This hostel raised my standards of hostel! I've never been to one so great. Definitely best hostel in San Diego! This hostel is absolutely amazing, the staff are friendly, helpful, full of local knowledge and go the extra mile for all the guests. The facilities are cleaned daily, rooms are spacious, air conditioned, large lockers for the bigger backpacks, outlets and lights in the bunk with you. You often see the staff deep cleaning and making sure everything is tidy. Definitely the CLEANEST hostel in San Diego. It's located in the heart of Gaslamp and it's an easy walk to get anywhere. As much as its in the middle of all the action, when you shut your window at night you aren't bothered by the noise. There is so much to do downtown. Not only is the local area lively but they have in house activities almost every day- Taco Tuesday, Sunset Tour, Ghost Tour, Beer Pong Tournaments and Saturday Social. These activities are not only very well thought out and planned but a lot of fun. A great way to meet other guests & meet people to do other things with. Highly recommend!

Extremely rude staff. Basically felt uncomfortable being around the “volunteers.” They treat you like a child and are extremely controlling and patronizing. Even when I kept to myself, they refused to extend my stay while lying that they had the green light from the owner, basically because they didn’t like me and their volunteers are either manipulative or incompetent. My first day Bebe tried to lecture me about California taxes when I come from a higher taxed city IN CA. She also almost didn’t give me back cash change. Had to ask multiple times. I was willing to forgive that but they are strict about the strangest little things: The reception doesn’t keep their time and every time I had to ask to match my rate online… no other hostel has made me wait till 1pm to do this. All other hostels have been extremely accommodating. There was no professionalism at all as a business. It’s a toxic environment. Very disappointing. Won’t be returning.

Definitely the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at. Everything is so clean and the common areas are great to make new friends. The staff is outstanding since everyone is just so helpful and friendly even if they are not on shift. Also the social events are super fun!! The rooms have a good size and the beds provide enough privacy since you have metal walls behind and next to your head. Lockers are provided in the room, which gives extra security. Last but not least is the location of the hostel outstanding as well. Right in the heart of Gaslamp Quarter and just a 10 min walk from the Seaport Village. In conclusion, I can just highly recommend that hostel, doesn’t matter if you are just travelling and want to make new friends or if you are in the city for work.

The place was nice and I really enjoyed it. Could have been a bit better. All staff I met..... Very courteous and friendly. However, I would recommend installing screens on the windows. When I checked in, the large window was open. No screen. This invites pests, insects or rodents inside. Downtown SD is infested with rats and mosquitos and they can easily access it if they want. Maybe even bats. It's such an easy fix. I did bring it to the attention of the young lady at the front and she made it seem like it was normal, she said just close the curtains lol. There was an open liquor bottle under my bed for 3 or 4 days. Day # 2 I brought it to the attention of the young lady, no action taken. Eventually the bottle made it to the side of my bed somehow, by the shelf. I just threw it away. Had to breakout my own personal toilet paper one night. Luckily I had a back up roll of my own. Some guests lay on the couch, feet and all. Some guest's are just too dirty and do not clean up after themselves. Some lady was talking to herself one morning at 4 am in the bathroom on the 2nd floor. I politely went to tell her to shut up. You could hear her through the walls. There is no eating in the rooms which is good but some guests' are ignorant to the rules, a big pizza box in the small trash can in the room. I recommend enforce the rules more strictly please. Other than those few things, still I enjoyed my stay. Not sure I would be back here though, the missing screen is a detractor for my personal safety and health.

Right in the heart of downtown SD for those looking to experience the Gaslamp district in it’s full glory this is the spot. Hostel itself is unique, clean, and full of character. Speaking of characters, all the staff were extremely friendly, polite, and helpful. They are happy to talk or provide space depending on your preference. Despite being genderless bathrooms felt very clean and offer far more privacy than other hostels I’ve stayed at. Would definitely return!!

I stayed in 3 rooms (2 trips, and one stay split it 2 because I really wanted a bottom bed and none were available so they moved me the next day) and they were similar. Beds were comfortable and had privacy at one end, with an outlet (albeit a little loose so bring a light adapter) and a little light. Washrooms were fine, more or less clean but only 6 showers and 6 toilets for 23 rooms (although admitedly I never had trouble finding free stalls); there are 2 hair dryers. The lockers are huge (15" wide, 16.5" deep, 34.5" tall), take a school lock but not a luggage lock, and have an electrical outlet inside. There's also plenty of space under the beds to store even the largest luggage. Towels and sheets are provided. There is a common fridge (no freezer) but it was PACKED. There's also a vending machine in the hall and a simple breakfast in the mornings. The common room is a bit cramped but the breakfast room upstairs provided a nice quiet place to do some packing and get some alone time. Wifi is free, but spotty in the back rooms. The staff were super nice and very helpful; seems like they are students also staying at the hostel. Was disappointed that the ghost tour on Thursday was canceled, but I got the story from one of the receptionists. Didn't see any ghosts tho. :) The area is very lively at night with a night club across the street and bars everywhere; the noise can travel to the rooms but it wasn't too bad (there's free ear plugs by reception). Despite the location, everyone I roomed with seemed to sleep quite early (before 11pm) so I had to do a lot of tip toeing...not exactly a party hostel. I have just 2 wishes. One, that we could book a top or bottom bunk ahead of time and two, that there were curtains around the beds to provide even more privacy. But overall, I had a good stay and a first time hostel experience.

Excellent stay. Absolutely fabulous for such a good price. Friendly staff, very clean, well-stocked, abundance of amenities. Historical building with lovely decor. I stayed in a 6 bed same-gender dorm and my roommates were very respectful. Yes, you are staying in the middle of downtown for a big discount so don't complain - just be ready. Bring heavy duty earplugs and an eyemask. I booked my stay at the last minute and I came in very late on a Saturday night - so I was prepared to be in a noisy room. Once the bars closed at 2 am, I was able to get some pretty decent sleep until about 8:30 am. I would definitely stay here again! Thank you Gaslamp Hostel!

It's really hard to me to give a fair rating because my expectations were somewhat different and I'm not the typical hostel-goer. I can mainly just reiterate what other people already said. To start with the not-so-good things/caveats: 1. The entrance of the hostel is somewhat hidden from plain sight (single pink door right between two food places), and it's in the second and third floor, with no elevators. 2. Soundproofing is - let's say - suboptimal. 3. There are rooms without windows. I was in one of those, and it was actually pretty dark in there. I didn't really mind for the rather short time I was there, but if you do maybe ask the staff to give you one that has one (mind you the street can get kinda loud in the evening). 4. Breakfast is very simple; especially considering that there are several breakfast places in the Gaslamp Quarter, it's not really an argument that speaks for choosing this hostel over another place. 5. Reception hours were kind of useless to me. They only open at 10am. If you need something before that that's not an "emergency," you'll have to find a staff member in the house to take care of it. 6. My mattress was pretty worn. I could feel the springs inside of it when lying down. I know the last two years were difficult for this business (as for many), but it's still something I need to say. Finally, another point that is not a negative but that you should consider: The hostel offers parking for (currently) $15 a night, which is a typical price for the area, plus a $25 deposit. Parking is located in a building very close to the hostel, and parking spaces there are nice and big. However, you need the card for exiting the parking lot, too. This means that when you give back the parking card, you'll need to stop your car somewhere else in the meantime, and parking spaces in the area are rare or expensive. In my book, the parking card service is very convenient but only really worthwhile if you stay somewhat longer (I had the parking pass for just one night, so in retrospect I would have probably just used one of the other commercial lots in the area). I know this is getting very long, but hold on, there's also positives. First of all, the hostel was clean and staff was often seen cleaning up surfaces, e.g. in the bathroom. There are laundry facilities, an ATM, and vending machines located near the reception. While I couldn't manage to go to one of the activities, they offer several throughout the week and they all look pretty fun. The location was great, with a plethora of shops and eateries around the hostel, proximity to public transit, and Balboa Park and the San Diego Bay are also nearby. Lastly, all the staff members I interacted me were great, always nice and friendly and very helpful. In short, if you are okay with the caveats stated above (and none of them are really killer criteria) this is a clean and safe place to stay in the heart of the city with competitive rates. Thanks for reading my novel :)

I'm a bit late writing this but guess better late than never. I've stayed here a few times and each time is a good experience. They've added activities since my last stay and the ghost tour is a must - beer pong is also great! it is in downtown so if you can't do street noise, ask for a room in the back.

The good part of this hostel is the location, very centrally located to everything. Besides that, it’s not an amazing experience. Just smelled as if it needs to be ventilated, with carpet everywhere that did not make it the freshest..especially the rooms..with no light or windows it gets very stuffy which was my experience. Beyond that, during my stay there was karaoke which started at 8 which is fine..but it went on all night into the morning (like 2am) very loudly which is thought was pretty rude considering there’s signs about courtesy and noise levels. The staff was okay

The staff were helpful, however reception closes overnight and didn't open until 8am. Even at 8am, despite standing at reception for 15 minutes staff just ignored me, or walked past. I had to ask for assistance at 8.10am. Breakfast here was the worst of all the hostels I have ever stayed in, both in the U.S. and in Europe.....and I've been to a lot. I guess if you just want a black coffee or tea, it's OK (there is only sugary cereal). Rooms at the front were very noisy as it is right in downtown. Very convenient if you want to go out-out, but not if you want quiet. It's about a 25 minute walk to Little Italy area. Steep steps to enter, no lifts. Lockers in rooms not big enough for rucksacks/big bags, but big enough to put most expensive/important items in. Need a padlock that fits, so bring a selection. Clean throughout. Bathrooms all mixed, so be prepared to share! Obviously all toilet cubicles and shower cubicles are lockable. But sinks are communal. No sinks in rooms. Secure luggage storage area. Activities put on, mostly drink/night time. Good sociable vibe.

I stayed at the hostel for San Diego Comic-con in 2022 and it was so great that I'm going back next year!! The kitchen was open early in the morning so I could eat before going to the convention and they also prepared morning sandwiches. And to top all off, they made us a con survivors backpack that contained snacks to bring to the convention. It was really appreciated and I hope they do it again next year. Everything was always super clean, you could eat on the floor and the staff is really amicable. My only negative point is that someone woke me up by snoring twice during my stay, but it wasn't their fault so I won't change my score.

This was an AMAZING hostel! Its absolutely beautiful and so clean. The bathrooms and kitchen were very nice! The staff though...just the nicest and most helpful!! Not just one or two..ALL of them. I will always stay here from now on when I come to San Diego.

Fantastic place to stay during my short trip to San Diego. They plan events like ice breakers and get you comfortable with your bunkmates and other tenants. They offer a light breakfast in the morning that you can eat at the lounge. My favorite aspect was the people, the staff were great and I made a few friends in the process. If you're extroverted than this is the place for you!

First time staying at a hostel and honestly it was a good experience. Felt extremely safe during the whole visit. My only complaint is that it is warm in the building but I do come from a state where ac is a must. I would suggest bring a pillow and the beds do creek a little. But overall it was a good experience and I would definitely come back again.

my first ever hostel experience and wow was it amazing! The staff were friendly, accommodating and attentive. The hostel is kept decently clean with great restroom facilities and not to mention the fully enclosed private showers! The location is incredible and this hostel has to be one of the best ever. Will definitely stay again🤍

I only stayed for one night but I had a great time. The hostel is straight in the middle of the Gaslamp Quarter, which was perfect for me (I was going to a concert at the House Of Blues which is just up the road). The front door is tiny and easy to miss, and the stairs weren't fun with my big suitcase, but it's not even a big problem, because the hostel was so great. The room was clean and quiet, same with the bathroom and the kitchen. The person at reception was lovely, helpful, and patient with me when my bank card was a bit stupid (I believe her name was Alannah?), which was super appreciated after a long trip and quite a bit of stress. I would definitely stay again when I come back to San Diego (which I will because the city is amazing).

This hostel is right in the heart of San Diego with TONS of restaurants and shops literally right around the corner. I stayed over New Year’s, and because I was having such a good time, I extended my stay for about a week after, and this was the cleanest/most friendly hostel I’ve ever stayed at. Seriously, the staff was very friendly, helpful, and communicative, and always went out of their way out immediately if you needed something. There’s a movie theater/restaurant right across the street that has $5 movies on Tuesdays, there’s a Pizza Lounge/Bar right downstairs, and also two fine-dining Italian restaurants downstairs that are great for date nights and brunch. There’s also a karaoke bar downstairs as well, super fun and close! The beds at the hostel are really comfy, and the blankets they give are really soft and warm. Love it! I wish I could give 10 stars! I would highly recommend this hostel if you’re traveling to San Diego and want to get the full experience!

Prime location excellent customer service! Hotel-grade experience (free breakfast/coffee) and super friendly and helpful staff. Cannot beat the fact that they have a washer/dryer on site as well as a fully functioning kitchen. Super clean bathrooms as well. If you’re a digital nomad, you can use their social space as a workspace, which is a big plus. Highly recommend Gaslamp Hostel and would stay here again!!

Maria, her partners Erin and John, and their staff are absolute beautiful people. With their generosity, they helped my family and I in a big time of need and I’ll never forget that. This hostel goes above business and has a real heart and human compassion to it. It’s a lottery who you’re going to get staying with you at any hostel, but this place was decorated beautifully and the facilities were great. Most affordable stay I could find in San Diego and more lovely than any other. But above all, the people here are good people. Thank you for the stay!

Stayed July 24-26 2023 - Positives: Clean and Orderly The fish! Let you choose your own bunks Gender neutral bathrooms Huge kitchen with seating upstairs Friendly staff In the middle of the Gaslamp district so close to restaurants and trolley & bus stops Vending machine where you can buy laundry detergent and quarters to work the washer and dryer (these are $3 each so $6 total) and some nice snack and drink options Easy checkin and check out Need to scan your card in to gain entry inside They let you store your bags if you are too early for checkin I didn't see AC in the rooms but somehow they were perfectly cool - Negative: The internet did not work in my room at all. Only worked near the check in desk and even then it's rather choppy Didn't know there was a ton of stairs you had to climb. I had a ton of bags to carry so that was fun. If you have mobility/health issues or rely on a wheelchair - look elsewhere Misc: you're only allowed to do laundry from 3-10PM. Altho didn't affect me I know some people can only do laundry in the morning. It should be available all day. This place is a little hard to find - it's a pink door inbetween two restaurants (luckily this was mentioned in another review or I would have been looking for it forever) I didn't store my food in their fridges but they have labels and pens to mark your items. Also they have a ton of cameras to make sure you don;t sneak off with staff workers' food I would technically rate this place a 3.5/5 but gave it a 4 as google doesn't do half stars

Decided to take a day trip to San Diego and the original hostel I booked had overbooked and canceled my reservation. After calling a few around town and checking online, I found the Gaslamp Hostel. It is tucked between to restaurants and if you blink you might miss the entrance, but to me that adds to the charm. The smell of Italian food from below permeated the air. Entry was fairly easy as you call for them to buzz you in which keeps you feeling safe and secure. Once up the stairs you're greeted by a double staircase and beautiful art covered walls. To the left is the reception. Checking in was a breeze and I was promptly shown the amenities so to speak. There was free continental breakfast in the morning, a lounge and a small outdoor area. I got a shared room but it was very quiet and the set up of the beds allowed for there to still be privacy. You had your light light and sockets to charge your items. Bed was actually quite comfy. Location around can be a bit loud at night but that's to be expected of gaslamp due to the bars and clubs. I opted to stay in but once asleep you hear nothing. Overall, definitely recommend and would stay here again.

My friend was staying here and had to be hospitalized. The staff took great care to pack up her belongings when she needed to be transferred to a nursing facility. The staff delivered her items via uber. Am very grateful for their cheerful assistance!

Great staff, cool building, coffee was appreciated, cleaned regularly. Room was always freezing and no individual thermostats. If you have asthma and/or are sensitive to the chemicals in cleaning/air freshener products, beware, it's a minefield. There is no outdoor space to retreat/relax. Kitchen loft can fill with gas fumes, or casein fumes if someone's cooking peppers. The fan helps a bit. Sunset tour and ghost tour were fun. Bed was comfy, but I missed my pillow.

One of the coolest looking hostels I’ve been to. It was a house of ill repute once upon a time and it still have a very classic decor and layout which will transport you back in time in a really cool way. It was a bit hard to find (it’s a very small door between two Italian restaurants). They provided free vodka on our first night there (Saturday) but it was a very low key social vibe and a bit dull so my fiancée and I ended up going out to find a seperate bar crawl. The private room we had was basic but comfortable enough and had a decent amount of space and a small fridge.

Enjoyed my stay. Great location in the heart of Gaslamp Quarter. 4 person room was nice. Bed mattress was only ok, noisy and uncomfortable, maybe time for a new one. Kitchen looks a little messy or disorganized or does it just seem dark. Staff are wonderful, helpful and kind.

I had a short but great stay here. The staff and management truly care about your experience. I was there for free cocktails and game night. And this is night life central. It's all just a step out the door. The 923 bus is two blocks away and takes you to Ocean Beach. The hostel is the perfect location to experience all of San Diego. Bathrooms are great. Curtains in the bunks for privacy. The staff was very nice, even thanked me on my way out. Awesome experience. Would definitely stay again.

It was okay. The price for the rooms are pretty decent (mines was $44). They mostly have shared dormitories and maybe a few private bedrooms. Their bathrooms / showers are on the main floor and another upstairs while their laundromat is on the left side of the left stairway. If you don't have any blankets, they provide some for you but it's still better to bring your own belongings just in case if they run out. Inside each room there are lockers in case you want to put your belongings in there. For locks, they sell them at the receptionist desk for $5. Last but not least, it's also in the heart of Downtown San Diego so you get a whiff of the great music, food, and even public transit down the street (very convenient). Nonetheless, it's a decent spot for anyone who needs somewhere budget-friendly and convenient if you don't know the outskirts of San Diego.

I have only been here 1 night out of a 3 night stay but I already have stuff to say. I have been to nearly every hostel downtown over the last several years but this one is by far the best. The beds are comfortable, the bathrooms are spotless, the kitchen is well stocked and there is a little second story loft you can eat in above the kitchen, it was neat. The staff have been extremely friendly, proactive even in making sure I'm comfortable, already met some cool people as well, a guy in my room is at the end of his PHD. The location is perfection on its own surrounded by restaurants and bars and only a 10 min walk to Petco field, im an Atlanta Braves fan in town for the Braves-Padres series. My only complaint is not staying here sooner. When I come to San Diego in the future I'm staying here. This hostel almost didn't survive COVID and it would of been tragic if they would of had to shutdown. I'm staying in Room 12 and it's comfortable, big window for ventilation and away from the street noise. Lockers are also in room. Photo of the hostel area at both day and night and inside shots

What a neat place ! The staff was great very thoughtful- fresh towels as needed and the mattresses were comfortable as far as bunk mattresses go - they really have a nice communal atmosphere set up. There were plenty of shared co-ed bathrooms … and they provided earplugs . The only downside is it’s smack dab in the middle of a loud party district - if that’s your thing .

The cutest little hostel. The staff is always cleaning which as a guest you notice and it makes the place feel so much cleaner. Shared rooms have a privacy screen and locker for your stuff which makes it feel more comfortable. There’s the lounge, upstairs kitchen, and couches by the stairs all to hangout on. Staff hosts nightly activities which is a great way to meet other guests. My favorite was the sunset walking tour. When checking in the receptionist was from Germany and he taught me a couple German words. They also had a receptionist with the coolest accent, maybe British? The managers were all so kind and very present in the hostel. They offered beach towels and any recommendations needed. A staff member named Adrian was always so quick to help and answer any questions even when off the clock.

Great location; in fact seemed too good because the entry way is in the middle of two restaurants. The rooms are great for hostel rooms. They don't have AC but the strong fans make up for it. We were only staying for the night so didnt find it too uncomfortable. The bathrooms are kept clean and wasn't crowded. You do have to climb some stairs to get to the hostel and the rooms; not a lot but in case you have trouble walking up stairs, this might not be the place for you.

This wasn’t the stay I was expecting when I came to San Diego. This was likely the worst hostel I stayed in this far. I went to Portland earlier this year and that hostel Had a cafe and elevator, bigger rooms and some amenities including a decent breakfast. To me for the money you could afford to stay at another hostel and I do suggest you call and talk to people, that is one thing I did not do. If you like quiet places this isn’t for you. It’s extremely noisy both on the street and in side the hostel itself. I had a horrible first night and barely slept, I wanted to leave but decided to change rooms and that made my stay better for a minute until I got someone else in my room and by my last day my room was completely full. Loud music playing outside until 2am and people snoring super loudly. Some not all of the staff seemed nice but really didn’t take any of my suggestions to heart. When I complained about people taking towels my last night at 9pm when there were at least two other times they disturbed me for housekeeping and checking beds I was completely done with this place. I would not recommend you stay here unless it’s last minute and your desperate for a place.

I can't say enough about the all-around excellence of this hostel!! Much of the details are in the other reviews but again ..the cleanliness, the detail and kind staff.. the lovely communal areas, the extremely well designed nature of the dorm rooms... Even supplying a little mini lamp plug in and tiny shelf attached to each bed!! From a nice mini library, to delicious coffee, to beautifully posted and put together nightly events and local San Diego highlights... Well over my many years.. as I'm not exactly a youth anymore🥴... And having used hostels all over the world... I can definitely say this is one of the very best.