3 Best Hostels in Los Angeles, USA – Rooftop Swimming Pool, Co-Working Spaces and California-Vibes only

It’s time to delve into the 3 absolute best hostels in Los Angeles!

This sprawling Southern Californian city is calling you, and so is that selfie by the Hollywood sign.

Your Shortcut:

1. Podshare Venice – great for digital nomads
2. Freehand Los Angeles – female solo traveler heaven
3. The Steady Hostel – top pick for friends

We, the Hostelgeeks, have worked hard and we’re excited to deliver awesome Los Angeles hostels that are all about rooftop swimming pools, fun vibes and top notch dorms.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when …

• tired of bad and crappy hostels
• want to avoid the “young party kids”
• happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience

This guide is part of our collection of the best hostels in California – from North to South. Check out also the 3 Best Hostels in San Francisco. Here you can find all the 45 best hostels in the USA.

We condensed it all to the 3 coolest LA hostels.

Read:🧘‍♀️ Best yoga retreats in California

There’s plenty jam-packed into this article, including:

• Quick Introduction to the best hostels in Los Angeles
• 3 Best Hostels in Los Angeles
  • #1 Podshare Venice (access, not ownership)
  • #2 Freehand Los Angeles (Rooftop pool + Premium rooms)
  • #3 The Steady Hostel (amazing staff)
• Best Hostels in Los Angeles for Solo Travellers
• Best Hostels in Los Angeles for Party
• Los Angeles Hostels with Private Rooms
• More Los Angeles hostels worth a mention
• Discounts and promos
• Cheap Hostels in Los Angeles
• Map of LA Hostel Locations + TOP Sights
• FAQ
• Flights to Los Angeles?

We specialize in 5 Star Hostels. But because there is currently no 5-star hostel in this city, we’ve brought you the 3 best hostels in Los Angeles instead.

Quick Introduction to the best hostels in Los Angeles

The average price for a bed: A bed in a dorm can be as cheap as 27€ up to 35€ per night. This is a rough average to give you an idea. Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Los Angeles Tourism Tax: Taxes are not included at most hostels in Los Angeles. A pay-at-check-in tax ranges between 14 and 15.7% in the city.

New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:

• how to book hostels (and websites to use)
• 23 items for the hostel packing list
• Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels

3 Best Hostels in Los Angeles

Live, camera… ACTION!

The 3 best hostels in Los Angeles are:

1. Podshare Venice – (great for digital nomads)
2. Freehand Los Angeles – (female solo traveler heaven)
3. The Steady Hostel – (top pick for friends)

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler:	Book HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostelhere
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler:	Freehand Los Angeles
🥳 Party Hostel:	Banana Bungalow Hollywood
👩‍❤️‍👨Couple Hostel:	Freehand Los Angeles
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel:	The Steady Hostel
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads:	Podshare Venice
🧘 Cozy Hostel:	Samesun Venice Beach Hostel

1. Podshare Venice (access, not ownership)

Podshare Venice is one of the best of Los Angeles. It is rather unique in that it’s a membership-based live/work community.

There are in fact 5 Podshare locations across the city – buy a pass for one and get access to all of the Podshare locations in that duration.

It’s a perfect blend of private pod space and social networking.

It’s great for travelers, transitioners and temps aged between 18 and 34.

Book Podshare Venice here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

The pods are designed with a stairway instead of a ladder. No more rickety bunk beds!

Each one comes with its own flat screen TV with Roku (Netflix, Hulu, Pandora), reading light and under the bed storage.

A map of great eateries and a fresh towel will be waiting on top of your readymade bed.

Make sure you check out the beautiful, big garden at Podshare Venice alongside a fully-fitted shared kitchen.

What else makes this a super cool hostel?

• Free breakfast
• Big lockers available
• Bicycle hire
• Short walk to Venice Beach

Digital nomads will particularly enjoy the dedicated co-working space which creates a perfect environment for knuckling down.

Just how much do travellers love this place? Well, enough to get a tattoo of the logo, it would seem!

Perhaps you’ll join the family and get one too.

Abbot Kinney Blvd is a hip, lively street full of bars, restaurants and boutique stores not far from the hostel. Santa Monica is just a bike ride away!

Podshare Venice is one of the best hostels in Los Angeles in:

• Solo travellers

Book Podshare Venice here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

2. Freehand Los Angeles (Rooftop pool + Premium rooms)

If you’re looking for a premium Downtown LA hostel, Freehand Los Angeles will seriously blow your socks off.

Although technically one of the hotels, Freehand has thoughtfully designed and flash shared rooms.

For the budget conscious traveller, we recommend staying in the dorms. There are private rooms available with a higher price tag.

Book Freehand Los Angeles here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

These private rooms are not to be sniffed at – if you travelling couples want to treat yourself, the loft suite will not let you down!

Mixed and female-only dorms come with 4, 6 or 8 beds. And every room comes with an en-suite, towel and linen!

Fun fact: All 226 rooms were designed by Roman & Williams – well known New York designers.

Enough about the rooms. They’re great, but this Los Angeles hostel has so much more to offer…

• There’s a rooftop pool with 360-degree views of Downtown L.A
• Broken Shaker – award winning cocktail bar
• The fitness centre is open 24/7
• The Exchange restaurant offers multi-cultured tastes

Each week there are events being held here including DJ sets and Jazz nights, too.

Be sure to have a peek at their super cool Paper8 shop which offers pop culture apparel and one-of-a-kind art work for sale.

Reception is open 24 hrs; an added perk that never ages.

The Best bars in L.A, fashion districts and a handy metro station are all within walking distance.

This is the one of the best L.A. hostels for:

• Female solo travellers
• Couples

Book Freehand Los Angeles here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

3. The Steady Hostel (amazing staff)

Let’s have a look at our third chosen hostel; The Steady Hostel.

This hostel is all about simple design on a budget.

But that doesn’t mean your comfort will be jeopardized!

As soon as you see the super thick mattresses, you’ll have the urge to jump on the bed!

Just make sure you remove your shoes first ‘cause we wouldn’t want you to dirty your fresh, crisp sheets and complimentary towel right away!

Note: The Steady closed for 2 weeks in November 2020 to renovate the property.

Book The Steady Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

The rooms are spacious and bright, thanks to the white walls and wide windows.

Choose from:

• Female Dorm
• Mixed Dorm
• Private double room
• Deluxe family room (sleeps 10)

What makes this hostel stand out from the crowd?

The friendly and helpful staff, of course.

They are the reason that one traveler changed her flight to stay longer. True story!

If you’re willing to pay an extra charge; pub crawls and hiking trips can be arranged.

There is a shared lounge and TV area which is perfect for mingling. Some of the rooms even have their very own chill area.

The Steady Hostel probably is situated in the Hollywood district. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is 5km away.

The Steady Hostel is one fo the best hostels in Los Angeles for:

• Friends
• Backpackers

Book The Steady Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Best Hostels in Los Angeles for Solo Travellers

Solo travelers come in all shapes and sizes and many are in search of different types of hostels.

Let’s recap on the already mentioned recommended best hostels in Los Angeles for solo travelers:

• Female solo travelers: Freehand Los Angeles (premium comfort)
• Social hostel: Podshare Venice

Eager for a third option? You got it!

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is clean, big, organized and with trendy decoration. The staffs are friendly and helpful.

If you are looking for activities, you should try BBQs, pasta nights, comedy, salsa, poker nights and more.

Hostel Highlights:

• Free WiFi
• Non-smoking rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• 24-hour front desk
• Daily housekeeping
• Garden

The rooms are clean, equipped with air conditioning, beds are very comfortable.

Location: HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is 11.7 km away from Los Angeles International Airport. It is close to Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, Tongva Park, Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Farmers Market, Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, and Christopher Grimes Gallery.

The Getty Museum is just a bus ride away.

Book HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostelhere

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Best Hostels in Los Angeles for Party?

Looking for solo travel Los Angeles is perfect! It’s time to announce the best party hostel Los Angeles that offers tons of freebies and awesome events.

Let’s take a look at this youth hostel Los Angeles has to offer.

Banana Bungalow Hollywood has bouncy vibes and lovely staff that offer you:

• Party bus limo rides
• Pub crawls
• Themed parties
• Hiking + beach tours

Start your day with a free breakfast and finish it relaxing in the Tiki garden under a palm tree.

The Cahuenga Corridor is nearby, hosting over 28 bars and nightclubs – the party opportunities are endless!

There is also a Banana Bungalow West Hollywood that you can try. It is also known to be a gay hostel Los Angeles.

Book Banana Bungalow Hollywood here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Los Angeles Hostels with Private Rooms

As Hollywood is a modern city, there isn’t much of an issue finding Los Angeles hostels with private rooms.

Whether you’re travelling as a couple, as friends or simply just want some solo space for a night or two; the private room options are great in this city.

The best L.A hostels are:

• Best Hostel in Los Angeles for couples (pricey): Freehand Los Angeles
• Best Hostel in Los Angeles for party vibes: Banana Bungalow
• For chill vibes: The Steady Hostel
• Best Hostel in Los Angeles for friends: The Venice Beach Hostel

More Los Angeles hostels worth a mention

We have listed our personal favourites above and we are sure that backpackers in Los Angeles with love them! After all, they are the best hostels in LA!

But if you are still looking, we have more hostels Los Angeles has to offer.

• Samesun Venice Beach
• Surf City Hostel
• Orange Drive Hostel
• Samesun Hollywood
• Melrose Hostel

Samesun Venice Beach Hostel

Samesun Venice Beach Hostel is right at the beach. So, if you are a beach person, you should stay here.

Aside from the sun and sand, you have a lot of places to shop, eat and relax and are just a short bike ride or walk from most of the sites like Muscle Beach, the famous Venice Skate Park and the Santa Monica Pier.

Hostel Highlights:

• Free WiFi
• Non-smoking rooms
• Beachfront
• Restaurant
• 24-hour front desk
• Laundry
• Bar

The staffs are very friendly so your stay will be more enjoyable and welcoming.

Location: Located directly on the world famous Venice Beach Boardwalk, this hostel in Los Angeles is within walking distance from Muscle Beach.

Book Samesun Venice Beach here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Surf City Hostel

Surf City Hostel is a classic. It was running since 1996. Amazing, right?

We know that it is kinda old but it is well-maintained and it is really a perfect beach getaway.

The vibe is very good. The staff is amazingly helpful and easy going.

They have laundry facilities with washing machine and tumble dryers, fully equipped kitchen, and library of travel guides for the USA and other countries around the world.

Hostel Highlights:

• Free WiFi
• Beachfront

Each dormitory room at this hostel includes a locker, a clothes rack and free linens and towels. Rooms provide a shared bathroom. Luggage storage is also available.

Location: Surf City Hostel is less than 1 km from Hermosa Beach Pier and 9.2 km away from Los Angeles International Airport.

Book Surf City Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Orange Drive Hostel

Orange Drive Hostel is one of the best hostels in California. It was spacious, clean and tidy. The staff are outstanding and couldn’t do enough for you. They helped me to get the most out of my time in LA. When you step off Hollywood Boulevard you feel like you’re in a different place, it’s calm and peaceful.

This is good for couples and solo travellers since they have both private rooms and dorms. Please note that they have different dorms for male and female. How awesome is that?

Hostel Highlights:

• Parking
• Free WiFi
• On-site parking
• 24-hour front desk
• Private parking
• BBQ facilities

Location: Located within 4 minutes’ walk from Dolby Theater, Orange Drive Hostel offers free WiFi and a free breakfast. Entertainment venue the Hollywood Bowl is 1 km away, while Capitol Records is 1.4 km away.Orange Drive Hostel is 2.3 km away from Melrose Avenue, while Universal Studios Hollywood is 3.8 km from the property.

The nearest airport is Hollywood Burbank Airport, 11 km from the property. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is 4 minutes’ walk from the property.

Book Orange Drive Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Samesun Hollywood (previously Walk of Fame Hostel)

Samesun Hollywood is a Hollywood hostel that is a perfect combination of good value, convenience, comfort and hospitality. The location enables you to plan to visit Hollywood easily.

ATM Machines, Vending Machine, Stamp Machines, and Washer and Dryer Machines are available for your convenience.

Hostel Highlights:

• Free WiFi
• Non-smoking rooms
• 24-hour front desk
• Laundry
• Daily housekeeping
• Air conditioning
• Luggage & Storage Room

The rooms are large, clean, and majority of rooms have 4 or 6 bed combinations. The private rooms are with Cable Television, queen sized bed, and mini fridges.

Location: Samesun Hollywood is located at 6820 Hollywood Blvd. and in the heart of Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame.

Dolby Theatre and TCL Theatre are within 1 minutes’ walk away, while Universal Studios Hollywood is just 1 Metro stop away from this centrally located hostel. Los Angeles International Airport is 20 km away.

Book Walk of Fame Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Melrose Hostel

Let’s take a look at another hostel in LA.

Melrose Hostel is the newest hostel in Los Angeles. They call themselves a budget-friendly luxury hostel.

So, expect freshness, cleanliness and new furnishes.

They have activities that you can enjoy like billiards and table tennis! Be ready to meet new friends in their common room.

Hostel Highlights:

• Free WiFi
• Non-smoking rooms
• Terrace
• Daily housekeeping
• Air conditioning
• Heating

This hostel id for solo travellers since they do not have private rooms. They have dormitories for conservatives and dormitories that is co-ed. Their biggest dorm room can accommodate 14 female guests.

Location: Melrose Hostel is located in the geographic center of Los Angeles and is near many different attractions such as Thai Town, Koreatown, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, The Grove, Universal Studios, and more!

Melrose Hostel is located 5 minutes from the Hollywood/Western Metro Station (Red Line) and 10 minutes from the Wilshire/Western Metro Station (Purple Line) as well as many other Metro Bus lines which are reachable from right outside our hostel!

Book Melrose Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Any Discounts?

Okay, now that is a bit embarrassing, currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Los Angeles. We are always working on getting promo codes for Freehand Hostels, Hollywood Hostels and all the other cool hostels to stay in.

How about we do it like that: You subscribe to our newsletter and we send you over the new hostel discounts to your inbox.

Deal?

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.

We also do have a 35€ discount for Airbnb here.

Cheap Hostels in Los Angeles

Are there any cheap hostels in Los Angeles? There can be cheaper hostels than the ones mentioned above.

In our opinion, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.

Why?

The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2), and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen. Keep also in mind a bad location far away from the city centre costs you more in transport.

However, if you are travelling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Copenhagen.

1. Open Hostelworld with full list of accommodations in LA
2. Order the listing by price

Read our guide on how to book hostels with Hostelworld.

Map of LA Hostel Locations + TOP Sights

Now that you have an idea of the best hostels in Los Angeles; let’s pinpoint them and show you on a map.

We’ve also included the top sights in Los Angeles including:

• Disneyland Resort
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Santa Monica Pier
• Hollywood Sign
• Griffith Observatory
• Griffith Park Recreation Centre
• Santa Monica Beach
• Sunset Boulevard
• Universal City Walk
• The Queen Mary

Feeling nosy? Join a 2-hour Celebrity Homes Tour around Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Grab yourself a Go Los Angeles Card and enjoy free entry to Los Angeles’ top attractions.

Short on time? Buy a Los Angeles Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus ticket and explore with ease.

FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

Flights to Los Angeles?

We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over North America including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over North America and find the cheapest rates for the area.

Here is our review of Kiwi.

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Los Angeles.

We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in USA:

• 3 best hostels in New York City
• best hostels in Manhattan
• best hostels in Brooklyn
• best hostels in Seattle
• 3 best hostels in Washington DC
• greatest hostels in San Francisco
• best hostels in Boston
• cool hostels in Chicago
• best hostels in New Orleans
• best hostels in Houston
• 6 best hostels in Hawaii
• best hostels in San Diego
• best hostels in Portland
• best hostels in Denver
• best hostels in Las Vegas
• best hostels in Miami and COOLEST Party Hostels in Miami
• best hostels in Anchorage, Alaska
• best hostels in Key West, Florida
• best hostels in Hollywood
• hostels in California Los Angeles

Lookout for our next articles about hostels in Malibu and Burbank hostels.

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

We hope by now you feel ready to choose one of the 3 best hostels in Los Angeles!

Are you left with questions? Still unsure?

No problem at all – just leave us a message in the comment box below and we’ll get back to you right away.

We really appreciate your feedback, so don’t be shy. You’ll help to make this article more useful and interesting, and you’ll help your fellow travellers at the same time.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.

It is our commitment that we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!

Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.

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CLOSED: USA Hostels Hollywood

(sorry readers, the USA Hostels chain permanently closed their doors in 2019)

USA Hostels Hollywood offers a real hostelling experience for the social solo traveller.

Keep your solitude with the exclusively designed privacy pods in en-suite dorms, and join optional daily activities when you’re feeling social.

There’s a free breakfast, free comedy performances, walking tours and a relaxing lounge area.

The hostel is a 6-minute drive from Time Zone Hostel which also has closed its doors.