in the heart of downtown San Francisco! Plenty to do around the area. Nothing five star here, but clean and comfortable at a great price. We chose a private queen room with an en suite bathroom. Pictures accurately describe the room. No heat or AC with the older building unfortunately, but they do provide a small desk fan should you need it. Great water pressure with an eco-friendly, LED shower head to monitor your consumption. Free continental breakfast in the communal kitchen, nothing fancy, but good to have so you can grab a snack before stepping out to explore. Overall great stay!

8

Frank

Sep 27, 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

Requested suite room on Mason st, a month in advance, room was in back alley with loud machinery noise all day & all night, bed was low on floor. This was my 5th stay at property and will stay again.

10

Mary

Jul 2, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

My friend and I each stayed in a private room with its own bath. I was pleasantly surprised with how large and comfortable the rooms were. The staff was very friendly, and the the communal areas were clean, and nicely decorated. I enjoyed mingling with the other guests, and although we didn’t take advantage of them, I thought it was great that the hostel offered events like pub crawls, and walking tours for the guests to socialize! If I had any criticism, it would be that I there was no way to control the temperature in the room. Overall, it was a great short stay, and I would definitely return.

10

Chantal

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great hotel for the price. Amazing location. A little noisy.

8

Paul

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quiet, cheap, clean hostel with good staff. Just gotta fix the elevator. Good kitchen and laundry. Comfortable bed but creaky springs every time you roll over. A convenient location for transport around the city. One block from Union Square. I would stay here again. ps: Lime scooters won’t make it up the hill.

8

Sarah

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The Good part: The hostel is very cute and cosy botique hotel style. I loved the common rest space where you can hang out. The place is spotless and the location is excelent. The bad part: Most of the gests were desapointed as the room description stated that breakfast was included but there was no breakfest served to any of the guests. Luckilly there was a well equiped kitchen where you can prépare the food that you ca buy for yourself. My bed was next to the window that overlooked a parking lot lit through the whole night and the curtens were not thik enogh to block the light which felt almost like daylight. Not very pratical for sleeping. Also you have to make your own bed upon arival which can inconvient for your sleeping roommates if you arrive late at night.

8

Zoe

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

It was nice to stay in a hostel that has a lift. Reception were lovely. Not many showers on each floor but it did the job. It didn't say it included breakfast but online reviews said it did and on the back of the room door it said breakfast served between 7am and 9am which made me confused. It would of been nice to have curtains around the beds like other hostels I've been in but it was still okay. The building work occasionally started early outside the window but the noise didn't go on all day.

10

Diana Wilson

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful experience. This was my first time in SF and first time staying at a hostel. I chose to stay in the private queen room. The location is awesome, right in the downtown area and close to public transportation. There’s free WiFi and a modest free breakfast (toast, cereal, boiled eggs, coffee). The second floor has a lounging area and a foosball table. The staff was kind and helpful. It was very clean. The room was spacious.

10

Bradley

Sep 14, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was exactly as described. It was very clean and everything worked well. The room was a little dimly lit. It would have been nicer to have a brighter light. But overall the room was fine and the facility was very nice.

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Service

Staff are often friendly and helpful at check in and throughout the stay. However, several guests reported unresponsive or unprofessional interactions and slow resolution of maintenance issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Michelle

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really nice and helpful staff, attractive comfortable lounge area, great laundry set up.

2

Yu Ki

Jan 7, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We booked a private room for 2 nights. The toilet was clogged the second morning and we reported to the reception right away. At night the issue was not solved at all and worsened the next morning. We had to use the shared toilet outside the private room. Hostel staff is not friendly to solve the issue

2

David

Jul 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I do not recommend this property , extremely unprofessional. I made a reservation , chose the wrong date and wanted to change it to a new one . I contacted Expedia , Expedia called them multiple times and they never picked up the phone . They charged my credit card right away instead . Expedia then tried to contact them on my behalf and get a refund . Manager refused to . I wonder what type of ridiculous and unprofessional that person is . Avoid this property , it was less than $40 but seems like they don’t care and don’t offer customer service at all. Again , go somewhere else . This is a very dishonest hostel . Thank you.

6

Yasaun

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I would stay here again for a QUICK TRIP. Pros - Close to a lot of things and very accessible (it is actually in downtown) - Rooms were clean and guests were respectful and quiet - No real issues with the stay Cons There were two things that turned me off the most: 1) Front desk- I observed and interacted with about 6 staff and what I found with all of them (except one younger white girl) is that they were all very nonchalant. They weren't rude or unprofessional but they also weren't friendly, welcoming, or engaging either. I saw them eating, being directly on their phone, and having personal conversations with coworkers right at the front desk. Since when can you eat and have a phone to your face in front of guests. Keep in mind these observations are with multiple guests around. The second thing being "no unregistered guests" in the room. Now if I were in the shared room that is completely sensible but if I am paying for a private room those rules shouldn't apply.

10

Angel

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 8 nights

Great staff and location

10

Esteban

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is my third time staying @ Hi hostel SF downtown.... Excellent location, super nice and friendly staff, literally 3 min walking to union square plaza and macy's..... rooms are always clean.... I had a great time meeting people from other countries.

10

Joelle

Feb 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk is always on point

10

Aaron

Jun 22, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very nice amenities, great for a budget place to stay while exploring SF. Staff is also very helpful.

10

Katrina

Aug 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Good common spaces! A lot of people stay here, so expect fellow dormers. Front desk staff are kind. Cafe next door gives a 10% discount if you tell them you stay at the hostel.

2

Alexa

May 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I didn’t like the staff

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Location

Central downtown spot near Union Square, Powell Street/BART, and public transit, making sightseeing easy on foot or by train. Some guests note street noise and a rougher feel in the immediate area.

Related guest reviews

8

Sui Yin

Nov 18, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Quick check in but the nearby area not too great

8

Sydney

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

It was a good, reliable place to stay! It's walkable to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf.

6

Savannah

Nov 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pros:close to the bart and lots of food. Kind staff. Quick check in. Cons: Hot. Noisy dorm mate. No mirror in bathrooms.

8

Paul

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quiet, cheap, clean hostel with good staff. Just gotta fix the elevator. Good kitchen and laundry. Comfortable bed but creaky springs every time you roll over. A convenient location for transport around the city. One block from Union Square. I would stay here again. ps: Lime scooters won’t make it up the hill.

6

Yasaun

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I would stay here again for a QUICK TRIP. Pros - Close to a lot of things and very accessible (it is actually in downtown) - Rooms were clean and guests were respectful and quiet - No real issues with the stay Cons There were two things that turned me off the most: 1) Front desk- I observed and interacted with about 6 staff and what I found with all of them (except one younger white girl) is that they were all very nonchalant. They weren't rude or unprofessional but they also weren't friendly, welcoming, or engaging either. I saw them eating, being directly on their phone, and having personal conversations with coworkers right at the front desk. Since when can you eat and have a phone to your face in front of guests. Keep in mind these observations are with multiple guests around. The second thing being "no unregistered guests" in the room. Now if I were in the shared room that is completely sensible but if I am paying for a private room those rules shouldn't apply.

10

Jane

Nov 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Location! Price! I'm still in shock that a stay in downtown San Francisco was so inexpensive -- and nice.

10

Joyce

Sep 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Location is the most interesting

10

Esteban

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is my third time staying @ Hi hostel SF downtown.... Excellent location, super nice and friendly staff, literally 3 min walking to union square plaza and macy's..... rooms are always clean.... I had a great time meeting people from other countries.

8

Thomas

Aug 31, 2023

·

Hostel room was nice and the bathroom was clean. The kitchen was well equipped and the staff friendly. Unfortunately the location is on the edge of a bit of rough area with quite a few homeless people.

10

Sui Yin

Jan 2, 2023

·

The hostel is not far from the BART and the staff is helpful. The room is clean.

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Dining

Breakfast is usually included, consistently simple and adequate. A few reviews mention confusion about whether it is provided and a desire for more variety.

Related guest reviews

10

Andrew

Apr 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot in the heart of downtown San Francisco! Plenty to do around the area. Nothing five star here, but clean and comfortable at a great price. We chose a private queen room with an en suite bathroom. Pictures accurately describe the room. No heat or AC with the older building unfortunately, but they do provide a small desk fan should you need it. Great water pressure with an eco-friendly, LED shower head to monitor your consumption. Free continental breakfast in the communal kitchen, nothing fancy, but good to have so you can grab a snack before stepping out to explore. Overall great stay!

8

Leslie

Dec 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I like that room where clean and safe. Breakfast and the kitchen was a very nice experience.

10

Laura D

Apr 29, 2024

·

Stayed 8 nights

It was really nice, good service, great staff, good location, good activities and I really enjoyed staying there, the only thing that I would like them to improve is breakfast, some variation would be well appreciated… as a solo traveler I felt great, safe and coming back after a long day walking was great by knowing I had a comfortable bed to rest!

8

Kellee

Feb 21, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Great location near a myriad of public transit options, breakfast was always the same but a solid start to the day with it being included, and generally a clean and fun vibe throughout the hostel. The biggest drawback during our stay specifically was the elevator going out of service during the 2nd or 3rd day of our stay and remaining broken, and we were were staying on the 6th floor.

10

Andrea Issanagui

Nov 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Stayed in a female dorm for one night. It was comfortable. The only thing was that the carpet felt moist and I didn’t know why. Bathroom was outside the room but huge and with hot water. It’s an old classical building right in the middle of everything. Breakfast was basic but appreciated anyway. Would definitely stay again.

8

Sarah

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The Good part: The hostel is very cute and cosy botique hotel style. I loved the common rest space where you can hang out. The place is spotless and the location is excelent. The bad part: Most of the gests were desapointed as the room description stated that breakfast was included but there was no breakfest served to any of the guests. Luckilly there was a well equiped kitchen where you can prépare the food that you ca buy for yourself. My bed was next to the window that overlooked a parking lot lit through the whole night and the curtens were not thik enogh to block the light which felt almost like daylight. Not very pratical for sleeping. Also you have to make your own bed upon arival which can inconvient for your sleeping roommates if you arrive late at night.

10

Benjamin

Oct 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Only needed a clean room to stay in for the night after seeing a late show. I was there for check in and then back around 2am to sleep. I had a top bunk, the bed was fine, no one was on bottom. A five minute walk from Bart. I was hoping for a better breakfast but it was very simple(I had toast with butter and jam,an apple, and some boiled eggs and coffee), but better than nothing. There's also a cafe/restaurant next door if you want something else. I would stay again for the price.

10

Alfred

Apr 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

A very convenient location with clean room, nice breakfast and friendly staff. Certainty stay here again in our next San Francisco visit.

10

Farahnaz

Jan 11, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Can’t say enough about this place. I was on a business trip with hotels booked up and over priced and this place saved me! I had a private room (323) which was great. Place is spotless and I a germ freak. My room was very spacious and bathroom was so clean. Staff is amazing. They include breakfast too. Location was one block from Union square which was perfect for me.

10

Diana Wilson

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful experience. This was my first time in SF and first time staying at a hostel. I chose to stay in the private queen room. The location is awesome, right in the downtown area and close to public transportation. There’s free WiFi and a modest free breakfast (toast, cereal, boiled eggs, coffee). The second floor has a lounging area and a foosball table. The staff was kind and helpful. It was very clean. The room was spacious.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5 $164	6 $139	7 $142	8 $137	9 $161	10 $122
11 $100	12 $98	13 $97	14 $97	15 $116	16 $116	17 $118
18 $97	19 $97	20 $96	21 $117	22 $117	23 $119	24 $119
25 $92	26 $84	27 $92	28 $84	29 $92	30 $119	31 $119

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1 $84	2 $84	3 $90	4 $84	5 $84	6 $90	7 $90
8 $84	9 $90	10 $90	11 $90	12 $92	13 $92	14 $81
15 $76	16 $73	17 $126	18 $165	19 $166	20 $166	21 $74
22 $73	23 $73	24 $73	25 $73	26 $73	27 $77	28 $84
29 $76	30 $73

HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Prices for HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Private Economy Room

Private Queen Room Ensuite

Bed in Men's 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in All-Gender 6-Bed Dorm Ensuite

Bed in Women's 4-Bed Dormitory

Private Twin Room Ensuite

Bed in Men's 4-Bed Dormitory Ensuite

Bed in Women's 4-Bed Dormitory Ensuite

Guest reviews of HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Considering this hotel for your San Francisco trip?

Prices for upcoming dates