Pacific Tradewinds Backpacker Hostel

This place is incredible! The people working here are kind and courteous. My buddy and I stayed here and became really good friends with the folks running this place. Highly recommend for anybody who is loves meeting cool people!

Pros:
— Help you with luggage (4^th floor no lift)
— Free towel, sock wash
— Free breakfast
— Cheap
Cons:
— No lift
— Pretty noisy at night, didn’t feel comfortable showering
— Shower room is way too SMALL
— Only one restroom in one floor :(
— Mostly need to take a transfer to different places

I was in San Francisco on a business trip, and while there was a hostel across the street from the convention center even cheaper than Pacific Tradewinds Hostel, I opted out for this hostel instead based off online reviews. After my 5 nights in the hostel, I can definitely say that this hostel was worth the extra dollar and extra walking required!
I evaluate every hostel by a couple of core features, and this hostel exceeded my expectations for every single one:
1) Kitchen (⁴⁄₅) — this was equipped for every backpacker’s needs. There was a fridge with sufficient amount of space for my foods, spices stocked for communal use, and plenty of cooking/​eating utensils to go around. What more could a traveler want?
2) Bathroom (⁴⁄₅) — even though there was only one bathroom on each floor, each bathroom was well designed for maximum use. The toilet stall, shower stalls, and sinks were separated, allowing multiple guests to use the bathroom at once. Even with many beds assigned to a single bathroom, I never once had to wait for a toilet or shower stall. Everything was clean. Amenities were also provided as well! Each guest was given a towel, which is unique for a hostel. I also forgot my shampoo, but the hostel had a bucket of toiletries that other people had left behind for me to pick from!
3) Sleeping area (⁵⁄₅) — this hostel was uniquely built so that there were many nooks coming off of a single corridor, with 6 beds within each nook. The nooks did not have doors, so this design may not be the best for people who value extreme privacy. However, it was a great set up for socializing with people from other nooks, as well as slipping in and out of your assigned nook without waking up your fellow nook-​mates. There were lockers underneath the beds that were spacious enough to fit all of my luggage within. Just be careful, since the locker doors were rather heavy and it would be tragic if you accidentally dropped it on your foot.
4) Location (⁵⁄₅) — even though the hostel was further away from Union Square and the more touristy areas of San Francisco than some other hotels/​hostels, I personally felt like this was the best location to stay in within the city. It was a stone’s throw away from Chinatown, where food, cheap souvenirs, and all the bubble tea you can drink/​buns you can eat can be found. Furthermore, there were bus/​metro stations very close by to the hostel to get you anywhere within the city. I was able to walk to the Union Square area, Fisherman’s Warf, as well as many other places from this hostel.
5) People/​atmosphere (⁴⁄₅) — the people working here were friendly and gave good suggestions. There were also very interesting travelers and students from all over the world, which made my stay more enjoyable. I wish there were more organized hostel events, especially free dinners, however.
Overall, I highly recommend this hostel and will consider staying here again for future San Francisco trips!

We stayed at the PTW for a couple of nights and the staff was friendly and accommodation was nice and clean. Although SFO is a rather expensive city it felt to be just a little bit too much for a bunk bed in a 6-​bed dorm. Everything else was awesome though and the location is quite central.

Stayed for three nights with PT. No parking which was a hassle as a roadtripper, but man they are great. Staff is helpful and very fun. So welcoming, instant community. If in San Fran, best place to stay. Love you PT!

Super awesome place with a super awesome staff at a super awesome location!
The place can be a little difficult too find as it’s hidden away in the Financial District in San Francisco… But once you find it, you can buzz the front desk and they’ll let you in as well as help you with your luggage. Be prepared for the flight of stairs you’ll have to travel up to get to the rooms! The building is shared with Henry’s Hunan Restaurant located on the bottom two building floors.
I arrived late so Robert gave me a quick tour of the different areas and informed me of the house rules. He also gave me a map to get around with suggestions of where to hang out and places to avoid. He was super helpful!
All the people that were staying there were really friendly too! With rooms sharing six beds, it’s hard not to interact with each other. A hostel is a place where you can stay at an affordable price as well as socialize with other fellow travelers. I made a few friends and was also able to hang out with them outside the hostel. Some adventuring we did was attend a dueling piano event at Johnny Foley’s, partake in a guided meditation at the Yoga Conference held at the Hyatt, etc. With the hostel located in the middle of everything, it made walking to all these places very easy!
Contrary to some of the other reviews, it’s not very loud here at all. During the weekend, some of the guests stay up a little later in the community lounge but honestly, it’s not really that bad. I expected this place to be a lot noisier because it’s close to downtown. Actually, it’s kind of quiet… Well, at least compared to what I’m used to. If anything, you could use the ear plugs that they have available at the front counter. (They’re free if you have someone snoring in the same room as you!)
Pacific Tradewinds also provides towels… Which is awesome because I didn’t bring any and that’s one less thing for me to lug around when I’m travelling! They also provide linen, blankets/comforters…and they’re super comfy! After walking around the cold SF weather, all I wanted to do was cuddle in the warm comforter! :)
If (more like when, haha!) I’m back in the city, I would definitely stay at this place again. Thanks guys! :)
Sidenote: There are a few booking sites that advertise this hostel. If you want the best price, the ones I found were through TripAdvisor or through the hostel directly. Some other sites, such as AirBnb, charge a little more. Also, be sure to check-​in on Unilocal and get $ 2 off per night! (Not that it isn’t cheap already but when you’re traveling on a budget, every little bit helps. Right?)

I’ve been in what seems like a lot of hostels and this one didn’t disappoint, that’s for sure.
I came here based on a friend’s recommendation and I wanted cheap accommodations while in San Francisco so a hostel fit well into my plans. When I first walked in, I was slightly apprehensive, based on the multiple floors of the hostel, but I adjusted as I went on and became a fan of how the hostel was laid out.
The shower and bathroom area were average but I didn’t spend the majority of my time there so I didn’t care much. The beds were pretty comfy and clean. The lockers beneath the beds were super spacious. Bring a combination or a padlock with you to lock up your things! You get a lot of space for your things which I appreciated.
The staff and the travelers in the hostel were very kind and helpful. They even adjusted our reservation to give us the lowest rate possible as we checked in and checked out a couple of times.
I couldn’t be happier with my experience here. They’re great people :)
Helpful notes: 1) Bring $ 20 for a key deposit. 2) You need not be worried about safety. In order to get into the building, your key needs to «buzz» past two doors. If you don’t have the key, no one from your party (or outside the hostel) can get in 3) Bring that combination lock for your things

My first time staying in a hostel. I’m very happy with the overall cleanliness of the place. The sheets, blankets, and towel that they give you look, feel, and smell clean. The mattress is comfortable and the room is not too hot. Very kind and hospitable staff. She even stayed open an extra half hour past closing just to wait for us to arrive. She offered us water and food upon arrival and checked us in quickly and effortlessly.
I’ll choose this place again if I’m ever in the area without a place to stay. Definitely recommend for those who like to travel.
Pacific Tradewinds Backpacker Hostel rocks!

This gets 5 stars hands down! It is super clean and the people who work and stayed there were great. There are nooks with bunk beds and a storage place under the bed. Just make sure you bring a lock. If you forget something, you can ask the desk ppl if they have something in the lost and found that you could use — say shampoo.
I would definitely come back here during a stay in SF. Very affordable.

Stayed here for a week. The laid-​back, small-​community feel of the hostel is great. You’re never pressured to party if you don’t want to, and there’s always people just chilling out in the common area.
Amenities were fairly lacklustre for the price we paid (~$ 40 /​night). The shared bathrooms and the shared kitchen were never so busy that I had to wait a long time to use them. However, the one shared handtowel in the bathroom to dry your hands was a bit gross to me. The internet cut out on me a lot, but the speed was good. No free breakfast, and I only found out about some of the other amenities (e.g. laundry, maps, etc) from overhearing other people talking about it. It’s not made obvious when you arrive. Neither was the $ 20 key deposit (wasn’t mentioned before), so that unexpectedly ate into my travel budget.
The lockers seem really secure — they’re made of steel or some other equally strong, heavy metal — provided you remember to bring a lock!
My towel also smelled like wet dog the first day I used it. I suspect it wasn’t dried properly after it was washed.
The «4-​bed dorm» also seemed misleading, as the walls didn’t really separate each area from the next in terms of sound, and the lack of a door didn’t make it that much more private. It felt like a 20-​odd bed dorm with dividers. You can also hear pretty much everything that happens in the bathroom… even sleeping at the other end of the floor. Traffic noise can also be a bit of an issue, but earplugs help.
So all in all… an alright place to stay. Nothing amazing in terms of the actual facility, but the community is great. Friendly staff, cool people that stay there.

I was turned away after I had made a deposit (which was never returned) because the owner decided he didn’t like me while I was trying to quietly check in. I would not recommend staying here, perhaps he will do the same to you and you will be stranded. From what I saw the place was very cramped even by hostel standards! There are much better options in San Francisco.

Stayed here in September 2012.
Comfortable beds, clean bathrooms and great vibe. All in the heart of San Francisco! The front desk staff were very knowledgeable and attentive. Book early if you’re coming in a busy season because they fill up quickly!
Would recommend this to anyone looking for an affordable, clean and convenient place to stay.

A a literal cranny in the wallspace of Sacramento street downtown, i was so glad to find this gem of an indie hostel. The Staff, and folks staying there were incredible. My brother and I needed a place to stay our last night in San Francisco, and we wished we had found this place sooner. We stayed at the Adelaide the previous night and it was a real stinker. Ryan and the rest of the staff were awesome and helpful. Beds were sturdy, and clean facilities. There was a pancake breakfast they’d planned for Sunday morning and everyone was chipping in. Wicked great place to stay. Can’t wait to come back.

It is a great place to go to if you are a backpacker! This is the place to stay at if you would like to stay at a hostel in SF. Cool staff and very convenient location. Plus, lugguage storage service available!

This was my first time trying out a hostel and it was beyond satisfactory. I stayed 4 nights in a row and have absolutely no complaints. The hostel life isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking to make quick and easy friendships during your stay, aren’t too self-​conscious, and are overall lax about things this is the place for you. Anytime between 9:00am and midnight you will almost always find new people to meet in the community area.
Hats off to the staff. They were more hospitable and respectable than even some high star rated hotels I’ve been to.
A couple of things to consider:
+ There are a 2 bathrooms each with 2 showers and a single toilet. There were enough people in and out of that place that I never waited for either.
+ Quiet hours begin at midnight at which they turn off the lights and request you do not operate the kitchen microwave or stove/​oven.
+ They offer towels — so less for you to pack/​buy upon arrival to SF.
+ Lockers are free to use but bring a padlock or else buy one from them for a few bucks. I didn’t feel the need for one and left with everything I checked in with.
+ Take some time to chill out and sit in the community area to meet new people.
I look forward to booking with you guys again, thanks!

This was my first time staying in a hostel and I’m so glad I ended up staying at this little gem. The employees are so nice and willing to help you with everything (the guy that paged us up met us on the stairs and helped us with our bags as well as got us glasses of water). The rooms are on the small side but clean. The beds are pretty comfy for being bunks and are exceptionally clean. It was pretty quiet and peaceful, though traffic will keep you up if you leave your windows open. The location is excellent, downtown and only a couple blocks from Chinatown. The amnesties are great and unexpectedly generous for the great price. I recommend this hostel to everyone!

Amazing space. The staff was so incredibly helpful and sweet, ESPECIALLY helping with luggage up and down stairs!!! Bless their hearts! The rooms are clean and the hangout area is comfortable. They have awesome storage for your luggage under the beds. The staff is knowledgable of the city and transportation. The beds are comfortable. They encourage peace and respect toward guests. It’s quiet and a good place to get rest even if there are a lot of ppl in your dorm. The best thing; the price you can’t beat it.

This was my first time staying in a hostel and when I checked in, I was dreading the thought of sharing a room with several other people (but due to a limited travel budget, it seemed like the best choice). By the time I checked out two weeks later, I was sad to leave because it felt like home.
The hostel is very clean and the staff is super friendly and help and they graciously accommodated my request for a bottom bunk. It’s a great place for solo travelers because it’s easy to make friends and there’s usually someone to hang out and chat with in the common areas. And they offer a laundry service for $ 7 per load and a one day turnaround time, which is pretty convenient.
Being a few years older than the usual hostel crowd, I was concerned that it would be noisy at night and hard to sleep. It turned out that’s that it’s «lights out» at midnight so the rooms and common areas are quiet and dark enough to get a good night’s sleep.
Most of the dorms are co-​ed but there’s also one six-​bed all girls dorm (so if this important to you, you should mention it when placing your reservation).
The neighborhood is great, with tons of restaurants nearby and less than a 10 minute walk to BART, Union Square, the Ferry Building or Market Street (and far enough away from the seediness of the Tenderloin).
I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a hostel in San Francisco.

I got stranded in SF because of some global warming and weather issues in NYC and I needed a place to crash until I could get back home.
I checked Unilocal on my phone and found this place to be close by to Union Square. I gave them a call at 8AM and the woman on the phone was pretty nice and asked me to call back at 10AM to see if there were any vacancies. I called back at 10AM and sure enough, a bed was available. Great! I told the woman on the phone, Ashley, that I would check-​in around noon.
At close to noon, I showed up. I press the buzzer, and then slowly mount the stairs. After about 4 flights of stairs (and walking hilly SF), I am out of breath and take a breath. Ashley immediately comes down to greet me and carries my baggage up 2 more flights of stairs. How so sweet of her.
I get to the reception area and she is just so nice. She saw that I was sweating and immediately poured me a glass of iced cold water. The hostel stay was only $ 29.50/night with a $ 20 deposit you get back when you check-​out. They also provide towels and if you ask nicely, they can loan you a lock for the locker.
Ashley showed me to the girl’s room which can house 6 females. I got the last bed, sweet! The bathrooms were clean and with two shower stalls. The common room was my favorite. Lots of space to sit and chat with other hostel guests. They have two computers you can use for free and a pretty nice kitchen where you can cook and lots of FREE things to eat. For $ 7, they will also do your laundry. Really? Is this truly happening?
There is such a sense of community here and I really really enjoyed my stay. I got stuck in SF on Halloween and that night, there was pub crawl and a few of us decided to go. So cool, cuz now I made some new friends from all over the world.
I highly recommend this place to get a very unique and friendly feel of SF. Met some really awesome people (Ashley, Ryan, Michael and Dominic)! Saved a lot of money, but most of all I felt like I was just staying at a friend’s place. The best feeling in the world. Money just can’t buy that!

Staff here were gracious hosts. Stayed for three nights and for the price compared to hotels in San francisco you can’t beat $ 28 (discount given if you pay in cash) per night! The place is located in downtown near kearny and California intersection so a good location IMHO. Be prepared to climb 4 flights of stairs, especially if you’re bringing a lot of luggage…
Will return when the occasion calls for it.