The managers here are extremely strict and always seem to be making some kind of unreasonable demand. It feels like they are constantly looking for something to complain about or tell tenants to fix, even when it's something that isn't really a big deal. At the same time, the building itself is always having some type of issue, whether it's problems with the water, maintenance, or something else that affects the tenants. It's frustrating that management expects everything from the tenants to be perfect when the building itself constantly has problems that don't get fixed right away. read more

I loved my stay at Gramercy Place. Here's why. PROS: Clean: They have cleaning people come every day to clean the common areas. Huge Kitchen: They have a huge common kitchen that everyone shares with all pots, pans, utinsils,silverware, etc. that you need. 4 large fridges and lot of shelves to store your food. They give you plastic bins to put your food in, so there's no "confusion". There is also a 2nd kitchen on the 2nd floor for the people who live upstairs. Outside: There is a really nice deck in the back where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine. There are common areas in the front where you can sit and have a drink or a smoke (if you indulge) with the other guests, but it never gets too roudy there that it feels unsafe or anything. Transportation: It's close to Pico, which is one of the main East-West streets in LA, and Western, which is a large North-South vein. It's very easy to get to the different areas of town on the Metro. Plus, one of the people who works there rides the bus everywhere, so she is a great resource to ask about bus/train travel. Freebies: Free cable tv and movies on demand. Free wi-fi. Free coffee and tea. Free utilities. There is always hot water. Free clean towels and linens every day. Vibe: Mostly though, it's just the vibe of the place that is so nice. I spent a couple of months there just because I liked the people that were in and out of the place. I made some of my best friends in LA while staying there and have some awesome memories. They have a way of getting people who are really talented and artistic - when I was there I met a few very talented artists, a few actors, some writers, some musicians, a DJ, and a stand-up comic. How can you NOT have a good time with all of these creative and interesting people around? People who run the place: Jimmy, Sheila, Kellie - they are simply the BEST. Good people, honest, nice, helpful, cheerful, but they also take care of business and get rid of weirdos fast, which is great. CONS: Every place has cons, and this place is no different, however I must say that ALL of these cons are outside of Gramercy Place's control, as they do everything possible to make the place the oasis in the city that it is. Neighborhood: it's not so great - it's not the worst, but just be smart about things and you won't have a problem. Like, if you're a girl, make a friend if you're going to walk around the neighborhood - there are tons of nice people around the house all the time, so there's no need to walk to the store alone. The property itself is gated, locked, and well-lit, so just be smart as you would in any big city & you'll be fine. Parking: Parking can also be problematic, b/c it's all street parking. However, on the plus side, at least it is all first come first serve (no meters or permit-parking), so you might have to drive around a bit to find parking but you'll find something eventually. Stay at Gramercy. It is an oasis in the middle of the city. I promise you'll love it! read more

I have been to many summer camps and stuff, but I have never stayed at a hostel before in my life and wasn't really excited about the idea of staying in one, especially near Downtown L.A. which is not the most appealing neighborhood to be. I'm not one of those college-aged party animals, so I really didn't know how a hostel-ish place in LA would be! Here is the thing, Gramercy Place is ANYTHING but a crazy dirty hostel with drunk European kids. It is right off of West Pico Blvd, one of the main avenues of L.A, but, you feel like you're in your own special villa. So, here are my pros and some cons lists. PROS - PEOPLE are really great. The owner is a super nice lady from Rhode Island. She is very helpful. And, most other people here are quiet, professional people who are job hunting or relocating. So, this is NOT your typical "drink & party 24/7" hostel. - LOCATION: Right off the West Pico Boulevard. So most places (Downtown, Hollywood, Sunset Blvd) are like 15 mins. away by car and the location is super easy to find. - BUILDING & BACKYARD: t's like a big Californian villa with 20 rooms in it. But, it's a huge estate, so you don't feel like you're cramped. The backyard is amazing too. They have chairs, tables and a nice porch. You can work on your laptop and have your coffee outside while enjoying the sun -KITCHEN; they have a huge one that looks like a restaurant's with 4 big ass fridges :) They have all the utensils you may need and plenty of them! They give you boxes to put and label your food, so there wouldn't be anyone eating your expensive cheese lol - I never had an issue with that. CONS -WIFI kinda sucks in the rooms. It works great in the common rooms, in the kitchen and outdoors. But, when you wanna snuggle in your bed and do some research, it doesn't really work - PARKING: It's like an individual house with a driveway on residential street. So, you kinda have to park on the street, which wouldn't be that easy if there were more people with cars here. I never had an issue, but it can be. Just keep this in mind For the price you're paying ($300/week if paid in cash), this is an amazing deal! I really encourage you to try this place at least for a week. I guarantee you will love it. read more

I must said that this hostel was one the best hostels I have been in a very long time. The environment was like a little get away from all the chaos in the city of angels. The rooms were wonderful and I had a kick with the back patio area. The patio was like a little spot where one can really breath and enjoy the outside. It was also had a little vintage feel with the worn out large chess pieces outside where anyone can play against each other. The shared areas like the kitchen, washroom, tv room, and gathering room were very clean, which are a plus whenever living in a hostel, but I think what sold me was the people I encounter inside. As a hostel, of course one will meet many new people, but the owner Shiela and her staff were very sweet and kind to my group of friend during the whole trip and it made us feel less home sick. However, I guess for a wonderful place have there are some downsize. For example, if you are here to explore it is kind of far away from the major hot spots and the location is not safest to be after dark. Overall, I love this place and I will definitely come back when I fly to Cali. read more

This is a review for my month long stay from August-September 2016 while waiting for my apartment to be renovated. I initially saw the hostel in AirBnB and then again on Craigslist. I sent an email and started a dialogue with the owner. A few months went by and I contacted them again for housing. Sheila scheduled an appointment and let me take a tour before reserving my space. The location it is in (on the border of Koreatown), you do not have to walk very far (5-10 minutes) to find liquor stores, markets, food, and public transit. Hollywood and DTLA are about 20 minutes away via car and 45 minutes via bus. If you do drive, parking can be a nightmare in this area. The grounds and the home are amazing. The 1920's mansion is very well taken care of. Management has a cleaning service that comes in everyday. The appliances in all of the kitchens and washer/dryers are in up to date and in great shape. I stayed in a 4 bunk bed shared room with a private bathroom. My roommates were all great except for a woman who was on her phone all the time in the room and common areas. The bunk beds are wood which is so much better than the cheap metal ones you find in hostels on AirBnB. The cleaning service will provide you with clean linens and towels upon asking without question. They vacuum the bedroom and clean the bathroom everyday. The guests that were staying in the home that I met and hung out with every night on the back patio were really cool people. I did see quite a few others in passing; however, I did not meet them. I believe at one point, the home was completely full and I believe it houses 50. I probably only saw about 20 some people. The home is so huge there is quite a bit of space separating people from each other. I would highly recommend this place for anyone for anything. Management, the mansion, the guests, and the cleaning service is totally worth the low monthly cost that it is. The place was so amazing that I am going to be housing my 18 year old daughter there soon. p.s. There were several people of all ethnicities including a few black men and women residing during my stay. Everyone at the home is being treated fairly and happiness abounds with the guest and staff except the cleaning service getting on guests for not washing their dishes. read more

This is a great place to stay if you're relocating to Los Angeles or just here to check it out L.A. The location is very central with reasonable access to the 10, 101. 15-20 minutes on average to get to downtown, Hollywood. Buses are also convenient I understand the place has been here for eight years. I can see the owner Shiela and regular staff always taking care of the property. It is a respectful place with a wide range of people staying there. No party place or trash. Bathrooms are shared and regularly cleaned. Coffee and tea is always available. Clean linens and towels. Free wi-fi, Cable with On Demand movies and shows. (HBO & SHO) They have flexible check in/out times. No smoking except designated areas outside. In this converted mansion,the rooms are varied as you may share with as many as 4 others (cheapest rate) to having the option of your own room. I shared with one pleasant Japanese girl, with bunk beds. You have a great opportunity to meet new people in common areas outside as well as the quiet study library and TV rooms. I have meet people that are creative, in IT, students from all around the world, and all sorts of visiting business. If you have any questions or concerns Shiela and Kellie are available, to help. Really these are some smart good ladies running the show. Truly, I can't say enough good things about these two. No high turn over with staff where you have to worry about your stuff. Rooms have locks and codes to get in and out of the building as well as security cameras, for safety. Parking is unmetered and easy to find before 10pm. read more

AMESOME PLACE. the only downside is that it seemed pretty difficult for me to book a room here...they didn't answer my e-mails, but i was lucky because my friend got there before me. so she got the desk people to give me a call. price-wise, it was the best. i think i paid around $90-100 total for THREE NIGHTS. i got a discounted price because i'm a student, and paid in cash. i had the room all to myself for the first two nights which was awesome. my roomie the third night was cool, wish he was there the other two nights because a new friend would've been nice. i DID befriend some of the other hostel mates though. there's free wi-fi, a communal kitchen for those of you who like to cook, a tv room, and pretty much everything else you'd expect at a hostel. the neighborhood it was in was a quiet suburban neighborhood...and a very short walk to the bus stop. i would love to stay here again, and maybe bring some friends along so we can grab one of their co-ed rooms. ...oh and another plus, is that unlike most hostels i've found...you don't have to be from out of state to stay there. woo. read more

This place is great if you are looking for relocating, and if you are just visiting make sure to have a car because it's not close to anything although it's near to many buses but ergh I think that you wouldn't like to wait so much for catching a bus. PROS: - The place is always clean, actually, I think that this is one of the most cleanest hostels that I had ever been to. Rooms are fine, there are different types. The place has a living room, a dining room with a huge kitchen in the lower level, a TV room with cable, and a nice backyard. - The environment: In this place I met greatest people with different professions some are actors, musicians, chefs, students, etc. Everyone is super kind and willing to meet new people. Even I know that some people have been living for months! - Many buses around CONS: - The only bad thing is the neighborhood where is located, which is kinda sketchy (but come on! almost anywhere in LA is sketchy). Actually, the first time that I went out I felt like I was going to be robbed. However, after a few days, I realized that it's not that bad. You just need to take some precautions like if you are a girl, I wouldn't recommend walking alone at night. - No Nearly attractions: Well, this depends on how you see it, because for example if you have a car, then it's fine you can go to everywhere in just a couple of minutes, however, if you don't have it, you will need to take the bus which can take forever. read more

I would not give five stars unless I thought that the rating matched the experience. This is a five star hostel, meaning given the price, the 'service' and the setting...it is superb. By service of course, by hostel standards I mean attention to their customers. Shelia and Kelly are amazing, sensitive hosts and go out of there way to make sure that you are happy. More on this later. I travel for my work at least five times a year. I make a habit of bringing my wife and son with me. We enjoy the hostel experience first and foremost because we like connecting with other people. On this trip to the US we have had mostly great experiences. (please read my review of the nightmare at 1886 Mansion in Takoma Park, Washington DC. When we arrived at Gramcery we were surprised at the comfort and cleanliness of the place. The place is quite huge and there are several living rooms to relax in. All of them are well decorated and comfortable. You have the feeling that you are staying in an upscale early 20th century home! We did encounter one large problem that was solved immediately. One of the 'young' guests in the room beside us took a rather weird and aggressive reaction (words and demeanor) to my 9 year old son and wife. After the second incident, I relayed this situation to the manager Shelia who immediately address the situation and within 30 minutes informed the guest that he had to go! We were so relieved. Everyone else in the place were lovely and very, very friendly. We returned to Gramercy our last night and had another wonderful experience. Both managers Sheela and Kelly are wise and talented beyond their years. They put an incredible amount of love and attention into their place. So it comes as no surprise why it is so fantastic. We are looking forward to our return to Gramercy next year! With regards to the neighborhood. I have noticed other reviews which were less happy. It is not Beverly Hills but their are incredible food finds. La Cevicheria less than two blocks away was rated in LA's top 10 of 2010 for best restaurants. A small hole in the way establishment with the most delicious and inexpensive Latin American sea food I have tasted in years. read more

This place is wonderful for many reasons. First of all, the staff is amazing. Kelly and Shelia, the gals who run this place, are really sweet and keep the place clean and well maintained. There are three full sized kitchens and always is stocked up with free coffee and tea. The back patio area is GINORMOUS with lots of tables and spaces to work on computers or to read or get sun The Wifi works great and is FREE which isn't in some other hostels. Most of all, the people who stay here are great. The unsavory types you might find at other places tend not to end up here. You can leave your lap top or cell phone lying around with out the fear someone might steal it. Also, a great deal of people staying here are students at the Cinema school, so it's plentiful of artistic people. All in all I have really loved my stay here. Kelly and Shelia make people feel welcome here and really set the standard of how a hostel should work. One thing that seems to be of concern is the neighborhood, which is a bit over exaggerated. If you're not from LA you might think it to be a bit seedy, but its really not as scary as some people have posted. . Gramercy place is a haven and am so glad I found it. read more

I visited this placed and got a nice impression of the Hostel. Beside that it is not a real hotel, it make you feel like you never left home. This 50 units great for low budget travelers, and nice patio will make you feel at home away from home. From the outside it looks like an apt complex, but from the inside it's like garden of eden. Definitely recommended to visitors... read more

My stay here was very pleasant. I'm past the days when I want to party all the time, and I really do not like staying in hostels anymore. I wanted a clean, friendly, and cheap place to stay in LA for a few days and I got it here. The bathrooms, rooms, and kitchens were clean and functional, and my roommate was nice and friendly. The staff were also helpful and friendly, which is not always the case with a hostel. Also, there is a nice back patio area, and a tv room. I can recommend this place for travelers on a budget. Just two caveats: This doesn't seem like much of a party hostel, so if you're the "get wasted and run screaming up and down the halls and pass out in a pile of puke in the bathroom" type, you might not feel welcome here. Also, the bus rides can get pretty long around LA, so be ready for that if you don't have a car. read more

For starters I'll admit I'm guilty of going straight to the negative reviews first. I stopped at the 1st one I read because I fell over or a better way to describe it was fainted from shock. The claim that management at Gramercy is racist, is absolutely absurd. This Hostel has gone to a level of customer service that I can't describe, only because I've come to the conclusion that the English language has yet to create an adjective that can give an accurate description of its superiority to others, which is light years above what I've experienced in the hospitality department so far in my life. So you can value my review, I'll tell you that the first thing I will notice or look for is cleanliness when I arrive, especially the restrooms. Nothing worse then mystery brown hair that always appears like Houdini on the bed which was just washed (none here). I have never seen bathrooms as clean as they are here, and it actually supersedes anything I've seen before in a hostel or Airbnb by far. The level of organization( like a military base minus drill sergeants) put into the services provided, is above and beyond what you'll find in this city. You'd think it couldn't be possible in a 10,000 sqft mansion built when L.A. was just being established. I personally love older buildings because they are so solid that you don't hear other guest as you would in modern places. If you're looking for superior service and a laid back place to stay while you're in L.A. then stay at Gramercy. You will never find what is provided here at this price anywhere else, that I can guarantee. I don't write a bunch of reviews but when I do it's a 1 star (which is rare look at my reviews) or someone who deserves 10 stars. Anyone who slams service here has some of their own personal insecurities to deal with, because if someone who's skin was pink showed up it wouldn't matter. Location wise: it's 10-15 min away from any ideal place you'd want to visit while in town (central). For people who are in between places or just moved here, it's a great place for temporary residency too. read more

They do a great job of acting like they care about you. Nicest people in the world until you give them your credit card or show up late to pay. Been there for a month and was booted for paying 25 minutes late. This after I worked 40 of 48 hours over a weekend and got off at 5am Monday morning, finally got to sleep at 8am and didn't show up at 11am. No consideration for my livelyhood AT ALL! None! And they knew I was staying. We had a conversation about me possibly leaving for a few days and then returning so, they knew my intent. I actually feel like I'm being discriminated against. I get the feeling of a racial undertone involved. Like I said, they are extremely good at acting like they care. Give them an opportunity to live up to that BS mission statement, and they fall flat on their faces. No to Gramercy Place. Everyday. read more

This place is a lovely place and Sheila and Kelly are the nicest people. You will feel at home and they will take care of you. They are kind and understanding. Making your stay a pleasant one. It has 2 kitchens, large living room, beautiful back area. You won't regret staying at this place. Ill choose this place over a hotel any day. read more

A nice, clean, relaxing, and warm place to stay, in a central location of l.a. No dingy, cramped rooms here... And if your a cute single guy, the manager might take you to Newcomb's! and at the same time scare the crap out of you! haaaaa read more

There's no other place like it, I can assure you. Clean, professional, FRIENDLY and AFFORDABLE! I was shocked to read some of these other reviews because they're absolutely not true. I've stayed here a few times and def recommend it to anyone traveling that way. The owner Sheila is down to earth and has gone above and beyond for me several times. I'll definitely be staying again!! Great place! read more

Cheap place to stay. Very cool and friendly people. Very clean for a hostel. The staff is really nice. I arrived late and they called me to inform me how to get the keys for my room. Quiet when it gets late and there's a community kitchen. Parking was easy to get at night. No water to buy on premises so bring your own or drink outta the sink. read more

Out of all the hotels/hostels I've stayed in, nearly most of them have been in poor conditions (rooms were dirty and infested, A/C didn't work, towels were worn out, etc.), but not Gramercy Place. No, siree. 1310 S. Gramercy Place is, without a doubt, the most cleanest, infest-free, "home away from home" hostel I've ever stayed at in my entire life. A gorgeous 1920s-style home in the Mid-City section of L.A., it's got great rooms, a nice kitchen, washer/dryer, three working bathrooms w/ showers, a beautiful patio outside in the back, and then some. Kellie and Shelia were very nice caretakers, not only because they keep the place totally clean and immaculate (unlike that slumlord b---- at the now permanently Jerry's Garden Inn closed just 3.6 miles west on Pico), but they also treat their guests with respect. You wanna know why I know? Because I've stayed there 4 times in a four year period. And you know what? I'm coming back this Spring 2019! See ya then! read more

Let's start with the many positives. It's very very clean and that's due to the hard work and attention to detail of the professional cleaning crew. I've been to other hostels/AirBnBs in LA and they are flat out gross. I very much appreciated the cleaning crew's friendliness and efforts. This is the only reason they don't get a worse rating. Please tip! Another pro is the location as it's easy to reach the Westside and DTLA even during rush hour. The building is beautifully maintained and the quads are spacious with convenient en suite bathrooms (keep an eye out for the racoons!). A new set of towels/bedding always available upon request. There's plenty of common areas to "hang out" and b/c of cable, you can choose from many movies. The rates are low, most likely b/c this is a rent-controlled unit. All wifi/utilities included and dorms are fully furnished. Kitchen's fully equipped and guests often leave their unwanted foods/staples once they leave. Washers/dryers in the building, which is unique for K-town. The cons are also numerous. It's not a "home away from home," not even close. The management, which tends to favor ethnic men, allows terrible guests to stay on a long-term basis and refuses to take people's complaints against them seriously. This has happened frequently. For example, one cranky and nasty Indian senior who constantly complained about other people's mess in the kitchen but doesn't actually clean anything himself, is also one books the most expensive single room during his stays and takes management to eat out. His complaints against others, no matter how trivial, will be heeded. Another older ex-Marine had a habit of sexually harassing women there for months. Despite repeated complaints, management refused to expel him. He's no longer there but I'm not sure what the "final straw" was. Management likes to defend the general "culture" of the semi-hostel. By "culture," they mean the constant weed-smoking, illegal fireworks in the backyard, and people allowing homeless friends or sex partners into the rooms, then by all means, please preserve it. The parking situation is horrendous. Again, Management knows about this but doesn't have any long-term solutions. Ironically, it's people with cars who work and who are most likely to stay long term. The area is on the edge of West Adams and considered the "ghetto." So if you're female, men will catcall you when you walk down the street. There are a group of men who constantly hang out in the parking lot of the dollar store. No idea. The Ethiopian/Oaxaca food here are delicious! read more

5 star hostel with no question! Much better than any hotel,motel,hostel around... Super clean and organized always.everybody is very respectful to each other and keeps it clean...It has many different areas to hang out,back and front yard, 3 kitchens, 5 bathrooms on the hallways plus some rooms have their own, it also has,tv room,study room,and common rooms.. Kelly and Sheila taking care of the place as their home., they always do upgrades.. Location is super convenience to anywhere..! Almost one bus to anywhere in LA..Staying here is a peaceful experience, I m 100%positive if you stay one time, you will wanna stay again and you will want this place become your second home..! read more

Hi, i can fully agree on what the other reviews are listing up. I've been to many hostels in my life, and this is the most practical, spacious and most generous of them all - in mid La. Also love the areas culture mix,, mex, black, corean, white,, latino music from stores, lot's of alive joyful energy - and in the morning you can have a heavenly walk in the country club area, quiet, birdsong and stunning beautiful green areas. read more

Bedroom next to bathroom in haunted area of mansion. Heard very diascusting noises through the wall constant (sniffing, farting,), always had pee on seat, smelled like urine in areas of home, people constantly slamming doors loudly, scary drugged out neighbors, felt unsafe as a woman, scary neighboorhood, strange women owners. never again! read more

This is just the best hostel in Los Angeles. It's like a house and you do feel like you're in a house so... The place is very organized, clean, respectful and people are so nice! The managers are so friendly! The neighborhood is not the best but it's well located and quiet. It's not too dangerous and you can walk without be worried all the time but if you are a woman you shouldn't walk alone late night (we never know)... Anyway I just love this place and I'd recommend for everyone! You can make many friends there! The kitchen is very organized and nobody is gonna steal your food! The price is good! And that's it... Try it and you will love it. I'd live there for years...easily. read more

Nice house, but weird staff, and sketchy neighborhood. It's a pretty house. The rooms upstairs are nice, especially if you get one with a bathroom. I saw a room downstairs and it seemed to have dingy fluorescent lighting, so I was glad I was upstairs instead. The blonde woman (Kelly?) seemed nice at first and told me that there was plenty of space available if I wanted to extend my stay but then when I went to pay said "oh no we're all booked up." I later found out that one of the long-term guests who had been there for years complained about me because I wanted to sleep with the windows open because the room was hot and stuffy and she kept closing the window and turning off the fan. So they weren't really booked up, they just told me that instead of letting me move to another room. The other woman who runs the place is very short-tempered and kicked someone out of the hostel on the spot for something that wasn't their fault and they were crying on the patio with no place to go. That in itself made me glad to leave! The neighborhood is kind of sketchy, and the prices they charge are pretty high considering that they are not in a prime neighborhood close to anything. read more

I had never stayed at a hostel but I like it better than a hotel and everyone keeps telling me this is way better than your average hostel. They do good screening of who stays here, it's quiet, people don't steal, and I sleep really well. The ladies at the office are nice and the parking is easy once you get the street cleaning schedule down. There is a kitchen that has everything you need to cookl and they keep the place really clean. read more

The place itself is fine. The room was comfortable, no a/c, but you have a fan. There are a couple of kitchens with pots, pans, plates, etc...so they are very generous in that regard.The people and their cleanliness was bothersome, not to mention the rude attitudes, and commentary from people you don't know, that's the only reason I didn't stay longer, but it's an important reason that you don't have control over. Whoever was in the room above would stomp loudly throughout the night which left you without a peaceful nights sleep. Even though your room has a pin code to enter, management and housekeeping does have access to your room, so be mindful of that. For $400 a week, you should have more privacy and be able to feel more comfortable and safe, quite honestly, that's no pocket change to snuff at, unless your money isn't green enough for them. Believe the reviews of racist treatment, they are correct, it's not just coming from an "overly sensitive person". You will be made to feel like you did something wrong and need to leave because people won't take responsibility for their actions, but they'll sure be nice enough to you to take your money. read more

I lived at Gramercy for around a year and a half total time, and every month was wonderful. Both of the hosts are very pleasant, very understanding, and go to great lengths to provide a house that meets all the needs of their guests. Everywhere is extremely well maintained and cleaned, including the individual rooms which are cleaned very often (trash, vacuuming, fresh linens, etc) which is really wonderful. Inside the rest of the house are multiple common areas for work or lounging, multiple kitchens, loos, and a community computer which is extremely helpful. There is an absolutely wonderful outdoor patio section that is beautiful and perfect for working and enjoying a nice sunny day, and then by night it is a thriving hub of social activity. Given how diverse Gramercy Pl is with people of all walks of life coming from all over the globe, you never know who you will meet and its really great to meet people from across the globe who have the same interests as you (I met nearly a dozen other people who were all attending the same school as myself). Kellie and Sheila are both really warm, caring, and understanding people. They helped me out a lot during my move/transition/establishment in LA, and I am really grateful of them for that. I never had any issues at Gramercy Pl with roommates or other guests, it is a really awesome community full of culture that one can get lost in. I can't recommend this location enough. read more

I'm giving this place five stars, because it's really as good as it gets. This is an old LA mansion that was converted into the nicest hostel I've ever stayed in. I stayed in a private room for about a month while I was between places. So, I can't speak for the shared room experience. First off, it's always clean there. The bathrooms are cleaned daily and in the entire month I stayed there, I never saw anything dirty in any of the restrooms. Second, the kitchen is beautiful and it's a chef's dream. There's plenty of storage space for food and I never had any missing food items throughout my entire stay. The general vibe there is mature, laid back, respectful and friendly. I never had to complain about excessive late night noise or anything for that matter. The location is a bit off the beaten path for travelers, but it's about a 5 minute walk to the Venice Blvd bus line, which takes you straight to the beaches. So, really it's just a 30 minute bus ride away from the beach. For any locals looking for a temporary place to stay, it's in the K-town area. The only thing that could be a problem is parking. It's quite difficult to find a spot sometimes, because it's all street parking. read more