Brooklyn is one of New York’s five boroughs. Known for its tough reputation, creative edge and of course, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, it’s a huge and exciting place to base yourself for your big trip to New York.
But… it is absolutely massive. Almost like a city in its own right (it would be the third biggest in the US if it was a separate city!), there are so many areas and places to see that it can be hard to find the best hostel in Brooklyn for you.
Seriously though, there is nothing to worry about. Just read through my list of the BEST hostels in Brooklyn and you’ll surely find the perfect place that fits your style and budget.
From cool Brooklyn hangouts to budget backpacker digs, I’ve got you covered!
Let’s get into it…
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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The Best Hostels in Brooklyn
If you are visiting New York, then a visit to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge may well be on your itinerary. But did you know that Brooklyn is one of NYC’ hippest neighborhoods? Staying here not only puts you in one of the Big Apple’s coolest areas but you can save a few bucks too.
Unfortunately, Brooklyn isn’t PACKED with hostels for us broke backpackers, however, there are a couple of goodies to keep our wallets happy and our social batteries charged.
Here are the two best (and only!) hostels in Brooklyn for you to choose from for your stay in NYC:
The Brooklyn Riviera
- Dorm (Male/Female): From $30-40
- Address: 781 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, New York, USA
This is the kinda hostel that you know you’re gonna like staying in. Their typical Brooklyn-style backyard looks like something you’d have seen in a million US sitcoms and is a great spot to chill out with a beer and enjoy a BBQ.
Staying in this cool Brooklyn Hostel is like staying over at a friend’s house which is why it is the best hostel for solo travelers in Brooklyn. The guys who run it will make sure you’re happy and comfortable. For those wondering if it is safe to visit NYC, staying at The Brooklyn Riviera feels very safe and secure. You can walk into the city center from here in no time as well.
This is another hostel that goes against the big chain norm. With their super comfy common areas, you could hang around all day and make new friends as the hostel just feels very homely.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Great public transport connection
- Super homely vibe
- Incredibly helpful staff
The bright dorm rooms offer enough space for 4 people and the bunk beds are simple, but equipped with a space to put your belongings, a night lamp, and a power socket to charge your phone. If you’re traveling around with friends or you just met some cool people, you can also book a whole room all to yourselves.
You can start the day with some free breakfast – it just tastes better when you don’t have to pay for it yourself – and a cup of coffee. This will give you the right amount of energy to head out and explore the best places to visit in NYC! Speaking of, make sure to stop by the reception and ask the super helpful staff for their recommendations on what to do in the area.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REINY Moore Hostel
- Dorm (mixed): From $50
- Private Room: From $180
- Address: 179 Moore Street, New York, USA
NY Moore Hostel is one of those cool, trendy hostels where they use up-cycled furniture and funky stuff to make the whole place look like properly cool Brooklyn hostel. It’s the best cheap hostel in Brooklyn as they offer well-priced beds and privates and a high level of cleanliness and customer service.
You won’t get bored if you stay here: grab a free hot drink and chat with other guests over a movie in the common room or hang out in the backyard.
I’ve mentioned it at the beginning of the post, but the location in Williamsburg is one of the best for budget backpackers and culture lovers. You’ll have plenty of artsy and edgy cafes nearby, amazing public transport connections, and some really cool attractions in general. It’s home to some of New York’s best-hidden gems.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Event nights
- Free tea and coffee
- Pool and football table
The hostel itself is one of the best in the area. With super modern amenities and comfy rooms, you can even spend a rainy day inside and enjoy every second of it. The dorms are set up as female-only or mixed, so you can choose whatever fits best for you. In case you need a bit more space to yourself, you can also book into one of the private rooms.
For socializing, head into the common area where you’ll find most travelers mingle around during the day. You can even find some computers there which are free to use in case you want to get in touch with people at home.
The hostel also regularly hosts stand-up comedy nights and other entertainment events, so you can be sure that you won’t get bored here. All in all, you’ll probably have a hard time finding a cheaper hostel in New York that offers you so much bang for your buck!
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!More Epic Brooklyn Budget Stays
If you’ve been traveling for a while and have had enough of staying in dorms, or just want to stay somewhere with a little more private space – I’ve got you covered. Check out our round-up of the best budget stays in Brooklyn and get all the class of hotel for the price of a hostel.
Pod Brooklyn
- Private Room: From $138
- Address: 247 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
Wow… this place is just super frigging cool. Like some kind of shiny, colourful mad chic hostel that has evolved into a hotel, this is up there with the best budget hotels in Brooklyn. Like, how can this not be? There’s a courtyard and a place to hang out, have coffee, and get some work done if you need to. And the subway is less than 500 meters from the front door so you can travel all over New York really easily.
Nesva Hotel
- Private Room: From $419
- Address: 39-12 29th, Long Island City, New York, USA
This minimalist hotel is a GORG place to stay, definitely a step up from the usual backpacker dorm room but it’s on Hostelworld… so it must be a backpacker-friendly pad <3 It has a swanky boutique hotel vibe but at a fraction of what similar hotels in the area would be charging. So, calling all you boujee backpackers out there, this one’s for you!
Hotel Le Bleu
- Private Room: From $180
- Address: 370 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States
This may not be one of the cheapest places to stay in town, but it’s still one of the best budget hotels in Brooklyn for what you get for your money. The shiny new hotel is a fun and friendly place to stay in the big city, staff are super helpful and will go above and beyond to make sure guests are happy. Now that’s our kinda place.
The rooms are really big for the price and come with balconies, which means you can enjoy views of the Brooklyn skyline. You’ll be in a bangin’ location – just one mile from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)…. oh and Breakfast is included as well which is always a plus!
Sandy’s Place NYC 1
- Private Room: From $3,107 (30 night-stay)
- Address: 1016 Greene Avenue, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY 11221, United States
One of the top (semi) budget, self-catered places to stay in Brooklyn. There’s a modern kitchen for guests to use so you can make yourself meals and a lounge area for catching up on TV or relaxing after a day in the city. The place itself is small but it has everything you’d need from a self-catered apartment in the city.
The location is ideal, super close to J Station (Kosciuszko), and there a loads of shops and bangin’ pizza spots nearby. The neighborhood feels safe and is a great area to stay in Brooklyn to give you a taste of local daily life. You can comfortably fit people, but if you’re happy to crash on the couch – you can squeeze another couple of peeps in 🙂
Vakb Apartments
- Private Room: From $4,590 (30 night-stay)
- Address: Pulaski Street & Tompkins Avenue, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY 11206, United States
Vakb offers lovely New York vacation rental apartments for one of the lowest prices in town (which ain’t dirt cheap… it’s NY, but it’s the best around). The apartments have stellar reviews and the host goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great stay. There is a small but fully-equipped kitchen available for your use which is a great way to save money in the Big Apple!
Brooklyn Way Hotel
I love this cool budget hotel in Brooklyn! It’s got a little bit of extra style that makes it the perfect place to stay in New York. Rooms come with city views and a huge breakfast is served up every morning – you’ll be pleased that you booked yourself into this place. The surrounding area feels safe and family-friendly, whilst public transport is nearby so you can easily travel around NYC and see the sights.
Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Brooklyn
Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect it. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Brooklyn.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
FAQs About Hostels in Brooklyn
Booking a hostel is never easy. But it’s especially hard in a city like Brooklyn. To help you out, I’ve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on hostels in Brooklyn.
What to Pack for your Brooklyn Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hostel Packing list for even more top hostel packing tips!
How much does a hostel cost in Brooklyn?
The average price of hostels in Brooklyn starts at $40/night for dorms, while private rooms range from $80+. It’s no secret that NYC is not cheap, so opting for a hostel is one of the best ways to keep your costs down.
What are the best hostels in Brooklyn for couples?
Nesva Hotel is an ideal budget hotel for couples in Brooklyn. It’s got a swanky, up-market vibe to it compared to the local hostels but at a fraction of the cost of the fancy hotels nearby.
What are the best hostels in Brooklyn near the airport?
The airport is quite far from Brooklyn, so it is better to find the best place near downtown. I highly recommend The Brooklyn Riviera, the best hostel for solo travelers.
Final Thoughts on Brooklyn’s Hostels
So you’ve read our list of the best budget hostels in Brooklyn and even a few of the best budget hotels in Brooklyn, and now you have a good idea of the coolest places to stay in the borough.
Some of them are really cool, aren’t they? You can choose to stay in a hostel with a pool, a trendy hostel with loads of room, or one nearest to a subway station.
If you’re just really confused about it all, maybe even overwhelmed – don’t you worry. We all know how it feels when you can’t figure out where to stay. The Brooklyn Riviera and NY Moore Hostel are your best places to book when it comes to budget hostels in Brooklyn – and then start packing your bags, because you’re jetting off to the Big Apple!
If you think I’ve missed anything or have any other suggestions, let me know in the comments! 🙂
Photo: Nic Hilditch-Short
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in New York City for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Brooklyn before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for USA to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate USA backpacking guide.
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A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!
You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂
