Adelaide Hostel

Bright and colorful from the outside in, the Adelaide Hostel immediately shows off its moxie with a vivid red alley-facing facade surrounded by cheerful plants. Inside, walls are painted red, green, bright yellow, or brown and are decorated with local art and travel-themed accessories like globes and maps. The lobby is homey and bright with a wood floor, lively red walls, couches, armchairs, and rugs. Posters of local events and attractions hang on the walls, bookshelves are stocked with guide books and brochures, and a chalkboard describes regular social events organized by the hostel (pub crawls, movie nights, etc.), encouraging exploration and socialization with fellow travelers. The property has spirit, and its an ideal spot for a low-maintenance traveler who wants to explore the city on a budget. There have been some complaints that despite booking at the Adelaide Hostel, guests are sent to the Adelaide’s sister property, the Dakota Hotel, instead. 

The Adelaide Hostel is located at the end of a fairly quiet alleyway in the thick of downtown San Francisco. There are plenty of eateries, bars, shops, and public transport choices in easy walking distance from the hostel, and guests can get to many popular sights in a half hour or less. It’s just a four-minute walk to Union Square, which is famous for its high-end shops and also home to the Powell Street cable car stop. The Nob Hill and Chinatown neighborhoods are nearby, and while the hostel does border the gritty Tenderloin district, the area seems to be on an upward swing. 

The Powell Street BART station is about a nine-minute walk from the hostel. Fisherman’s Wharf is 25 minutes away via public transport, and Golden Gate Park is about a half an hour. San Francisco International Airport is about 40 minutes to an hour away via public transportation. There's no parking available at the hostel, but they do offer discounted bike rentals, free bike parking, and a discounted shuttle service to the airport. 

The 25 rooms at the Adelaide are standard hostel fare with carpeted beige floors, light yellow walls, and little in the way of decor or personal touches. They range in size from private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, mini-fridges, and microwaves to 12-person dorms with shared bathrooms, which may include a standing shower or a shower/tub combo. The dorms have two features that are useful for a shared space: Each bed has a privacy curtain, and there are storage lockers below the bunks. Beds also have a reading lamp and a power outlet. Linens are provided, though guests are expected to strip their own beds when leaving. Rooms and bathrooms are dated and show signs of wear-and-tear and are adequately, but not obsessively, clean. There is no air-conditioning. Past guests have complained about noisy guests at night, but it's a common complaint with hostels. 

The Adelaide offers classic city hostel amenities, most of which are free. The lounge offers a cozy spot for guests to hangout and features a cable TV with HBO and a Wii as well as several guest computers. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hostel. A chalkboard announces hostel-organized events like free bi-weekly dinners, a historical bar crawl, and movies with popcorn. A small patio is crowded with plants and offers outdoor seating. The property also offers free luggage storage and a laundry room with coin-operated front-loading washers and dryers and free detergent. Guests seem satisfied with the free breakfast, which includes standards like bagels, toast, oatmeal, fruit, Nutella, and coffee. Dinner is served twice a week for free -- chili and rice or pasta and salad. Guests can also use the kitchen and dining area to cook their own food. This space is equipped with enormous refrigerators, two stoves with ovens, cutlery, plates, pans, and small appliances like microwaves and toasters. Reception is open 24 hours.