HI New York City Hostel

891 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, New York, United States

3-star hotel

Guest rating: 4.4 / 5

Overview

HI New York City Hostel occupies a landmark Victorian-style building on the Upper West Side, offering budget-friendly dormitory accommodations within a historic three-story structure. As part of the Hostelling International network, it carries a 3-star classification and maintains a strong 4.4 rating from nearly 4,700 reviewers. The property blends heritage architecture with a social, communal hostel atmosphere.

Rooms

Guest rooms are configured as bright dorms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms, designed for budget travelers and social stays rather than private luxury. Air conditioning is provided in rooms, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout to keep guests connected.

Amenities & Recreation

The hostel features a self-catering kitchen for guests who want to prepare their own meals, plus game and TV rooms for socializing. A sunken patio and garden offer outdoor space to relax, and a cafe bar hosts nightly happy hours along with organized nights out. Bike rentals are also available for guests wanting to explore the city on two wheels.

Dining

Free breakfast is included, giving guests a convenient start to the day before heading out to explore Manhattan. The on-site cafe bar supplements this with evening drinks and social gatherings.

Location

Situated on Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, the hostel is about a 10-minute walk from Central Park and roughly 13 minutes on foot from Columbia University. It also sits within a couple of kilometers of major cultural institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building reachable a bit further afield.

Best for

This hostel suits budget-conscious travelers, solo backpackers, and social young travelers drawn to its communal kitchen, game rooms, nightly happy hours, and organized group outings. Its Upper West Side location near Central Park and Columbia University also appeals to those wanting quick access to parks and museums without downtown prices. Guests looking for a sociable atmosphere with a bar and patio for meeting other travelers will find it a strong fit.

Travel tips

Central Park is about a 10-minute walk away, making it easy to start a morning there before heading to nearby museums like the Guggenheim or American Museum of Natural History. Since many top attractions such as Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building are several kilometers south, plan to use public transit or the available bike rentals for those trips. Book dorm beds early, especially in high season, as this is a popular and well-reviewed hostel with limited room capacity.

What guests say

Guests frequently praise the hostel's location near Central Park and Columbia University, the friendly and helpful staff, comfortable beds, and social amenities like the bar, pool table, and kitchen. Free breakfast and coffee options are also commonly highlighted as strengths. Recurring complaints center on air conditioning that guests describe as unreliable or insufficient, leading to overheated dorm rooms, and some mentions of shower cleanliness or room odor issues. Overall sentiment remains largely positive despite these recurring climate-control and cleanliness criticisms.

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