The Nolita Express 1927 Hostel

This hotel has a lot of charm, and is good for a couple of nights with good friends..the reception, restaurant area are trendy, cool design, welcoming. The sleeping area is just very unusual...I took it like a history/social experiment to really step back in time and relive how accomodation would have been for soldiers back in World war 2 But overall it was fine..bed was comfortable, all was clean, heating was on, no direct sunlight in the room was good for sleeping longer in the morning.. The thing is- you can hear EVERYTHING .so you would not go here as a couple since you have no privacy and you have to use different floors for bathroom.., you should not go if you have a cough or snore..since you would wake everyone else.. and if you are a girl you really need to ask to stay with the other women otherwise it is a pain to have to change floors. The staff were mainly friendly but the big plus is the amazing food and "ambience" downstairs in the restaurant..try lamb sliders and marinated fish :-)

First off let me just say that if you are a light sleeper or claustrophobic I'd suggest staying elsewhere. Otherwise if you can handle these two things and are looking for a place to sleep and store your stuff then it's not bad. The location is close to several subway lines, really close to little Italy and Chinatown as well. I will call the sleeping quarters rooms but they are more like mini pods. Approximately 5 feet wide and maybe 6 feet in length. I stayed in a single private that has a twin bed and a small nightstand. The baths are shared but are very clean and look fairly new. Also the ceilings are open even there is a lattice overhang you can basically hear those around you. They do provide linens including towels and ear plugs and if you're by the window facing the street you're probably going to get additional noise from that. For the location it's a good value but only if you are staying for a short time.

Took a last minute 2-day swing into the city and found this little place while web surfing on the train ride over. Wasn't an area of the city I was real familiar with, but it was pretty easy to get to and find. 1st floor walk-up, so you must be able-bodied. It's a little pricey compared to other Manhattan hostels with similar amenities, but the location and style are top-notch. Arrived around 8:30. The girl at the desk was not particularly welcoming, but was professional and efficient. Bored-looking Europeans sat in the lounge area, clearly unaware that New York friggen-city was right outside. I got a basic private room, which is a 30-sq/ft cubicle with a 5'8" bed, an end table, light bulb, and wall hook. A towel and pack of earplugs were placed on the bed. It was clearly a stylized homage to the building (and neighborhood's) history as a collection of flophouses for semi-homeless drifters. I thought it was super-cool. Not for light sleepers, as you can hear just about everything, though the earplugs helped a little. Also, if you're tall, don't get the basic 'cabin' with their short beds. I think the bunks are a standard length. The bed was otherwise comfortable, and the temperature was good. Despite the age of the building, everything seemed well-kept and clean. Shampoo/soap/conditioner provided in dispensers within each rain shower. Water temperature got real cold on me for a minute or two, but I just stepped out of the way and it warmed back up. Coming and going, as well as check-out, was a breeze. There's a cafe/bar on the ground floor. Good breakfast (10%off and free coffee for guests) with friendly service. Chinatown to the South, Soho to the West, Greenwich Village and NYU to the Northwest. New Museum for contemporary art right across the street. Bowery Ballroom one block down. Great area to walk around. Close to several subway lines. Would definitely stay here again with the same budget/location needs. Also-never realized there was a nice roof deck- definitely would have checked it out.

What you see is really what you get. When I asked for “somewhere to store my bags and sleep at night”, this is truely what you get. It’s a very small room, emphasis on the small. Expect a shoebox with a bed, that’s it. The Bowery House was clean, quiet and I never had to wait for the bathroom in the shared toilets. When leaving the hostel you need to leave your key at the front. This was handy for someone like me that always loses/forgets keys. This also meant there was always someone on guard at the door. The staff were very friendly and provided great recommendations whenever I asked. As a female solo traveler I felt very safe here. The location is awesome. A very short walk from nearby subways, funky boutiques and classic NYC restaurants/cafes. I really felt like I got the true NYC experience here and would happily stay again.

This place is in the best location and so reasonable but it comes at such a high cost. My boyfriend and I were bitten so badly by bed bugs during our stay this week. I had 13 bites all over my arms and on the palms of my hands and he had 5 around his neck and back. I’ve attached some pictures taken when I got home.. when they had calmed down! The itch kinda ruined our holiday, we were clawing at ourselves for over a week!! As for the noise.. I booked having read other peoples reviews thinking it can’t be THAT bad... it was! Take head, it is unbelievably noisy (and I can honestly usually sleep like a log)!