Firehouse Hostel image

Firehouse Hostel

Hostel

Basic hostel in a quirky former firehouse offering free Wi-Fi, plus a shared kitchen. People often mention hostel, staff, room, friendly, great, experience, night, location, time, good,


Address

605 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

Website

www.firehousehostel.com

Contact

+1 512-201-2522

Price rating

$83/night

Rating on Google Maps

4.30 (592 reviews)

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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: hostel (30) staff (22) room (19) friendly (17) great (17) experience (14) night (14) location (14) time (13) good (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Caitlin A. 11 months ago on Google
    First time ever in a hostel and couldn't have asked for a better experience. the place is very safe, with a door code to enter and room to lock your things. i was a solo female traveler and felt very comfortable. the place is clean, like, i hate to say it but much cleaner than i expected. staff was so friendly, accommodating and informative.. especially Howie! what a gem that guy is! i will definitely be back and would recommend firehouse to all my friends.
    1 person found this review helpful šŸ‘

  • 4/5 Mir B. 10 months ago on Google
    I want to write a 5-star review, but I canā€™t. The space was great. My shared deluxe dorm was cozy, but solid, and set up with everything I needed. Shared bathrooms were clean, the kitchen was lovely and well equipped (and had decent free coffee), and there was even laundry on site and plenty of spaces to read or work. The spot was noisy (above a speakeasy) but I expected that. One little worry: the door code for the building is also the door code for the speakeasy and doesnā€™t seem to change often. I wasnā€™t too worried though: each room was key carded and within the room we had lockers. And then ā€¦ there was Lily. Lily was a local unhoused woman sleeping on the third floor couch. I first discovered her one morning waking up, but she didnā€™t seem to be causing trouble ā€¦ That night, she was back. How do I know her name was Lily? When I woke up Saturday every item of furniture in the common space had been overturned, Lily had labeled all the artwork in the hallways with her own commentary in crayon, she had torn several items off the walls, ripped up bike seats from the bike storage and - for a bonus - squeezed coconut lotion onto every door handle. Beer cans and trash everywhere. Plant pots broken. It must have been a lot ā€” she was peaceably asleep when I saw her. This was when I discovered that there was literally no way to reach hostel staff overnight in an emergency, and no night attendant that we could reach. Next day, staff was apologetic and cleaned it all up with speed and grace. A few additions to the murals were all that was left of Lily ā€¦ till that night. Yep. There she was again, just sleeping on the third floor couch like nothing had happened. No change to the door code. No attempt to keep an eye out for her. No increased efforts to secure the site at all. No way to reach staff. I just decided not to sleep that last night. If it had been a one off, I could give a stellar review. But I canā€™t just set you up for Lily roulette without a warning. Your visit might be great! Or you might get a local personā€™s meltdown without any effort from staff to prevent it. At least the art critique was funny ā€¦?
    1 person found this review helpful šŸ‘

  • 5/5 Natalie N. 1 year ago on Google
    Right at the heart of the party, walkable to everything. Clean and very safe rooms with lockers to stow your bags. Surprisingly quiet at night for the amount of live music being played in the lounge! Howie and Riley had fantastic customer service and were knowledgeable on tips of where to go. Definitely recommend for all travelers!
    1 person found this review helpful šŸ‘

  • 2/5 dan b. 1 year ago on Google
    You get what you pay for. The staff were friendly enough and the bunk beds were comfortable. Despite having ear plugs in with headphones on top of them and 3 fans going in the room, you can feel the bass line from the bar bellow and still hear the comotion of a busy downtown area. If you are a light sleeper and want to sleep, don't bother. The price is attractive, the location felt a bit sketch. If you have room in your budget, get a budget motel for 20-30$ more a night. Withe fees and taxes, the price was about 20$ above advertised rates. To be expected, but unlike all other hostel experiences I have had domestically and abroad. Enjoy Austin
    1 person found this review helpful šŸ‘

  • 5/5 Frankie 6 months ago on Google
    Visited solo and stayed in this hostel in July. I loved everything about it. Clean common areas and rooms. There's a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and a couple bathrooms/showers on each floor. There isn't a common space to lounge and socialize so the kitchen kind of ends up being that. Made some great friends there whom I still regularly talk to. If I return to Austin I would 100% stay here again.

  • 1/5 Brad L. 9 months ago on Google
    I checked in today at 3 PM sharp today only to be greeted by the most irritable hostel worker (named Howie) I have ever came across. I have been to hostels in about 35 countries and never have I been given such an attitude. All I did was ask to see the room before I select the dorm. He literally went into a fit while grabbing the key to show me. I said the room Is fine , he says "Is this your first time at a hostel? We usually don't deal with guest this picky. Or show rooms because a lot of people come and steal things." I said "how dare you" half jokingly, then he gives me my card back and tells me to leave. After I had already made my reservation. I am in my late 30s I did not walk to argue with this kid especially after just getting off a 6am flight. I just wanted to rest But after I knew I wasn't getting the room I let him know how disrespectful he was. I saw the other guests give me a nod because they understood how unreasonable he was being. I always ask to see the room first. Never have a dealt with such an angry hostel employee before. He should go back to school.

  • 5/5 Bonnie H. 4 months ago on Google
    Really loved this hostel. Fantastic location just off 6th street, heaps of pubs and live music. The rooms were a bit cramped but you could store stuff under the bunks, the beds were comfy and spacious - able to make a neat little bed cave for yourself on the better bunk. Communal toilets / showers were great and you never had to wait. Kitchen was a vibe and easy to use. And the speakeasy adjoined is super cute. Awesome value for money!

  • 5/5 Amanda S. 4 months ago on Google
    Ok so I wish I could rate this place more than 5 stars because it was such an amazing experience! The price, the location, and the staff are beyond amazing! It was my first time staying at a hostel and Howie at the front desk was so warm and sweet! I didnā€™t get a chance to go to the speakeasy but heard great things about it! The space was so clean and my bed was so comfy! If I come back to Austin Iā€™m definitely staying here! You really canā€™t beat it!!!!

  • 5/5 conor m. 6 months ago on Google
    staying at this hostel was a delightful experience. the staff were friendly and welcoming. i landed in very fresh to Austin and found lovely outgoing people with unique stories and ideas. cooking in the kitchen and clicking into having a good time was made easy. a lovely lad behind the desk, Howie gave great advice on things to do around and brought a brilliant attitude to help us all get to know each other. a pure European like hostel and a breath of cool air in the Austin heat!! i would definitely stay again and hope others get to have a good time there too.

  • 3/5 Taylor P. 4 months ago on Google
    Location is perfect if you are looking to stay downtown. Donā€™t expect to get a ton of sleep though and no Iā€™m not referring to there being a bar downstairs. There was no sound proofing on the door so you heard every door open and close. My mom and I got one of the private rooms that has a bathroom attached. Unfortunately the bathroom looked like it hadnā€™t been cleaned in months. The shower curtain was moldy and everything was covered in a thin layer of dust, including the fan in the room. I let the front counter know and also sent an email.

  • 5/5 Jasmine W. 1 year ago on Google
    I was lucky enough to be checked in and out by the wonderful Makenzie! She is so incredibly nice and welcoming. I am so grateful to have been welcomed by such an awesome human bean with such wholesome energy. Thanks again for being the cherry on top of my stay at the firehouse hostel. :) You're the best!!!

  • 4/5 Jonathan M. 6 months ago on Google
    I had a cool experience there the staff was somewhat friendly. That one Guy O believe his Name Howie was somewhat Rude. He appeared Friendly at first but yelled at me for going into the wrong floor. In all my experiences in Hostels I hardly get yelled and that was professional. I only would say something if problem continue throughout my stay there. Most Hostel Staff in my experience in Travel were always great with me. But his attitude needs to be fix. But other staff I believe that Hispanic Lady that worked late in the evening was very outgoing as I was talking about my visit and into go Latin Dancing. She loved listening my stories. The rooms were okay mets some people from other countries. That's what I like about staying in Hostels. The Location is good near the Landmarks of Austin. And this Hostel reasonable affordable. I recommend.

  • 5/5 Nicholas O. 4 months ago on Google
    Firehouse is a great hostel. I stayed multiple times and my experience was good. The staff are friendly and helpful, the facilities are clean. The kitchen was very well stocked with cooking utensils (better than my own kitchen). Laundry was onsite as well and I used it multiple times. The location is close to 6th street which gets loud at night. The bar downstairs is also sometimes quite loud until 2am. Free earplugs were provided so this did not bother me very much. I would return here again if I stayed in the area. Highly recommend.

  • 5/5 ģ“ģˆ˜ģ§„ 5 months ago on Google
    Iā€™m from Korea and iā€™m a solo traveling female and I loved my stay. It was better than I thought as I stayed in a mix dorm with men and women and they were all friendly including the staff! The room condition was clean and good condition. No dust! Room is a bit cold so dress warm. Love the free beer at checkin! Howie is really friendly and helped me make a friend in the bar. He always says hello, making my mornings better.

  • 5/5 Isaiah M. 4 months ago on Google
    Had a nice 5-night stay here. Rooms and facilities were decently clean. Everyone at the front deskā€”with a special mention for Howieā€”were exceptional in helping me get situated and explore around Austin. As for location, the hostel is located near a very busy nightlight scene, so the rooms can be noisy at night. There is also a noticeable homeless population in the area. Overall, the hostel is well run, accommodating, and a good value for its price.

  • 4/5 Rishabh T. 4 months ago on Google
    When they say ā€œlocation is everything and everything is locationā€, they were talking about this hostel. Had a good time. Since itā€™s in Downtown Austin, a lot of great spots were close to it. And dirty 6th. The staff was sweet and friendly. The hostel also got a speakeasy on the first floor and you bet someone was playing there every night. Only caveat was the restroom. Male urinals were stinky and the shower had a dirty shower curtain and leftover hairs on shower drain. Pretty good experience overall.

  • 5/5 victor r. 4 months ago on Google
    Iā€™d never stayed in a hostel before, but Iā€™d thought Iā€™d try a new experience. Howie at the front counter was friendly and helpful. I mean, if youā€™re alone and just need a place to hang your hat, itā€™s perfect and affordable. I stayed in a coed dorm and everyone was friendly. Being so close to 6th street and after a long night of partying, it couldnā€™t be more convenient!

  • 5/5 Daniel J. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a very good time at this hostel. Stayed 10 days and didn't know what to expect. Ended up meeting so many friends from all over and explored the city with them. I thought the dorms were comfortable and clean. Speakeasy bar was a great way to start the night. The hostel is well situated and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Want to give a special shout out to Howard who was very welcoming, warm and helpful whenever encountered. Keep this hostel going guys it was a great experience!

  • 4/5 Jake C. 1 year ago on Google
    Somewhat typical hostel - it's what I'd expect for the price paid! The people at the front desk are helpful, and the kitchens and lounge are quite nice. The room I got, 205, isn't as nice as the four-bed room pictured - the walls and floor have seen better days - but it's by no means uncomfortable. Bed and pillows are decent. On the location - Sixth Street has a lot of Austin's dive bars, so there are lots of twenty-somethings around in the evenings to socialize with. There are typically a few people down on their luck asking for money camped out within a couple of blocks of here, but I haven't had any interactions I would consider uncomfortable near the hostel, and the hostel itself is incredibly safe and secure.

  • 2/5 Alex L. 1 year ago on Google
    The place is well-located is you want to stay close to the downtown. The amenities and equipments are good, special the kitchen with all you could need if you're planning to cook. The only such a big problem I had, once I got to my shared room, there were just two bed left, the worst. Because over you there will be the AC metal conduct, I mean between the ceiling and the bed. So yeah I almost hit my head but I felt like in a coffin.

  • 5/5 Samantha R. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a very delayed review but I couldnā€™t not share my experience here. I stayed for a week around Halloween 2022 and it was so great. It was my first hostel experience and it couldnā€™t have been better. The environment was very welcoming, the hostel itself was so cool, had everything you need and felt safe, the staff were very personable, friendly and kind and by the time I was getting ready to leave it had started to feel like home. It can be a bit loud on weekend nights due to the bar downstairs and being off of 6th Street, but I was able to sleep just fine and my room was by the street. The price in my opinion is great for being able to be in the heart of downtown and they even accommodated me for an extra night when I had to reschedule my flight home due to bad weather. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and I would absolutely return if Iā€™m ever in Austin again!

  • 5/5 Jullien V. 1 year ago on Google
    The staff was super friendly and welcoming. The morning of my check out I nearly gave Howie(blond male) a heart attack walking up behind him, but he was a good sport about it. He also helped me as an inexperienced American traveller save quite a bit of money by telling me to take a bus instead of an uber. The beds were surprisingly comfortable and the bedding was clean. Definitely bang for my buck. Also the location is cool for a traveller as I'm from South Africa and there is a ton of new sites to see. If I head to Austin again Iā€™ll definitely use there services again!

  • 5/5 Dimitrios P. 1 year ago on Google
    I had an amazing hostel experience here. The bed was comfortable, the price was good for a tight budget, and the staff were all very friendly. I met some great people here, and Kelly helped me extend my stay a few more days. The speakeasy downstairs also has a nice loungey vibe.

  • 5/5 Maris M. 1 year ago on Google
    First time staying at a hostel and I loved it! The staff was super friendly and accommodating, the check in/out process was easy. The location was great, right in the middle of downtown so mostly everything was a walkable distance away. Met so many cool people here, if I come back to Austin Iā€™d def stay here again.

  • 3/5 Nicola Dal M. 1 year ago on Google
    Location is definitely good, just a stone throw away from the Capitol. Staff was okay, check-in process was smooth. Stayed here two nights in August, full humidity outside, my room at level 2 was not too bad all things considered. Downsides: although a midnight to 8am silent time is in effect, this is not enforced as people were LOUD in the halls until 3.15am. Top bunk beds have large gaps to the room wall. Level 2 men's washroom had just two stalls, 1 sink and 1 urinal.

  • 5/5 Aly D. 1 year ago on Google
    This was my first time booking a hostel and I couldn't imagine a better experience. The location was perfect and I felt incredibly safe. Firehouse also has a really great bar with some amazing bartenders who kept us laughing. I absolutely would book again, 11/10 would recommend!

  • 4/5 Rick D. 1 year ago on Google
    Great location, and the two private rooms that I stayed in were roomy and clean. The bar downstairs was lively and and a nice ambiance. The staff were helpful when asked. Not a lot of information on offer, and the signs indicating free breakfast never materialized any morning of the week that I stayed there.

  • 5/5 Chae C. 1 year ago on Google
    Location and the vibe of the hostel plus it's lovely speakeasy bar/club are most enjoyable. Great friendly staff ( Howie is Great!) and the guests from all over the world make it even better. I noticed the question of cleanliness was all on the guests, not the staff, during 9to5 they are trying with all their might trying to keep the place clean, but it's really up to which other guests you happen to be staying at that time. Great experience, central to everything AUSTIN.

  • 5/5 Jimmy S. 1 year ago on Google
    Very much enjoyed my 4-day stay. Stay was inexpensive, staff was friendly and helpful, place was clean, the location is great being in the middle of downtown. I got to meet a lot of cool people. I was even able to get work done there. Space in the room is limited, and live music was playing at the speakeasy downstairs one night which we can hear from the room, but I didnā€™t mind. Definitely will consider staying there again in the future!

  • 4/5 Marie H. 1 year ago on Google
    The location is fantastic. You can walk everywhere from here. It is kept very clean.(maybe the individual bed fans could be cleaned though) I stayed twice and when I was on the second floor I could hear the music from the bar very easily. Luckily I liked the music and could listen to it from my bed, in my pyjamas. Win. The next time I stayed on the third floor and this had nicer bathrooms. I couldn't hear the music from this floor. I would have liked a larger social area and if they could run social events in the evening, as I didn't feel so safe walking around Austin alone at night. I'm sure travellers would be happy to donate towards this if it was offered.


Call +1 512-201-2522 Open on Google Maps

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