Get ready to paint the town, the Golden Gate Bridge, and every cable car in between red! San Francisco is more than just sourdough bread and tech giants, it also has its fair share of nightlife.
In this article, we’re your guide to the best party hostels in San Francisco, where foggy nights and steep hills won’t stand a chance against your thirst for adventure and a good time.
This guide is an extension of our handwritten guide to the best hostels in San Francisco.
🥳 The COOLEST Party Hostels? Our favorites are:
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. You can even filter specifically for Party hostels on Hostelz.com.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you want …
- to party!
- a social Hostel to actually meet people!
- a cool hostel with drinking games and such!
Backpacking through the USA? We have a useful guide on the best party hostels in the USA.
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all the guides to “Best Hostels in” here.
Quick Introduction to San Francisco
Average price for a bed: On average, the price of a hostel in San Francisco is around 48€ per night. Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 p.m.), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 a.m.). 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.
Where to Party in San Francisco:
- Mission District: This is the heartbeat of San Francisco’s nightlife. The Mission boasts an eclectic mix of dive bars, hipster hangouts, and lively clubs. Don’t miss Valencia Street for a night to remember.
- North Beach: Known as Little Italy, North Beach offers a charming blend of bars and pubs. It’s the perfect place to sip cocktails, try local wines, and dive into the city’s history.
- Castro: As the heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community, Castro offers some of the best clubs and bars in the city. Dance the night away in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
Best Bar Areas in San Francisco:
- Union Street, Marina District: This neighborhood is buzzing with cocktail bars, wine lounges, and Irish pubs. Grab your friends and explore the vibrant scene.
- Polk Street: For a mix of sports bars, neighborhood pubs, and late-night hangouts, Polk Street has it all. Try a local craft beer or a classic cocktail.
- Embarcadero: Enjoy waterfront views as you sip your drinks in Embarcadero. This area is perfect for a laid-back, scenic evening.
What to Drink in the City
- Irish Coffee at Buena Vista Cafe: San Francisco is known for its Irish coffee, and this historic café near Fisherman’s Wharf serves one of the best in town.
- Local Craft Beer: San Francisco has a thriving craft beer scene. Try a local brew at one of the city’s many breweries or brewpubs.
- Wine Tasting in Napa Valley: While not in the city, a day trip to Napa Valley is a must for wine lovers. Taste some of California’s finest wines in this world-renowned region.
🔥 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 63 Craziest Party Hostels in the World (with Map)
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The Coolest Party Hostels in San Francisco are …
Let’s jump right into the fun hostels in San Francisco for partying:
These are our favorite hostels in San Francisco to party. We put all these hostels on the map, including our own insider tips for bars, clubs, and popular night life areas in San Francisco (and more!).
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Green Tortoise Hostel |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Green Tortoise Hostel |
| 🎶 Music Lovers: | Music City Hotel - Home of SF Music Hall of Fame |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | HI San Francisco - Downtown |
| 👯 For Groups: | HI San Francisco - Downtown |
1. Green Tortoise Hostel
If you head over to the Little Italy neighborhood of North Beach, you’ll find the renowned Green Tortoise Hostel of San Francisco, an accommodation full of life and social possibilities – but not little Italians, contrary to what logic dictates.
The hostel’s Grand Ballroom is the hub of activity, as travelers come together to create lasting memories, songs, pool and ping pong tournaments, and social events organized by the staff throughout the week.
To top it off, they provide their guests with freebies including Wi-Fi, breakfast, linens, and a sauna! If you’re looking for a very social party hostel experience, Green Tortoise Hostels San Francisco is the perfect choice for you.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- Free WiFi
- Grand Ballroom with pool table, ping pong table, books, games
- Complimentary coffee and tea
- Workspace
- 24-hour fully equipped kitchen
- Free daily breakfast
- Nightly social events with cheap drink deals and discounted dinners
- 24-hour reception
- A tour desk, luggage storage, and launderette
- Sauna
Location: In the lively North Beach Little Italy district. 3 minutes walk to City Lights Bookstore and the entertainment district. Easy access to public transportation with nearby options for nightlife and entertainment.
Our favorite hostel in San Francisco for
- Social butterflies
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Music City Hotel - Home of SF Music Hall of Fame
Music aficionados, get ready for a wild time at San Francisco’s exhibit of rock n’ roll! Check into their private or shared rooms, which come complete with cool capsule sleeping pods.
Better yet, you can sleep among the stars at their San Francisco Music Hall of Fame!
Plus, at Music City Hotel - Home of SF Music Hall of Fame, you’ll get free tickets to local music venues and shows as a VIP benefit, plus take a daily guided tour with legendary Blandina Farley.
And that’s not all – you can enjoy free wifi, coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and luggage storage.
Just be aware that the windows are a little thin, so you might hear the sounds of the crazy street parties late into the night as the hostel is situated next to a lot of popular nightlife areas in San Francisco.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- Free tickets to local music venues and shows
- Free guided tours of the SF Hall of Fame
- Discount to local cannabis dispensary
- Free WiFi
- Free coffee/tea and fresh fruit daily
- Free luggage storage
Location: Located in the vibrant Polk Gulch neighborhood. Close to various food, beverage, and entertainment options. Near tourist attractions and neighborhoods include Chinatown, Union Square, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Haight Ashbury, and the Mission District. Walking distance to clubs and bars.
This hostel is great for:
- Music lovers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. HI San Francisco - Downtown
You can’t beat the fun and energy at HI San Francisco - Downtown! This renovated hostel, nestled in the heart of the city, features groovy rooms with big windows and modern vibes.
You can choose from a variety of stellar room types, including private rooms with en suite bathrooms – which is why this is a very popular accommodation choice for big groups.
This isn’t a crazy party hostel as it also caters to families but it’s very social which is why we’re including it in our guide.
Here, you can get social in their funky decorated areas, and party animals can join in on nightly group activities and pub tours. With free Wi-Fi, discounted Muir Woods tours, and a rockin’ atmosphere, this hostel will make your stay unforgettable.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Facilities & Amenities:
- Common areas
- Full kitchen
- On-site launderette
- Discounted tours to Muir Woods
- Free breakfast
- Free tea and coffee are available at any time
- Social events organized by the hostel
Location: 5 minutes’ walk from shopping and dining in Union Square. 7 minutes’ walk from the Chinatown Gates. 5 minutes’ walk from Westfield Mall on Market Street. Close to cable cars, Museum Row, and world-class shopping, restaurants, theaters, and bars
A top choice for:
- Groups
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Fun Tips for Party Hostels in San Francisco
As you have come to realize, staying at a party hostel is a little different than staying at a regular hostel. Here are some tips to make your stay go a little smoother, and how to be prepared:
How to identify a party Hostel? 4 Simple indicators:
- Is there an age limit? 18+ and an upper age-limit are indicators
- Do they offer Pub Crawls and Drinking Games in the hostel?
- Check for party pictures
- Filter the Reviews on Hostelz.com for keywords like "Party", "nightlife" or "social"
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Things to Bring & Pack
There are a few things backpackers should be sure to bring when staying at a party hostel specifically. These items include earplugs (for early mornings and loud roomates), a padlock (lock up your valuables BEFORE going out), headache medicine (always usefful!), and condoms.
Especially for the bigger European cities where pickpocketing is common we recommend wearing trousers with zippers. This limits the chances of stealing from your pockets.
Read: 23 best items to pack for staying in a hostel
Be Sociable
One of the best things about a hostel is being able to meet new people from every corner of the world. Be sure to talk to people and mingle. Travelling solo is great and life-changing, yet enjoying it with new friends can be even better. Locals especially, can show you hidden secret and some of the best spots in the city.
Read: 18 Rules for Hostels and how to build life-time friendships in Hostels
What about the cheapest hostels in San Francisco?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in San Francisco.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in San Francisco
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of San Francisco best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Need an eSIM Card for San Francisco?
Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.
No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.
Our Favorite Hostels in San Francisco put on a map + sights
Let us have a look at the handmade map we have created for you. As promised, below we list all party hostels and best hostels in San Francisco, as well as sights and our own travel tips.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map. It’s just easier. We thought this map would help you with planning your trip too.
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Our Insider Tips
As mentioned in the beginning, this guide is an extension of our article “Best hostels in San Francisco”.
Yet, we have written down more of our best tips for San Francisco. Check out the following:
Nightlife Events and Activities
- Live Music at The Fillmore: Catch a live show at The Fillmore, a historic music venue that has hosted legendary bands like The Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix.
- Late-Night Food Adventure: After a night of partying, join the hunt for late-night food trucks and diners. San Francisco’s food scene comes alive when the sun goes down.
- Underground Parties: Keep an eye out for underground parties and raves happening in warehouses and unique spaces. They’re the essence of San Francisco’s alternative scene.
Happy Hour:
- Bourbon & Branch: Experience the Prohibition-era vibe with a speakeasy-style cocktail menu. Their happy hour offers classics at a fraction of the price.
- Bar Crudo: Located in the Divisadero Corridor, this seafood-centric bar offers happy hour oysters and drink specials that will keep your wallet happy.
- The View Lounge: For stunning city views, head to The View Lounge. Happy hour with a backdrop of San Francisco’s skyline is a must-do.
FAQ
More questions left? No worries, we are here for you.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in San Francisco for nightlife and party. We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
We also recommend a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Read this guide on the perfect Californian Road Trip.
Here are all our US Hostel Guides:
- best hostels in the USA
- best hostels in New York City, Manhattan, and Brooklyn
- best hostels in California
- best hostels in Washington DC
- best hostels in Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Honolulu and Oahu
- best hostels in Los Angeles
- best hostels in San Diego
- best hostels in San Francisco
- best hostels in Hollywood
- best hostels in Key West
- best hostels in Seattle
- best hostels in Boston
- best hostels in Chicago
- best hostels in New Orleans
- best hostels in Portland
- best hostels in Denver
- best hostels in Houston
- best hostels in Dallas
- best hostels in Miami
- best hostels in Las Vegas
- best hostels in Boulder
- best hostels in Anchorage
Party hostels in the US:
You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels 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
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this San Francisco guide.
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 will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
