My ItineraryHI San Francisco City Center
Address
HI - San Francisco - City Center
685 Ellis St
94109 San Francisco
USA
Tel. 1-415-474 5721
Fax. 1-415-776 0775
hicc@sfhostels.org
Customer Rating
| 93% | ||
| 90% | ||
| 85% | ||
| 91% | ||
| 85% | ||
| 68% | ||
| 85% | ||
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews HI - San Francisco - City Center
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09 Jun 2013 Jim, USA
Nice hostel in a pretty rough area of town.
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06 Jun 2013 Larry, USA
I don't usually stay in hostels but have had pretty good luck at this one. This trip wasn't great. Didn't really meet my roomates but they seemed pretty inconsiderate. Someone had my bed (lower bunk), one guy really messed up the bathroom, one guy had all his junk on the one chair in the room, one guy left his bulky pack right in the path for me to get to the bathroom during the night. For a few bucks more I think I may drive the next time I come to SFO and stay at an inexpensive motel by the airport.
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06 Jun 2013 Gordon, USA
I ended up staying with a friend in the presidio, but I stopped by to let the staff know I wouldn't need the bed. It would have been nicer if they could have applied the cancellation fee toward an HI membership for me... but I understand that the manager was on a conference call. I'll definitely recommend this hostel to friends and stay in the future. I love the location, decor and staff!
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05 Jun 2013 Kevin, Canada
Too many rules, and treated like a criminal.
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29 May 2013 Adik, Indonesia
I had enjoy stayed at the HI San Francisco
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28 May 2013 Roberta, USA
The area surrounding the hostel is somewhat dicey so I felt that I needed to order a taxi instead of taking a short walk to Caltrain.
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27 May 2013 Mark, USA
The reception staff was outstanding. Helpful and friendly.
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27 May 2013 Anna, Sweden
Miss a ladder to the upper bunkbed, it really hurts my feet to climb on the side boards. A suggestion is to merely add a short board on the outside of the ones that are there, to make them twice as thick. That would suffice to prevent aching feet.
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22 May 2013 Mary, USA
I love this hostel, and am so happy that the availability of reasonably priced accommodations in expensive San Francisco has made it possible for me to travel there so often. You can't really blame the hostel for the gritty surroundings of the Tenderloin, but the staff takes sensible precautions to ensure security. I was happy with the upgrades to the room; I stayed in the same one the last time I was there. More electrical outlets, better support for the mattress, and better task lighting are all excellent improvements to the room, and I'm glad the that management does not just rest on their laurels but actively seeks to improve the rooms in ways which, while not expensive, improve the usability of the rooms for budget travelers.
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21 May 2013 Lyndon, Australia
This was the fourth time my wife and I have stayed here. Our private room had been recently redecorated as had the whole building. A very well run establishment!!! Would certainly stay there again. The Hostel is close to a "no-go" area of homeless people however at no stage did we feel threatened. Hostel staff advised us the secure areas to walk and catch public transport. Walking distance to Union Square.
Hostel Overview
Vintage is in, and HI San Francisco City Center hostel has all the charm and character that goes with it. Once the Atherton Hotel, 1920s details accent the hostel's more modern amenities: Mingle with other travellers in Ivy’s Place, a former speakeasy serving beer, wine, and snacks nightly. Connect to the free WiFi in our marble-tiled lobby, or relax in a common room on the mahogany-railed mezzanine. For many a weary traveller, the best feature of all is the full, private bathroom in every room -- including dorms!Off the beaten tourist path but still close to it all, the City Center Hostel is between the gritty Tenderloin district and the clean marble columns of the city's Civic Center and arts districts. The neighbourhood is a hub for some of the city's best cheap cuisine as well as great nightclubs and music venues, big and small. Close to public transit, the hostel’s central location makes a very convenient base for exploring the city.
The City Center hostel organises free and cheap activities for guests, they have you covered for pub crawls, walking tours, museum visits, and day trips to places like Muir Woods, wine country, or Yosemite.
Ivy's Place -- the Prohibition-era speakeasy downstairs -- no longer sells moonshine, but we more than make up for it with free continental breakfast, plus $1 all-you-can-eat pancakes or eggs, each morning. Other amenities include free linens and towels, daily housekeeping, and a full professional-grade kitchen.
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"Stylish, newly renovated digs near alternative clubs and the city's best affordable restaurants." --Collegian magazine
"A sensational base camp for an assault on the city." --Lonely Planet
"A spiffy new hostel… It's friendly, funky, and California cool: good for meeting other travelers, since there are plenty of activities laid on." --Rough Guide
Hostel bed capacity
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Total beds |
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| Number of rooms: | |||||
| 8 | 36 | 5 | 185 | ||
Opening times
Map & Directions
Street Map and Route Planning
Directions
| Bus: | From the Greyhound Station at San Francisco's Temporary Transbay Terminal, exit and turn right on Folsom. Take your first right onto Beale and walk 1 block. Cross Howard, and find the MUNI bus #38 bus stop at the northeast corner of Howard and Beale. Take the MUNI bus #38 to Geary and Larkin Streets. Cross Geary to walk south on Larkin for 2 blocks, then turn left on Ellis. The hostel is the first building on your right. |
| Metro: | BART or MUNI: Get off at the Civic Center Station, and exit the station using the UN Plaza exit. Walk across the plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side. |
| Parking: | Park in the loading zone in front of the hostel; front desk staff will direct you to permanent parking nearby. Expect to pay $10 per 12 hours. |
| Location: | Four blocks from Civic Center Plaza; walking distance to Union Square, Chinatown, SoMa, and cable cars. |
| Rail: | The nearest Amtrak train station is in Emeryville, but Amtrak offers connecting bus service to San Francisco. When you purchase your train ticket, select "San Francisco - Civic Center" as your final destination. From the Civic Center bus stop, walk west across UN Plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side. |
| Airport: | BY BART: Take a BART train from the airport to the Civic Center station. (Trains run 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and holidays.) Exit the station using the UN Plaza exit. Walk across the plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side. BY SHUTTLE: Lorrie's Airport Service offers a discounted rate of $14 per person for shuttle service between San Francisco International Airport and HI-San Francisco hostels. Contact the hostel for more information and reservations. BY TAXI: There are usually plenty of private taxis available at the airport. Look for an official taxi stop outside the baggage claim. A ride from SFO to the hostel will set you back about $50. |
Attractions & Facilities
Attractions
 | Cultural centre nearby | | Museums/art galleries nearby |
| City centre location | | Historical sites nearby |
| Main attractions nearby | | Nightlife nearby |
| Restaurants nearby | | Shopping centre/market nearby |
| Hostel with a difference | | Leisure facilities nearby |
| Meet other travellers! Read their tips for things to do in HI - San Francisco - City Center |
Facilities
 | Discounts and concessions available |  | Family rooms available |
 | Suitable for wheelchair users |  | Breakfast in price |
 | Hostel open 24h |  | Lift |
 | Self-catering kitchen |  | Groups welcome |
 | Common room(s) |  | Sheets in price |
 | Travel/Tour bureau |  | Cycle rental available at or near the hostel |
 | Internet access |  | Credit card accepted |
 | Café/Bar |  | Currency exchange at or near hostel |
 | Individual traveller welcome |  | Luggage Store |
 | Lockers available |  | Non smoking room/area |
 | Basic store available at or near the hostel |  | Green Hostel |
 | Rates include local tax |  | Cycle store at Hostel |