11 Beautiful Hostels That Give Top Hotels a Run for Their Money

As the number of savvy global travelers skyrockets, it’s little surprise that hostels have had to grow up in the design department

Kash Bhattacharya, who runs the site Budget Traveller, says that there has been a massive evolution in the hostel design space over the past decade. “Great design is an essential aspect of the new, improved breed of design hostels, and this is where they have invested a lot of money,” he says. “The positive development that is driving the trend is the shift in business travelers who now prefer booking their stay in a hip hostel over a three-star hotel.”

Bhattacharya, whose book Luxury Hostels of the World comes out this fall, has also seen more design firms entering the space, from Anwar Mekhayech’s DesignAgency (creative directors of the Generator chain) to Un.Box Studio.

“The youth of today are looking for authentic experiences and a direct connection to the locale around them when traveling, so design with a locally driven narrative is important,” says David Dunphy, principal of Studio HBA. “Lodging choices with design cues that have a bit of whimsy or a unique surprise offer a moment that millennials will want to share with their friends,” he adds.

Here are 11 hostels from around the world that combine value, function, and a truly beautiful design aesthetic.

Hosteling International, New York

 

On the National Historic Registry in New York is one of the few remaining Robert Morris Hunt–designed buildings, originally built in the 1800s as a home for women. A fire destroyed much of the building and it had to be rebuilt, but the original chapel and Louis Comfort Tiffany windows still remain. The hostel has dorm-style rooms. Rates from $40 per night; hiusa.org

 

Solarium International Hostel, Fort Collins, Colorado

 

Started by sisters Chelsea and Elly Gressman, this hostel is located along the Spring Creek Trail and is perfect for the naturalist. It features 10 rooms as well as two dorm-style rooms, and glamping-style tepees that guests can hang out in. The main hostel was around built around an atrium with a glass dome filled with tropical plants, and guests get free waffles and coffee in a community-centered atmosphere. The sisters who designed the hostel took inspirational cues from the La Fonda hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rates from $29 per night; solariumhostel.com

Steel House, Copenhagen

 

The New York–inspired luxury hostel located in one of the hippest parts of Copenhagen, Vesterbro, has six-bed or four-bed dorm rooms that look almost futuristic, with seaweed-stuffed mattresses supplied by the Danish company Getama. Private rooms are also available. Room rates from $52; steelhousecopenhagen.com

 

Generator Hostel, Stockholm

 

A design-forward hostel brand takes artistic risks, Generator has several outposts. In Stockholm, guests can indulge in global dishes at the restaurant Hilma, which is named after Swedish painter Hilma af Klint (a pioneer in the abstract movement). Interiors were designed by the Swedish architectural firm Tengbom and reflect the painter’s use of intense color. The hostel also features a screening room and a walk-in safe converted into an operating tattoo parlor. Room rates from $39; generatorhostels.com

 

Generator Hostel, Copenhagen

 

With 662 beds in 175 private and shared rooms, the Generator in Copenhagen could easily get categorized as just another kid on the hostel block, but its unique design sets it apart from the crowd. The country’s first year-round ice bar, Reflections, opened in 2017. The 1,000-square-foot space uses ice from the Torne River in Sweden and also features wood, metal, and stone to highlight some of the region’s natural elements. Room rates from $25; generatorhostels.com

 

Cocomama, Amsterdam

 

This boutique hostel set in a former brothel in the city center is in a neighborhood called, De Pijp, a block away from Europe’s largest daily open-air market. Founder Anika Jacobs says that all rooms have Dutch-inspired themes. “In designing Cocomama, we respected the allure and design of the building itself, with its high ceilings, chandeliers, marble entrance, windows, and plenty of natural light,” she says. The hostel also features Bedstee-style rooms with six pod-like beds, in keeping with the traditions from Dutch houses back in the day. Rates from $30; cocomamahostel.com

 

FieldHouse Jones, Chicago

 

 

From the whimsical Trophy guest rooms to the more spacious Chamberlain suite, FieldHouse Jones in Chicago has become a design-forward “alternative lodge” popular with the hostel crowd, with custom beds, hand-crafted tiles, and heritage leather benches. In the lobby, guests can get coffee at DropShot, which sources beans from Brooklyn-based Toby’s Estate. Housed in a 11-story former dairy depot, the hostel features lofts, a speakeasy, and vibrant communal spaces. The property was designed by owners Robby Baum and Mike Downing, who visited several antique shows and thrift shops to find the right design elements. Room rates from $19; fieldhousejones.com

 

The Wired, Tokyo

 

This hotel/hostel hybrid opened in April 2017 and immediately became popular for its beautiful dormitory-style rooms. Located in the Asakusa district, steps away from the Sensoji Temple, the hostel boasts rooms designed by Portland, Oregon, creative agency OMFGCO (known for its Ace Hotel chain), who teamed up with the Japanese-based Café Company for the project. Details include items from local artisans (the hair dryer bag, for example, designed by locally based Shin-Yoshiwara, hints at the vibe of Tokyo’s old red-light district). Guests can get their beverage fix on the first floor, at the Zakbaran café. Rates from $18; wiredhotel.com

 

Freehand, Miami Beach, Florida

 

This hip hostel finds its home in a classic 1930s Art Deco building on Miami Beach (home to the former Indian Creek Hotel). Inside, guests can find vintage pieces, colorful patterns, and a rustic vibe that makes it decidedly bohemian in look and feel. A popular haunt and part of the hostel is the Broken Shaker bar that is located within the Freehand. The hostel also has outposts in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, with interiors designed by Roman and Williams. Rates from $38; freehandhotels.com

 

Native Hostels, Austin, Texas

 

Considered an experiential hostel, this property situated in a railroader hotel from the 1890s is crafted with rough-hewn limestone, charred rafters, dark plasters, and cool steel. The property, designed by Icon Design Build, has 66 beds, and there are customized bunkers as well as private rooms with a shower. Room rates from $49; nativehostels.com

 

Bed & Bike, Willemstad, Curaçao

 

 

Willemstad’s up-and-coming Pietermaai district, known for its characteristic pastel-colored buildings and its cobblestoned streets, has recently gone through a gentrification process and now draws comparison to Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. Bed & Bike opened in this neighborhood during the summer of 2017 and includes a complimentary bicycle rental with every stay. Located in an abandoned parliament building, the 25-room hostel has turquoise and lime green spaces with modern beds, contemporary light fixtures, and Key West–style windows with lots of natural light. Rates from $23; bedandbikecuracao.com