Green Tortoise Hostel San Francisco

My recent stay at the Green Tortoise Hostel in San Francisco was truly special, not just for me, but for my mother as well. This was her very first experience staying in a hostel, and I wanted it to be positive, comfortable, and memorable. I am so grateful to say that Green Tortoise exceeded our expectations in every way, from its welcoming atmosphere to its vibrant sense of community. What truly made our stay stand out were three receptionists we had the pleasure of meeting, Seamus, Victor, and Elliot. Each of them took the time to make sure both my mother and I felt at ease, informed, and genuinely cared for. Their patience, warmth, and genuine joy for their work were evident in every interaction, and their compassion and grace made our experience feel personal rather than transactional. For my mother, who was understandably unsure about staying in a hostel, their kindness made all the difference, and by the end of our visit she was delighted with the experience. I deeply appreciate the hospitality we received, especially from Seamus, Victor, and Elliot, and when I return to San Francisco, I will without hesitation be staying at the Green Tortoise Hostel again.

Fun experience for my first hostel stay! The bunk was comfy, my only gripe was the pillow. It was more like a folded up towel, it was definitely a poor excuse of a pillow. Despite that, check in and check out was a breeze. I would advise to bring cash because they charge a buck for a towel and if you only have a card it will end up being like $7. The free breakfast was a great amenity and my room had a great view! But honestly for the price this place was a palace!

Location is GREAT, you can easily walk to a nice Chinese bakery and access public transit. The place is run very well and the common room is a cool space. The bathrooms are clean and even when the place was full for new years I never had to wait for a shower. The beds are pretty private, and as a female I didn't like staying in a shared dorm, which smelled a bit like a locker room. The comfort of the beds are what you're paying for, but this hostel more than serves its purpose. Would come back

This was my first hostel experience, so I was nervous going in… but I loved it! I stayed in the female only dormitory option. There are activities for each night, a clean kitchen, large communal space, and lots of things to do. The people were very friendly and the workers were helpful. The only downside was the lack of noise cancellation for outside. There’s a popular nightclub, Monroe, across the street and I could feel it (not hear, but feel the bass) in the room. It’s an older building though, and I was tired by the end of the day anyways that I fell asleep super quick. The rooms also got relatively musty… not sure if the comforter is washed often. Bed was super comfy though, and there’s privacy for each separate bed. The separate bathrooms were nice as well!! Many options to choose from and all clean.

This is a nice place. The rooms had large lockers. The beds were a little small but fine. There were large sinks in the room. I liked how the bathrooms were all single stalls. The people working here are awesome. Shout out to Mason and Pink you are great. I really did not like that there were no towels in the bathrooms! Also, free breakfast is much appreciated but it was the same thing every day. The social events were great. Jackie is great. Overall good place.

This place is absolutely wonderful. I’ve stayed at many hostels, and this one is definitely the best. Free breakfast, great amenities, plenty of bathrooms, and very clean. Everyone is quite friendly and the staff is helpful. Located in a beautiful location with bars, clubs, and walking distance from FiDi. This place is great for professionals, artists, weirdos, misfits, travelers, and everyone in between. Highly, highly recommend.

Booked a private room which is located in a separate building about a block away and was fortunate enough to get room 303. If you can, ask for it as it offers a stunning view of the city! This is a great location just a couple of blocks from Chinatown and Little Italy, was able to walk to a lot of the spots we were interested in visiting. I came with my kiddo and we used the room mainly for resting and sleeping. They offer fun activities for travelers, would be interested in coming on my own at some point to check them out!