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HI Hostel Santa Monica, Los Angeles

1436 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA (show on map)

HI Hostel Santa Monica occupies a distinctive place in local history. The building was acquired by American Youth Hostels in 1984, effectively saving the structure from planned demolition when no other viable buyers stepped forward. Today, it stands as a recognized landmark, preserving its character while serving international travelers.

One of the building’s most charming, often-overlooked features is found near the entrance. If you look closely at the walls, you can still spot original, faded painted signs that memorialize the building’s former occupants. These small visual remnants provide a tangible connection to the city’s past, making the hostel more than just a place to stay.

The location is ideal for anyone wanting to experience the best of the California coast. You are just a few blocks away from the world-famous Santa Monica Pier, with its iconic Ferris wheel and bustling boardwalk. The nearby Third Street Promenade offers endless options for shopping and dining, all within easy walking distance.

Whether you are here to relax on the sandy beaches or explore the vibrant local culture, the hostel’s proximity to these major attractions makes it a highly convenient base. Being situated right in the heart of Santa Monica allows guests to easily transition from the quiet, historic halls of the hostel to the lively, sun-drenched atmosphere of the Pacific coastline.

Expert reviews

The Guardian review:

“This great value hostel is adjacent to Venice and the famed Pacific beaches, and has 260 beds spread around colourful dorms, doubles and family rooms, plus kitchen, library and laundry facilities.”

Guest rating

4.2 out of 5.0

Ranked 21st in Los Angeles


This an aggregated guest review rating of HI Hostel Santa Monica, Los Angeles. We have taken customer review ratings from hotel booking sites, search engines, the official hotel website and other travel platforms. This is the average of all those ratings. We only list places that have a guest review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0


What guests liked


Value for Money

86.69 %

Ranked 14th in Los Angeles


We use a smart algorithm to determine the value for money each hotel offers. The score is based on a combination of aggregated guest review ratings and the average nightly rate. The higher the percentage, the better the overall value you receive for the price you pay.


Location

Recent guest reviews

5.0
Denisa

27 May 2026

Exceptional

The place is very convenient - not only for the location but you could borrow beach towels, suncream, blankets, even a skateboard! I loved the self service cash desk. Location 10/10. There was also a lot to do, such as the evening program organized by the hostel.

It was quite cold at night during to the AC and not fully closable window. I was a bit shocked that you have to bring your own lock.

4.0
Fashola

26 May 2026

Very good

Excellent location

No fridge

4.0
Karim

24 May 2026

Pretty nice place, good location and nice atmosphere

Great location. Nice hostel, pretty outdoor patio. Some of the staff and security were kind and friendly. Nice kitchen and cooking facilities. Small mini shop for snacks.

Some of the staff, security, not so friendly. When walking in they stare at you, made me slightly uncomfortable. Also security came and asked us for our names when we were in the kitchen and checked it to the roster, was very weird as we used our cards to open the doors infront of her. Also there was no hot water in the showers for two days.

4.0
Gilad

24 May 2026

Really nice hostel

The private room was nice with a big bed, a desk and a chair, enough space to store luggage, and a TV. The location was perfect right between Santa Monica main street to the beach,

Nothing

5.0
Jiafong

23 May 2026

Excellent place, really enjoyed it!

I really enjoy the time staying here! Facilities are clean and also has a kitchen.

Nothing

5.0
Shao

21 May 2026

The fresh apples in the fridge are juicy and tasty 🍎

The guests of the hostel can always attend the daily events held by the hostel. 寬敞的衛浴空間、food supplies from the local community.

5.0
Mengting

21 May 2026

Exceptional

The room was very clean and well-equipped, and the whole process was super smooth and easy from start to finish. The location was also great, very convenient and perfect for a solo trip

5.0
Aldilania

19 May 2026

More than just a stay, it felt like a peaceful little home by the ocean.

I absolutely loved my stay at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel. I stayed in a four bed room, and it was incredibly peaceful and comfortable. At the time, it was just me and another girl in the room, and she was very kind and respectful, which made the experience even better. Everything was very clean, especially the bathroom, and I loved the shower. The water was perfectly hot and so relaxing after a long day walking around the city and the beach. The staff was exceptional. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and very polite. The atmosphere felt safe, relaxed, and positive. And the location honestly could not be better. Being so close to the beach and Santa Monica Pier made the whole experience unforgettable. I even forgot my phone tripod there, which I use for my photos and videos, and they kindly kept it for me. They told me they hold lost items for about 30 days, so I will be able to pick it up when I return. I truly appreciated that care and professionalism. I would definitely stay there again a thousand times.

5.0
Pablo

18 May 2026

very convenient, great location

private room option and kitchen available 24h

5.0
Nastasja

18 May 2026

Great place to have a first hostel experience!

My first time staying at a hostel! They were polite, helpful, proactive, the facilities were clean, the beds comfy

5.0
Silvia

17 May 2026

Exceptional

Facilities and Location are the best. Everything is perfect

5.0
Maria

16 May 2026

Amazing! Definitely recommend

Location and amenities, staff is great too

Everything was great!

5.0
Anna

16 May 2026

Love staying here!

Super friendly staff! Great location. Cute and comfortable room.

5.0
Phillip

15 May 2026

I have already recommended it to friends

I blinked on that one unfortunately, I must have not been paying attention when informed of such.

All good

4.5
Bwml

14 May 2026

Good for the price

The place was very nice and clean. Very good hostel

Some of people that stayed there did respect the quiet hours. Nothing against the hostel.

4.5
Sabrina

14 May 2026

Delightful Hostel Stay 🌻

The staff was available at all times. The beds were comfortable and had a night light at each bunk. Lots of activities to choose from in the area. The beach is literally 1block away. The staff is helpful and friendly. I wished I stayed longer.

There was a bunk mate who kept turning the light 💡 on at 4am. Very annoying for the rest of us in the room.

4.5
Szabo

12 May 2026

Fabulous

I’ve got two pillows and they were comfortable, not dirty at all plus sheets as well.

The bed was little noisy in the top but it was okay not a big deal.

5.0
Tiziano

12 May 2026

Great time great stuff

It’s right next to the beach with great staff and many different facilities and daily different programs and activities such as comedy shows, tours and so on

Unfortunately there was no breakfast anymore like the last time I was there, but it has a kitchen very big with the possibility of store groceries in the fridge

5.0
Zam

11 May 2026

It’s great

Always stay here, staff are great and location is perfect and safe

Miss the breakfasts

5.0
Trang

10 May 2026

Comfortable, safe, good value for money

Clean, good location, great hostel culture

NA

5.0
Anna

10 May 2026

An excellent place to stay.

No breakfast. Great location. Fantastic cooking facilities and organization of cupboard spaces and refrigerator spaces. The staff was excellent, friendly and helpful. Very nice to have coffee and tea available, as well as towels. Excellent beach supplies available. Great courtyard. Filtered water. Activities set up by the hostel. The best hostel that I have been to and I've been to a lot over the years.

the bed mattress was too soft. Not all were like that, but mine was like sinking into a nest.

5.0
Toni

9 May 2026

Fantastic Santa Monica hostel

Great location and great clean facilities

For a hostel room it was a little pricey, but understandably so

4.0
Inga

7 May 2026

Very good

A good hostel with a nice kitchen and an area where you can eat or relax. There were no issues with the showers, either. The location is simply incredible.

The beds are comfortable, but they squeak a lot—so don't forget to bring earplugs.

5.0
Angela

7 May 2026

Short stay but it was brilliant. The staff could not have been more friendly or helpful.

Everything

Nothing

5.0
Fidelis

6 May 2026

AN AWESOME STAY IN A BRILLIANT LOCATION, CLEAN PREMISES AND FRIENDLY STAFF

LOCATION,THE PREMISES AND STAFF FRIENDLINESS

NOTHING AS THE PLACE EXCEEDS HOSTEL EXPECTATIONS

4.5
Gulnaz

6 May 2026

I really enjoyed my stay there and if I come to LA I will definitely choose this place

The location is perfect ! It will take you about 5-10 mins to get to the beach. The hotel has all the facilities for cooking and they also have some activities for guests, the staff is friendly and helpful

The only disadvantage the cupboards don’t have lockers, bring yours

5.0
Lagarde

4 May 2026

Exceptional

It is on the beach

I couldn't stay longer

4.5
Hitansh

4 May 2026

Good

We booked a private room, it was small but comfortable. Close to the beach, pier and shopping are. Kitchen downstairs was big. Overall it was a good experience.

Lift was slow.

5.0
Anna

3 May 2026

Exceptional

Great location near the beach. The shared bathrooms and showers were very nice and clean.

Bed wasn't the most comfortable and had some noisy roommates, but that's just part of being in a hostel.

5.0
Mohammad

3 May 2026

Great option for solo travelers not wanting to spend much on a room

Great location, Bus 3 goes to and from LAX closeby. They have free events hosted too, I caught a stand-up comedy show which was fun. Facilities were nice, lots of places to sit and relax, rooms and bathrooms were clean.

5.0
Luis

2 May 2026

Exceptional

What a wonderful stay! The best place in Santa Monica | Los Angeles. Awesome structure!

No complains, for me, everything was perfect.

4.0
Kim

1 May 2026

Very good

If there had been the curtains every bed, then it would have been better

4.5
Magdalena

29 April 2026

Great location

There is a 24-hour reception, which makes check-in very convenient at any time. The common area is spacious, with a large kitchen and plenty of fridge space for storing food. Everything was clean, and the beds were comfortable. The lockers are quite large and can easily fit a small suitcase, which is very practical. You can also buy a padlock at the reception if needed. The location is another plus, as it’s close to the beach.

The rooms have less natural light than what is shown in the photos. When there are six people in the room, it can feel quite stuffy, and opening the windows is not really an option because it affects how well the air conditioning works.

5.0
Lagarde

27 April 2026

Exceptional

By the Santa Monica Pier and Beach

I want to be able to stay a monthly. 😀

4.5
Antje

26 April 2026

Excellent location with great staff, clean and tidy and perfect for an LA stay!

Great location and staff. Clean bathrooms and communal facilities. We arrived at 8am after a 16 hour flight and even though we couldn’t check in, the lovely receptionist let us shower and freshen up! They can provide suggestions for transport and activities too. Highly recommend.

We liked everything.

5.0
Vlada

24 April 2026

Great location, cozy atmosphere, and thoughtful amenities made this a very enjoyable stay overall

The location was excellent — very convenient with plenty of buses and metro nearby. I felt safe, which was especially important to me in Los Angeles. There are many cafés, supermarkets, and casual food spots around, plus a very affordable bike rental right on the corner (even without a credit card). The hostel itself has a great atmosphere. The inner courtyard is beautiful, and I really enjoyed the open-air movie nights and free pool. Free coffee and tea were a nice touch, and I even caught free snacks twice. The kitchen is spacious and well-equipped, with useful amenities like an iron and ironing board. I also liked that they organize tours — it’s a great way to explore and meet people. My room was clean, cozy, and had a nice view of the courtyard. Lockers and everything you need were in place. Compared to a hostel from the same chain in New York, this one in Los Angeles felt more cozy and comfortable.

The only thing I really missed was privacy curtains on the beds — especially when people wake up early or come in late. Also, the tour organization could be a bit inconsistent. One time I showed up and no one else came, and another time I assumed it would be the same and skipped it — but everyone actually went.

5.0
Alberto

24 April 2026

Exceptional

Extremely clean ...many services and options ..personal attendance is excellent

4.0
Veronica

23 April 2026

Very great location and facilities

The location

The shower hasn’t warming

5.0
Maria

22 April 2026

Exceptional

- Clean - Modern - Respectful people - Super close to the beach

Nothing, it’s honestly a great hostel

4.5
Jean

21 April 2026

Excellent

Welcoming environment.

No breakfast, Not good!

5.0
Nichola

21 April 2026

Exceptional

Excellent hostel, better than many hotels, location only one block from the sea front

4.5
Vahidreza

21 April 2026

Great hostel good location

Location is great, hostel was clean and staff were friendly and helpful. Kitchen was so practical, clean and big. Internet connection was fast.

On of my roommate was stinky, wish there were a rule about BO and smelly shoes. Also, someone stole my buns and pastry even they have labels from kitchen. All not hostel fault.

5.0
Yessika

20 April 2026

Great location for a great price

This is the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at. It is clean, great location, they have everything you need, from a well equipped kitchen, to beach and chair towels. They offer free activities. I was in two of the comedy shows and they were great. Toilets and showers always clean, comfortable beds, and very friendly staff.

The only “negative” thing I have to say about this place is that the ice machine was not working

4.0
Alexandra

16 April 2026

Fantastic location, guests are somewhat messy

Still a nice place to stay in a wonderful location just 2 blocks from the beach. Comfy beds, very safe environment.

The full kitchen is amazing. However, the guests using it are throwing food in the rinse water. It now seems chaotic and unhygienic compared to earlier stays. Perhaps more supervision?

4.5
Ashley

14 April 2026

Better than expected Hostel.

The kitchen is one of the best features of this hostel. I hope they never get rid of it. It has everything you could want or need. Everything was stainless steel so, clean. I love to cook so having access to this incredible kitchen made my stay everything I needed.

The room smelled old. Once I opened up the shade and let the sun in it got better, but you can't open the window. They should tell the guests to open up the shade each morning. And they need to figure out the main source of the smell.

4.5
Rowena

12 April 2026

HI Santa Monica is the perfect place to stay - very safe, Clean and priced right.

Loved the location, so close to everything. Beds were super comfortable and having 2 pillows - awesome.

They do not offer a complimentary breakfast anymore. This was a shame as getting in after a 22 hr flight I had to figure out how to find something for breakfast.

5.0
James

11 April 2026

One of the best hostels I have stayed at ! Rooms are good size.

Location and good size rooms ! Very good facilities lots of beach stuff you can take for the day. Comedy nights at the hostel were good.

Some milk even small cups would be better than powder milk. No breakfast items at all just free tea & coffee! No curtain around the bed !

5.0
Galindo

10 April 2026

Great!

Great spot, good staff, nice location.

5.0
Yesica

9 April 2026

Exceptional

I had a wonderful stay at this hostel. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, always ready to help with anything I needed. The cleanliness was excellent throughout my stay, which made me feel very comfortable and at ease. I also felt very safe the entire time, which is something I truly value when traveling. On top of that, the location is perfect—convenient and close to everything. I would definitely recommend this hostel and would happily stay here again!

5.0
Arul

7 April 2026

Exceptional

Everything is clean .

Hotel facilities

Business facilities

  • - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)

Reception services

  • - 24-hour front desk
  • - Luggage storage (additional charge)
  • - ATM/cash machine on site
  • - Lockers
  • - Invoice provided

Outdoors

  • - Garden
  • - Outdoor furniture

General

  • - Non-smoking rooms
  • - Facilities for disabled guests
  • - Lift
  • - Heating
  • - Non-smoking throughout
  • - Air conditioning
  • - Vending machine (drinks)
  • - Vending machine (snacks)
  • - Shared lounge/TV area

Activities

  • - Hiking
  • - Beach
  • - Stand-up comedy

Cleaning services

  • - Daily housekeeping

Accessibility

  • - Wheelchair accessible
  • - Toilet with grab rails
  • - Raised toilet

Miscellaneous

  • - 24-hour security
  • - Key card access
  • - Smoke alarms
  • - CCTV in common areas
  • - CCTV outside property
  • - Fire extinguishers
  • - Access to health care professionals
  • - Face masks for guests available
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