Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco
494 Broadway Cross street - Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94133-4515
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About
#3 of 81 Specialty lodging in San Francisco
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
The Green Tortoise Hostel in San Francisco is a full service, fun, comfortable, and welcoming hostel. Located in the North Beach area (Little Italy), famous for entertainment, bars, bookstores, and Beat Generation history. The hostel is close to Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, famous bars and restaurants & public transportation that can take you all over the Bay Area. We are a SOCIAL hostel, so come & be included in our events held in and outside the hostel. Lots of Freebies, breakfast daily, Wifi, sauna, massage chair and lots more! Please NOTE **No elevators, **All shared bathrooms along the hallways (but private use)**Average age 22-30 & next to an *Adult entertainment & club area that can be noisy on weekends & in peak season.** WE ARE BEST SUITED TO ADVENTURE & BUSINESS TRAVELERS IN SEARCH OF COMMUNITY, OUR HOSTEL DOES NOT PROVIDE "HOTEL STYLE" ROOM SERVICE TO MAINTAIN VALUE FOR MONEY) Room types available from us are mixed (CO-ED), female, standard queen private (one Queen bed), Standard Full private (full bed, basic), twin bunk private, triple (double bed below, single above) & quad bunk style (2 double (full) sized bunk beds). Group inquires welcome. We are also famous for our "hostel on wheels" customized sleeper coach adventures that offer private charters & tours to many exciting destinations seasonally - Alaska, Yosemite resumes 2022. Please contact us directly for more information, we also have a hostel in Seattle. We look forward to making your San Francisco experience a memorable one!
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Property amenities
Paid private parking nearby
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Sauna
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Entertainment staff
Airport transportation
Baggage storage
Parking
Wifi
Breakfast buffet
Vending machine
Evening entertainment
Table tennis
Board games / puzzles
Non-smoking hotel
Shared bathroom
Shared lounge / TV area
ATM on site
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
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Room features
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Budget
Languages Spoken
English, French, Russian, Spanish and 1 more
Location
Full view
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
348Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
120Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
494 Broadway Cross street - Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94133-4515
Getting there
EmbarcaderoBART12 min
EmbarcaderoMuni13 min
Car HireSee all San Francisco car hire
872Reviews9Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviewsTripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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We stayed in a private room here from 20th to 26th July, and were taken to a separate building to the main hostel (one block away). It was generally quieter with fewer people around and had a lovely view from the balcony. Room was nice and clean, nothing fancy but for the price it was perfect for us. Short walk to breakfast was also not an issue for us, and breakfast was free which was great. It was basic, but decent coffee, free eggs and bagels were just what we needed. Unfortunately, the walls and doors were quite thin in our building and we could hear other guests quite loudly whenever they were around. As our room was by the bathroom, we were often woken up around midnight with people showering. It didn't ruin our stay at all, but worth mentioning if you're a light/early sleeper. The only real complaint we have is that the night staff from the hostel also stay in the building we were in downstairs. Not a problem at all until I was in the kitchen one day and had quite a rude encounter. I had been in the kitchen for less than 2 minutes, it was 7pm, and had walked in to wash up a baking tray that my partner had used, and pour a glass of water. I was drying the baking tray, when one of the staff members came up and started telling me to not move chairs around in the kitchen as he was trying to sleep and I had been doing it for ages... I explained that I had only just walked into the kitchen and not touched the chairs but will be careful and maybe he needs to explain to other quests. He again started telling me he knew the sound and I was definitely moving chairs around, it felt quite accusatory, and I told him again it was not me but that I would be careful. He then stormed off and started shouting as he walked away, saying something like "say whatever you want, blah blah" I understand that night staff are going to be tired and frustrated at times, but I do not believe it's fair to be rude to guests who are quietly and quickly using the kitchen at 7pm. I had run the marathon the previous day, and therefore was tired and emotional myself, so it did get to me quite a bit. It's a shame as most of the staff were super lovely, it's just a shame we had to have that encounter.…
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Date of stay: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
So once upon a time, pre pandemic there were some pretty epic party hostels in California. They are all gone, all of them. None are what they used to be, and many of them shut down. I visited this hostel once long ago. It was mellow, and very very laid back. Wasn’t for me…. Well, it looks like this is now picking up the slack for the lack of party hostels. This hostel is very possibly one, if not the only party hostel in the West coast. Maybe with the exception of a few in Los Angeles. It is super social, and full of international travelers. Thanks guys for bringing back the vibe to the world of hosteling. See you guys soon again.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
On paper, this is a great place to stay. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the place is clean and there is lots going on! You're right in North Beach, which is an animated part of town, walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf etc. However, clubs at night made it very difficult for us to sleep in our room (street-facing, lots of windows which is nice during the day!) until early in the morning. But overall, this was a really good hostel experience and I felt very safe here.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I stayed here for 5 nights in a private room. The vibe was really friendly, the breakfast in the morning was handy and overall I would recommend this hostel to anyone. I woukd happily stay there again.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We only stayed one night at the Green Tortoise and I wish we'd had more time to attend some of the social events. The Indian food + piano bar + comedy show sounded so fun! My partner and I stayed in a private room: it was clean and a good enough size for two. The shared bathrooms were clean and I never had to wait to use the restroom or shower. The free breakfast was a nice treat. I recommend this spot for anyone on a budget or looking to meet other travelers!
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Date of stay: May 2022
Room Tip: Room 16 - private room - seemed to be in a less-trafficked hallway
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Friendly clean and great place to stay - helpful staff and make you feel really welcome Laundry facilities were great and cheap Bathrooms and communal area always clean Great location to local attractions
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We had an amazing stay at green tortoise. The hostel is in a great location and full of diverse and sociable guests from all walks of life. We were immediately integrated into the social life through nightly organised events, a free breakfast, and the kind staff. The communal area is very spacious and contains a piano, pool table and sofas to socialise on. It feels very clean and well looked after. Unfortunately, this hostel accepts homeless people and we had the misfortune of having an unstable roommate who aggressively shouted at us all night. When we told reception they quickly allowed us to change room but did not kick out the unruly roommate so god help her next roommates. Despite this, we had a really great stay and definitely recommend for any travellers looking for a place to make new friends.…
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Arrived around midnight here, reception made us feel right at home, were exceedingly helpful and made a late check-in an easy task. Jeremiah, the night staffer is absolutely fantastic, and I could not see a business succeeding without someone like this, what a delight. Other guests were very easy to get along with, open and cheerful. Amenities were great. Nice clean kitchen, laundry, new bathrooms, comfortable rooms, and a great big funky ballroom common area, which really grows on you.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Rooms on south and west sides are street facing and enjoyable.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
First time staying in hostel and was very impressed. Staff was very welcoming, common areas and amenities were nice as well. The rooms are old but overall still nice. The location was perfect, countless bars and restaurants nearby. The streets get very active at night but nothing too crazy for big city. I’d recommend renting out the 4 Bed (2 Bunk Bed) room when traveling with friends so you will have the room to yourselves. Overall this is a great place to stay if you’re able to get a suite to yourself. Great $ for the location, vibe, and experience. Perfect place to stay when budget traveling with significant other, or group of friends!
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Rent out a private or the 2 bunk bed suite.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Spent 2 nights in SF last week and was staying at the Green Tortoise- quick summary- the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable about the city, the hostel hosts loads of 'meet & greet' sessions every evening where you can connect with the residents- which is very cool- i could not unfortunately join these as i had specific plans for all my evenings- but happen to connect with a few folks from Korea and Italy whilst staying there. The breakfast is sparse but on time and gives you a homely feeling. The rooms are quite large, bedding and linen clean. Stand out for me when compared to other hostels in Europe and Asia are the toilets and wash rooms- very big and extremely clean (and also loads per floor). The hostel is situated in a brilliant locality from where you could easily walk to various tourist and important places down town and other attractions.. you will not find a lift in the building so hauling suitcases from the ground up would be a pain-but thats only at checkin and check-outs... overall had a good stay!!…
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$51 - US$176 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
green tortoise hostel - san francisco hotel san francisco
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSan FranciscoNorth Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco
Which popular attractions are close to Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Nearby attractions include Club Fugazi (0.5 km), The Speakeasy (0.2 km), and City Lights Booksellers (0.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and airport transportation.
What food & drink options are available at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Yes, paid private parking nearby is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Conveniently located restaurants include Molinari Delicatessen, Quince, and Betty Lou's Seafood and Grill.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Yes, guests have access to a sauna during their stay.
Does Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco have airport transportation?
Yes, Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Russian.
Are there any historical sites close to Green Tortoise Hostel - San Francisco?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Alcatraz Island (3.5 km), Golden Gate Bridge (6.9 km), and City Lights Booksellers (0.1 km).