The Hostelz.com Review
San Francisco City Center Hostel is the newest of three Hostelling International hostels located in San Francisco. Easily accessible by public transport, its location is ideal for exploring all that this city has to offer. The building itself is smart and clean. Facilities available include a well-equipped kitchen, dining area, common area with comfy sofas, internet access with printing available, snack vending machines and luggage storage. The small dorms (4 beds) are ensuite with a bath and towels are provided, which is a real bonus. If you want to get out and about with people from the hostel, a range of tours are organised weekly to places in and around the San Francisco area.
The Tenderloin district in which the hostel is located has a reputation for being a bit unpleasant and there are a few odd characters walking the streets outside. However, the hostel itself is perfectly safe inside and with bus-stops just one block away it is not a problem to get out and about and feel safe at the same time. It is just a short walk down to Market Street where you can find the Visitor Center, a huge range of shops and public transport connections to most places by bus, streetcar, train and cable car. Alternatively, the number 38 bus stops just one or two blocks up (depending on which direction you are travelling), providing a frequent service to and from places such as Union Square and the Transbay Terminal (Greyhound bus station).
This truly is a great place to stay and needs very little improvement. However, a laundry would be a useful addition (although a public laundromat can be found one block away).
The Tenderloin district in which the hostel is located has a reputation for being a bit unpleasant and there are a few odd characters walking the streets outside. However, the hostel itself is perfectly safe inside and with bus-stops just one block away it is not a problem to get out and about and feel safe at the same time. It is just a short walk down to Market Street where you can find the Visitor Center, a huge range of shops and public transport connections to most places by bus, streetcar, train and cable car. Alternatively, the number 38 bus stops just one or two blocks up (depending on which direction you are travelling), providing a frequent service to and from places such as Union Square and the Transbay Terminal (Greyhound bus station).
This truly is a great place to stay and needs very little improvement. However, a laundry would be a useful addition (although a public laundromat can be found one block away).
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
Their Description
HI - San Francisco, City Center Hostel Details
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HI - San Francisco, City Center Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Nice hostel, TERRIBLE location The hostel itself is very nice -- en-suite bathrooms, good complimentary breakfast, and really friendly staff. But I couldn't stay -- the neighbourhood is extremely downtrodden and scary. My first night coming home (at only 9pm!) I saw a hobo fight and a guy peeing who started talking to me in a suggestive way. This was within 1 block of the hostel! San Francisco itself has a huge homeless problem, but the neighbourhood of this hostel is much worse than in other parts of the city. If you're traveling alone DON'T STAY HERE because you'll never want to walk around outside, especially after dark. — captainwinter364 , Canada (2010-05-26) Ok had several different experiences while here. I will say from the start it was not that bad. First off my T-Mobile cell phone won't pick up a signal well at all. I called T Mobile they said they would look in to it. A larger TV room would help there is seating for five. A laundry room would also be nice. I guess my biggest gripe would be I was in a coed room. I am a guy in my mid forties. It was ok until a couple (man and woman) shared the same bed. I was very uncomfortable when this happened and I am sure that the two girls who stayed in their respective beds were also. I realize the staff had no control of what happens in the rooms. However if a couple wanted to stay in the same bed they should get a private room. — Surprised 1 , USA VET (2008-03-14) Really nice -- just a shame about the neighbors The place is comfortable, modern, and clean. You can't really fault it in that respect. The free breakfast is nice (although don't expect it to keep you full for very long) and free wifi is cool. The neighborhood though is pretty dodgy and feels unsafe after dark. Homeless people are common in SF but Tenderloin has hundreds of them and they're pretty crazy (quite literally, in many cases). Something to keep in mind. — ollie , UK (2008-01-24) EXTREMELY CLEAN. Very private. Shower in every room. 4 per room. Staff is ok & boring. People aren't very party people. Located in the ghetto so if you come back at night, you might feel insecure. Overall, it's a good place, food in the morning. Ghetto a bit. Recommended if you just want to stay at a place and get bored at night. — Vic (2007-01-31) A deceivingly good hostel considering the neighbourhood. Takes a couple of days to get used to the characters outside, but they're harmless enough (just don't video tape them, they get a bit narky about that). Staff are great -- Ewan is a legend! Both HI hostels organise an activity every night (from sightseeing walks to pub crawls) which are quite fun and cheap, if not free. Small complimentary breakfast each morning is a good way to start a day walking as well. — Skip (2006-12-20) The only problem would be that the neighborhood is not trusty (drug dealers, strange guys). So, don't travel alone by night there. Otherwise, the hostel is amazing! Staff is nice and the place is clean, welcoming -- the atmosphere is charming and totally great! — French guy (2006-11-16) The Tenderloin area may be a bit rough outside (although pretty harmless if you have your wits about you) but this Hostel is in complete contrast. It is fantastic with it's "Olde World" charm in the foyer and its friendly and helpful staff. The rooms, bathrooms, and beds were clean and tidy. The lounge area was comfortable and a great place to sit and mingle with other travelers or simply read. This was my second visit to a HI Hostel. thanks for making it a positive experience. — Paul Jackson (Sydney, Australia) (2006-09-28) What a beautiful, well kept, and friendly hostel. Yes, the neighborhood is not good but you can learn to avoid areas and have a great trip. Being a single female traveler, I was never hassled by anyone in the neighborhood. As far as location, it was close to all public transportation and I was able to attend many regional theatre events in the evenings located throughout the city with no problem. Also most tour companies will pick-up and drop-off at the hostel. The hostel itself is wonderful, clean rooms with their own bathrooms, a beautiful European feel to the common areas, and a very helpful/friendly staff. I highly recommend this hostel. My only wish is that they could serve breakfast since it is hard to find a place to shop that had a clean feel to it. — Karen, 49 (2006-06-05) This Hostel is great. The staff are fantastic, very helpful and friendly. The rooms and bathroom are clean. The local area is interesting with lots of colourful characters (anyone from Manchester, England will like this place!). Within 5 minutes of arriving at this hostel I had found a like-minded person to talk to. All in all, I would have no problems in recommending the place to anyone. — The Man from Manchester. (2006-02-04) This hostel is one of the best I have stayed at. Everything is very clean and "sparkling." Despite the lack of atmosphere and activity, this is the quietest and most peaceful place, where I slept like baby during the whole stay. The cleaning staff leaves us with spare linens to replace every morning.
However, I must give it a low score for NO COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST or COFFEE/TEA! The price is same as its two other locations so I do not see why can't I get free breakfast or even coffee in the morning. — German Guy (2005-11-09) The rooms are great and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Inside the hostel is great and clean, and they also have a great Vietnamese restaurant across the street...however, the location of the hostel leaves a lot to be desired. There are drug dealers and pimps and a lot of scary people all down the street and it is not safe to walk down there even during the daytime. I also parked my car out the front and there were people leaning on it and placing their drinks on it. It's not a safe area to be in if you are travelling by yourself. — Anonymous (2005-04-08) It's true this hostel is clean and has great facilities. The main problem is that it has no atmosphere — no one seems to want to make an effort to meet people here. I was so glad I was with someone else — if I were by myself it would have been really lonely. The other problem with this hostel is the location. It's within walking distance to Union Square, sure, but you have to walk through the most dangerous and threatening streets, filled with homeless people and missions. I didn't feel safe at all, and it was a terrible introduction to America. — Australian (2004-10-29) I was very comfortable with the private bathrooms in each room. However, I was a little put off by the homeless people sleeping on the doorstep at night. The hostel is great, but the area is a little scary, especially for a single female traveler. Staff were very friendly, but some of the activities posted on the wall (e.g. the walking tour of the city) were not running, though still advertised. — Anonymous (2004-10-25) Of all the HI hostels in San Francisco this is the best. It's in a central location, it's a smaller place, and it's brand-spanking new. — her (2004-09-02) The hostel itself is great. The location is good in that it's fairly close to the train, buses, and Market Street, but the area it's in is dodgy. — Anonymous (2004-08-04)