I can not recommend this establishment to anyone. They chose to use an e-checkin which is a red flag to begin with because it shows a neglect to the customer. Then when my reservation, made through Expedia, didn't show up in booking the waste of time, after an overnight train with little sleep, lugging baggage around and lack of personal convince they compounded to demonstrate a place that placed dollars over experience. Their customer service, or lack there of, extended to ignoring text messages and hanging up on calls. Does this sound inviting. I can ONLY imagine what an actual border must navigate if they have a problem. Stay away from this place... unless you like to be ignored, weary or worthless. read more

Cute concept and the pods are modern. My pod had the air vent broken on one side... so it was a hot box. Had to sleep with my shade open to get some air flow. The showers are decent.. good water pressure and temperature. Just don't look at the ceiling bc you will see the rust and black mold. In conclusion I don't think the stay is worth the price. I came on a busy weekend, so I'm sure it was more than usual but if I could do it again I'd pay more to stay at a hotel. I told them the air was broken in my pod and they told me I could move the next morning. When I went down, they said they were full and couldn't move me. I couldn't stay in a hotbox again so I stayed somewhere else. They offered me a free coffee as compensation. the prime location is the only reason I'm not giving zero stars. It's close to the nightlife, food spots and metro. I would avoid if you can afford to. read more

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What an experience!! I came for the cherry blossom festival. Unfortunately the blossoms were gone by the time I got there. I wanted a no frills place that I didn't have to spend a lot of money to stay near the Capital Mall. It was a hostel but chill, quiet and respectful. Downstairs is the cafe w chairs and couches and wonderful employees that make the best cortado and cappuccinos. People staying there get 10% off. Everything is done online to book your stay. Also an app has the key to the front door and the door to the room w the pods in them. There were 8 pods to my room. Female only. The pods are cool for a 5'2" girl like me. I wasn't sure about the door which was just a retractable shade. It was fine. Everybody is quiet read more

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The location was good, the self check-in was convenient, and the staff were very friendly. Everything had locks and it felt secure. Rooms were quiet during the night and shared spaces were clean (at least in the women's only section). The beds were comfortable, and there were lights in the capsule that you can control. The property owner even made everyone free breakfast in the morning, which was very kind. I only have two critiques: the capsules get HOT; no ventilation or airflow got in. The bathrooms also had no toilet paper or trash cans, instead offering bidets. As nice as this would be in theory, it's really not great in practice, especially for women. Overall, it provided what I needed it to, and I would recommend it for a traveller on a budget. read more

One of the best hidden gems in DC that no one knows about and it is located in the heart of U Street. I know they are a hostel but I use this spot as a coffee shop. It is quiet and a good place to socialize with tourists. This spot has a soul which is hard to describe, if you live in DC you have to stop by at this little coffee shop. 10/10 for friendly customer service. Staff members gave me hostel vibes. She almost treated me as a tourist which was fun. I felt like I went out of my house came to this spot and I was on a trip just like that. This felt great because I was stressed and bored with doing the same things everyday. It felt different and unique. So, thank you for treating me as tourist with a smile. 10/10 for cleanliness. Inside is super clean. It is clear that they are taking this seriously. I was curious if customers work as employees, because some staff members had accents which sounded super cool. Going back to cleanliness, I have never seen a coffee shop as neat as this spot in DC. 8/10 for pricing, not to say their prices are astronomically high but could be slightly lower in my opinion. For example, a cup of matcha latte costs $5.75, London fog is $5.25 and a cup of chai latte costs $5.25 at U Street Hostel Coffee Shop; however, there is another coffee house named The Coffee Bar which is as close as 6 minutes walking distance. Let's compare their prices with this spot to prove a point. A cup of latte at competitor costs $5; a cup of London fog costs $4.50; and a cup of chai latte costs $5.09. Overall, this is an excellent spot for reading a book, finding a cozy place to chill, and perhaps socialize with tourists. I really enjoyed my time and definitely would recommend for anyone who is seeking a spot that has soul and hostel vibe! read more

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We stayed here over NYE this year and I can't speak highly enough about it! I was so pleased with how clean everything was, from our room, to the lobby to the communal showers as well. The staff was exceptionally friendly and it seemed very apparent everyone liked working there, which speaks to the hostel itself in my opinion. My boyfriend and I opted to stay in a bunk bed room and I only have 2 recommendations - 1. Be prepared to to have a tablet or laptop if you like falling asleep to TV bc there are none in the rooms. 2. Bring an air freshener - the toilet is right there in close quarters with you (if ya get my drift!) My only complaint is that the room got super hot at night, so it's a good idea to have a bottle of water in your room in case you're like me and get super thirsty from being to hot. To be fair, I was sleeping in the top bunk so I'm sure the hot air rose to my detriment. There's a little cafe in the lobby with coffee, empanadas and seating with some fun board games. So if you're looking for somewhere to stay on a budget, this place was perfect for us. I felt safe in the hostel itself and in the neighborhood as well. Not to mention the hostel is less than a block away from the metro station which was SO useful. One last thing that was so nice - even after you check out, you're welcome to leave your luggage in the lobby until your flight/train/Uber picks you up so your not just dragging bags around town while you kill some time. All in all, great experience! read more

U Street Hostel - Our room after checking out. Small but clean and safe! - Hostels Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Never stay here I purchased a stay along with paying an additional protection fee, in case I needed to cancel. I cancelled 24 hours before my check in , due to a family emergency. I let Expedia and the hostel know The hostel said that because I booked through Expedia, that U Street has no control of the booking and cancellation, WHICH WAS A LIE! U Street about it and blamed Expedia. I called the hostel and they said that I need to speak with the back office. I emailed the back office and have not heard bac read more

I just needed a place to sleep. Here was perfect. Regarding the check-in, please use the QR code at the door and front desk. When I opened the door of the capsulate room, I got a strong smell of shoes and socks. I really needed a facemask. LOL. This was a problem in the men's pod room. I got both restrooms and a shower room. It was okay. There were a lot of restaurants around the hostel including the legendary Ben's Chili Bowl. Overall, I gave 4 stars. Very cheap and strong smell! LOL. read more

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Pay attention to what you're getting into and you're gonna be great :D I stayed at the U Street Hostel a few weeks ago and it was totally great for what I was looking for -- a clean, cheap place to crash for a few nights before a work trip started. Check-in wasn't until the afternoon, but when I arrived in the morning, the folks there let me leave my bags there in the secure lobby while I enjoyed the day for a couple of hours. The Adams-Morgan area was a lot of fun -- tons of delicious places to eat, plus groceries and anything else you need right around the corner. I wanted to get some exercise in after my long flight -- it's a short walk to the Anthony Bowen YMCA, where you can get a day pass and enjoy all their facilities. I was happy there was a Trader Joe's nearby so I could pick up water and a few other things (if you're traveling on a budget). I had first booked a pod in one of the communal dorms, but then changed my mind and upgraded to a private room -- I'm so happy I did. The room was a little stuffy, but once they turned the AC on it was nice and comfortable. The whole combined toilet and shower was a little weird, but it all was very clean. It was a bit noisy outside, with people out partying and stuff, but you're in the middle of all the nightlife, that's to be expected. Heads up though if you're a light sleeper. The coffee shop was cute and delicious! Checking in can be a little tricky with the app and everything, so make sure you've got a fully charged phone while going out and about. You don't want to be locked out! read more

It was my first time in a capsule hostel. I booked in a specific gender dormitory. The pods were nice. Especially for what I needed: just somewhere to sleep for 8 hours. It was not very busy which made it more comfortable. There was self check in, which I liked. That way you can come in at a late hour. The bathrooms were outside of our dorm space. There were lockers and metal racks for luggage. I couldn't quite figure out the cooling system in the pod, but the temperature was fine. The capsule itself was pretty sturdy but the back wall shared with the capsule opposite of me was thin. It was fine, but I had to be very careful if getting up during sleeping hours so as not to wake her. The other end is a thin roll down vinyl curtain. It isn't bad, but I'm sure some people would like more coverage. The showers were in the basement floor, and they were nice. There were laundry machines available as well for a cheap price. It was a very large, renovated floor. There was a coffee bar at the entrance that sells pastries as well in the day. They also let you store your luggage before you check in and after you checkout so you can go around the city more comfortably. Staff was friendly and the environment was on the quieter side and more relaxed. read more

I arrived at 4:30pm and am now able to check in, at least until 6pm, if I'm lucky. They only have staff from 8am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm. If you show up at other times, they make you do a self-check in process. This would be OK if it actually worked. I filled out all the info actually hours before arriving, providing my confirmation code, email, ID and everything. But when I showed up, the QR code at the front desk that they hand you scan doesn't work. In the Goki app, it found my cooking, but says I'm not checked in yet so won't provide the keys to the room or front door. So what am I supposed to do? I tried calling their number and texting them within the app: no response. So not I'm sitting at the counter, waiting to check in and get situated after a long journey. When I overhear another guest say he was locked out of his room from 4:30 to 6:30am this morning! This is what happens I suppose when you outsource having keys to an app that's more interested in surveying you than actually letting you into your room. That's what $110 per night buys you in DC for a hostel room, I suppose. I have stayed at $10/night hostels that have a human to let you into your room. At this rate, I should have just booked an actual hotel for a bit more. What a mistake to think this place might actually be "cool" to stay at. read more

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If you want a champagne experience on a beer budget, clean, private with access to food & drinks, THIS is the place! The hostel is in the heart of all the restaurants and bars. Just steps from &Pizza and the Metro! Upscale, clean with great amenities. A GOKI QR code along with your confirmation code sent to your email, allows for easy self check-in at any time. The GOKI App will have your room key & main door key all in one place. A coffee shop, 'U-Street Cafe' with very good fresh brewed coffee, teas, smoothies, empanadas and fresh pastries. Thick mattresses, comforter, pillow and cleans towels included. The pods are equipped with blue & white lights, a reading lamp, 2 usb ports, a mirror and spaces for toiletries and personal items. It has a table for working on your laptop. Private. Comfortable. Affordable. Rain shower heads with great hot water. Q-tips & mouthwash, are all at your fingertips! Did I mention the large TVs, ample seating, two laptops and awesome staff? The staff go out of their way to accommodate guests. Friendly and professional! The place is kept clean and it's very convenient. I'd highly recommend this hostel and cafe'! read more

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A lovely and well priced little hostel that boasts good staff and affordability as well as a comfy lounge/café area. The location is also centrally located in DC near a metro station which makes for fun night life and easy metro access. My only complaint would be that the air and charging ports in my pod in particular weren't functioning very well. read more

U Street Hostel - Inside of one of the pods. More spacious than it looks. - Hostels Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was my first stay at a hostel . I just wanted something simple and cheap since I didn't really plan on staying in much . I thought the pods were unique and cool . They have AC and charging areas for all your electronics in each one . Everything was clean and people seemed to mind their business. I liked that it was right next to a great part of the city . I walked outside and made a right or left and there were bars , clubs and food to eat everywhere u looked . I went by myself and met all kinds of cool people and found lots of things to do . Parking was an issue because they don't have any but there are plenty of lots u can pay for nearby . I would stay here again read more

You get what you pay for. The services were as described. Yes it's not the most fancy place, but it is comfortable and clean. Plan on your check in being entirely self-service. I've yet to see someone at the front desk, but they do reply with chat features so use that. I'm enjoying the capsule experience. The room has enough space for luggage storage outside your capsule, and room to move around. Shared bathrooms are fine. Don't expect a hotel experience and you won't be disappointed! read more

Got 2 private rooms for myself and 3 traveling partners for the weekend (each room had 2 beds as a bunk bed). The room was very clean and classy, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. There's a very friendly energy in the air, others traveling in the hostel love to speak to you and share what they're doing! The self checking in system is really cool but had its issues. It would have been perfect if the Goki app that they use wasn't so glitchy. For example even though I was sleeping in 1 of the 2 rooms I bought, the app gave me the blutooth key to the room I was not sleeping in. So I either would have to ask a friend to open my room or punch in the long pin number for my room. The pin number saved me from being locked out but it would be nice if the app was better. A REALLY cool thing about the app is how it builds a social network for everyone staying in the hostel, so if you meet someone it's really easy to message them to hangout! Also it wasn't made clear to me on the website but there isn't any free breakfast due to Covid, I'm unsure how exactly it relates but just be aware. Only other real issue I had was that it was inconvenient that the front desk had large gaps in hours, such as no one being at the front desk for large chunks of time in the middle of the day (say 4 hours) and no one being available at night. It would really suck if you had to check in at 1AM for whatever reason and you were having trouble getting into the front door. Else it's a great stay on a budget! read more

I booked a room for 3 nights in October which was over 30 days from my Stay when I called because of a death in the family I called the hotel and the young man that I spoke to said not a problem. 5 days later I check my back ( not to mention they took the money before I arrived like the website said ) I check my bank account and u-street took the money again from me . I tried to call and the lady told me that I booked a unrefundable room and I can take a credit.. I will never ever use this hotel .. I'm in a time of need with my family and they just wanna capitalize on the lower class. I am in a process of disputing the charges with my bank. This hotel uses unethical business practices and should be shut down Also to add they never called to tell me I was being recharged / very unprofessional read more

Great, friendly staff! Very welcoming environment, and the pods are not only cool, but offer privacy and efficiency that most hostels don't. They have lots of inclusive activities, and it's very clean. They do serve breakfast. 10/10 read more

Business is all about its employees and they got a good one in Dmitry! I saw how he handled customer issues by himself and do the work of 3. Make sure to stay when he is there! read more

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, I decided it would be irresponsible to travel from my city, where there have been a high number of cases, to DC, where there have been few cases. I spoke to someone at DC Lofty who said that because I had booked a nonrefundable room, I wouldn't be able to get back anything for the first day of my reservation (as it was a same-day cancellation) but that I would be able to get 50% for the following two days. I emailed with Tom and Paul and both were extremely unhelpful, even under these extenuating circumstances. I tried to get them to explain why it wasn't possible to get at least 50% back when one of their employees said I would be able to, but they just ignored me. Even airlines are honoring cancellations during this PANDEMIC but this place couldn't? TERRIBLE. read more

I booked a reservation for a stay in October and literally 2 hours later I called I had to cancel and was told over the phone it's fine with no cancellation fee. But next minute I see the full charge to my credit card statement and I'm like okay maybe there is a mistake and I try reaching someone to talk to . After weeks of hearing the same they will get it and all you can do is send an email or text like that no one ever replies to it became very frustrating and not even about the money it's lack of customer service and left with hopeless answers like one worker literally stated " They will get to it when they get it" . Never in my life have I experienced this kind of service. They stole my hard earned money, then lied about it and left me with no hire ups to talk to about my situation. Literally it's like u can't reach any managers or supervisors that are even willing to listen to your situation . I think no one should patronize this kind of business because this is criminal and I am taking action as it should be exposed. But I warn you book at your risk. I also see another reviewer had the same exact experience so it's not only me . It's very scary. I would never recommend this place and be careful. read more