My ItinerarySan Francisco City Center Hostel
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
| 92% | |
| 91% | |
| 85% | |
| 91% | |
| 86% | |
| 70% |
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews HI - San Francisco - City Center
-
08 May 2012 Laura, USA
- Staff were amazing. - Breakfast was excellent. - Very beautiful building. - Noise restrictions/quiet hours were not always followed or enforced even at very late hours (1-2am).
-
06 May 2012 Mary, Australia
Fabulous staff working the reception desk and the bar. This YHA. Is a 100% better than any of the three or four star hotels I have to stay in for work....and for my next holidayi will be sure to check out the YHA options first. I will definitely try to stay here again if I come to San Fran again.
-
26 Apr 2012 Geoffrey, USA
Staff went above and beyond. The hostel itself was very clean, comfortable, and safe. I never felt unsafe near the hostel, but it is located in a rougher neighborhood. If I was a female travelling alone, I may think twice. My advice is to find people to do things with if you ever feel "unsafe" alone in the city.
-
22 Apr 2012 Roberto, Germany
Great staff, lots of activities to keep you entretained throughout your stay and good enviroment to make friends.
-
19 Apr 2012 Andy, USA
This neighborhood is always a little dodgy, but I don't really kind. I had a great night!
-
19 Apr 2012 Brittany, USA
I had an excellent experience at this hostel. Unfortunately, I didn't take the opportunity to enjoy the continental breakfast or other activities that were happening at the hostel, but it looked great! The rooms were SUPER CLEAN and the staff was friendly. All in all, I would absolutely come back!
-
17 Apr 2012 Cheryl, USA
Beautiful hostel with great amenities. The most comfortable bed I have slept in hostel-wise with a wonderful and beautiful down comforter. Perfect all the way around. The only detriment is the location which is at the edge of a fringe neighborhood. It is safe if you know which streets to walk on and which to avoid. (Avoid Ellis, Eddy and Turk. O'Farrell is so-so; Geary is better.)
-
10 Apr 2012 Marek, Slovakia
a bit noisy
-
03 Apr 2012 Cheryl, USA
The staff and the layout of the hostel were wonderful. The only drawback was the actual location in a weird part of town. The front desk folks were very helpful and let us know where not to wander. We had a good time there. Anthony, the activity director presented a very interesting tea service and talk which was great.
-
21 Mar 2012 Patrick, USA
An excellent experience! Very friendly and helpful staff, some great facilities... An overall very pleasant stay.
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.
--------------------
"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
| Beds per room: | |||||
 |
 |
 |
Total beds |
||
| 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 | | Swimming pool at or near hostel |
| 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 |
 | TV room |  | 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 |
 | Rates include local tax |  | Cycle store at Hostel |