Nicest Hostels in the US

This one won the 2025 HOSCAR for best hostel in the United States. 9.7 out of 10 on Hostelworld. I stayed here in October 2023.

The hostel is not one building. It's six buildings spread across a city block in the Alphabet District. Five of them are Victorian houses from the late 1800s. They're on the National Register of Historic Places. The sixth building went up in 2017. That's where the cafe is.

They started with 36 beds. Now they have 140 dorm beds and 40 private rooms. The owners are Jim and Britta. They're hostelers themselves. You can tell.

The cafe serves Cascadia coffee in the morning. 12 local beers on tap. They do live music nights and trivia. Powell's Books is a 15-minute walk.

This hostel opened in 2019 in a renovated historic building on Canal Street. It won best new large hostel in the world in 2024.

The location is two blocks from the French Quarter. The Canal Street streetcar stops right outside the front door.

They have a rooftop pool. Heated. They have a game room with a pool table. Free breakfast (the Froot Loops were the highlight for one reviewer I read, and I understand this). Private bathrooms. Non-gendered, which cuts down on lines.

One guest saw a robbery outside the hostel one morning. The neighborhood north and east of the building is rough. Bring earplugs. The street noise is real.

The building has an interior mezzanine that looks impressive in photos. I haven't been inside yet.

This is the hostel for solo travelers in LA. 9.4 on Hostelworld with over 6,000 reviews.

It's less than five minutes on foot from the Santa Monica Pier. Free breakfast. Big kitchen. Daily activities. Not a party hostel.

The staff run beach walks. Movie nights. The vibe is social but not aggressive about it. If you want to sit in the corner and read, nobody bothers you.

A different option if the HI is booked. They have a pool in the backyard. Flamingo floats. BBQ nights.

The private apartment sleeps four. Has its own entrance, kitchen, terrace. Good for groups.

Located right on the St. Charles Streetcar line.

Mid-City location near City Park. Swimming pool. Garden. This is the budget option in New Orleans.

Not as new as the HI. Not as clean. But it has character. Been around for decades.

Operating since 1992. One of the largest independent hostels in the city.

8.1 on Hostelworld. They've made upgrades over the years. Curtains on each bed now. Outlets. Shelf. Reading light.

Located in Chelsea. Walking distance to most things.

The building looks like a castle. 36-burner kitchen. Renovated bathrooms.

8.9 rating. This is the flagship HI property on the East Coast.