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Hostel Fish, Denver

1217 20th St, Denver, CO 80202, USA (show on map)

Expert reviews

Lonely Planet review:

“This swanked-out hostel is an oasis for budget travelers. Stylish, modern and squeaky clean, dorms have themes – Aspen, Graffiti, Vintage Biker – and sleep five to 10 people in bunks. Mattresses are thick and duvets plush.”

Guest rating

4.4 out of 5.0

Ranked 9th in Denver


This an aggregated guest review rating of Hostel Fish, Denver. 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

89.85 %

Ranked 7th in Denver


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.


All you need to know

Located in Denver’s historic Ballpark neighborhood, Hostel Fish is a high-end, boutique hostel that completely flips the script on budget travel. It occupies the upper two floors of the iconic, red-brick Airedale Building. Built in 1889 by architect Fredrick Carl Eberley, this landmark originally opened as Kopper’s Hotel & Saloon and is a rare commercial example of ornate Queen Anne architecture.

The building itself has a wild and storied past, at various points functioning as a saloon, a beer bottling plant, and even a notorious brothel. Today, the street level directly beneath the hostel is home to Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox—a popular, multi-story live music venue and restaurant.

Inside, the hostel feels like a contemporary art gallery, featuring custom murals and quirky design elements like a massive, golden fish-scale ornament reflecting light from a third-story skylight. Each of the eleven rooms is styled after a distinct theme; guests can stay in the Aspen Room, which pays homage to Colorado’s mountain culture with antique skis and a snowboard bench, or the nostalgia-heavy, 1940s-inspired Paris Room.

The location is ideal for sports and culture lovers, sitting just a short blocks-long walk from Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, and the National Ballpark Museum. Other legendary Lower Downtown (LoDo) attractions, including the historic Larimer Square, the 16th Street Mall, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, are all within easy striking distance.

Location

Recent guest reviews

4.0
Elise

6 June 2025

Very good

Very comfy bed. Nice dorms and well designed beds. Convenient location.

Was really noisy from the bar.

3.5
Iain

3 June 2025

Pleasant

Good location and a comfy bed.

Pass code required to access the toilets. The room needed better ventilation.

4.0
Ryan

30 May 2025

A relaxed stay in an excellent location

Clean room, bathrooms, and helpful staff. There’re some negative sentiments related to the noise of music etc., but with some headphones I didn’t think this was an issue, even in a room close to the entrance/bar. Might be a problem for extra light sleepers. Overall excellent stay, excellent location.

4.5
Elizabeth

18 May 2025

LoDo lowdown

Cool old brick building right in LoDo. Excellent price. My first stay in a hostel - they had thoughtful touches like a phone charging station in all of the bunks. I stayed in a room with 6 bunk beds and the other guests were respectful and quiet. There's a lockable cabinet beneath each bed to lock up your luggage - safer than some motels! The bathrooms on each floor had 4 stalls, and 4 showers, were clean and well maintained. Even had body wash, shampoo and conditioner! Washer dryer for guests - and a kitchen where you can cook your own food. Nice smoking patio overlooking the street below. Very comfortable with nooks for reading, lounging, or getting alcohol in their bar and socializing with other guests.

Sometimes the bar got a little rowdy - if noise is an issue (like snoring), pack some earplugs

4.5
Yolanda

29 April 2025

If you like character and a solid cool vibe then this hostel is for you.

I enjoy that this hostel is located downtown and everything is within walking distance. The beds are pretty comfortable and the set up is nice. This hostel has it's own vibe and I like the room with all the globes and the old wallpaper from the original brothel.

The kitchen was a hot mess. Though this is collective living the staff could have done better about keeping everything clean. There is also no stove and the plug in burner takes a hot minute to heat up. I wish they offered free breakfast.

4.0
Sengouga

20 April 2025

Very good

The beds are super comfortable. They have female only dorms. The showers/bathrooms are spotless. Very convenient location and close to everything in downtown

The sheets and bed need more cleaning

4.0
Diana

17 April 2025

Very good

Comfortable room and nice decor. Walking distance to downtown.

There was very loud music till midnight coming from somewhere.

4.5
Shandi

6 April 2025

Stay here over a hotel !

It was very nice that we were able to check our bags in before real check-in at 3 PM so that way we did not have to leave our luggage in the car or hold around downtown as we walked. The staff were very nice and accommodating and the facilities were not only very cute and stylish, but very clean and comfortable. Also, this is the PERFECT location to stay

Other than the parking situation, I do not have complaints.

4.0
Muhammad

28 March 2025

Very good

Everything was great.

4.5
Waldemar

24 March 2025

Fabulous

Felt like a true European hostel. Really rare in the USA.

Showers, but on par with European hostels.

3.5
Ebo

12 February 2025

Was cool but they can improve

The trash can in my room was full for 2days and not emptied. Was disappointed as the management seemed to be on top of things

4.0
Jessica

12 January 2025

Good for one night

The common area was set up well, though there was never really anyone there. The room was decent and good for a one night stay. Nice and quiet. Short walk to main attractions.

There were a few times we needed something from reception but there was never anyone there. There were no towels or hairdryer in the private room but we asked reception and they accommodated. Few stains on the sheets.

4.5
Victoria

11 January 2025

Great spot in Denver!

I'm a thick human- and they had me on a top bunk, I felt secure getting up there/down the ladder. The bed space has a railing so you don't fall out, a curtain for privacy/light elimination, it has an outlet + a fan and heavy blankets. All in all it's a great place. The bathrooms are code locked, clean, bright, and spacious.

They are a Hostel/Bar so be mindful that there will be music playing on the lower levels. They don't have a designated parking place but there's on street parking and pay-for-parking lots nearby.

4.5
Matías

23 December 2024

will definitely comeback again

best value for money spent friendly and welcoming vibe it has a bar that plays very good music, a must for me

the floor underneath my bed was not clean, everything else was nice

4.0
Jeffrey

7 December 2024

Very good

good vibe with bar

4.0
Shahzeb

16 November 2024

Very good

JARAMAI IS A VERY COOPEATIVE PERSON,,,,

Nothing,

3.5
Ivan

7 November 2024

Pleasant

No towels, bed squeaked, dim lighting but otherwise good.

4.5
Pol

25 October 2024

Enjoyable stay.

Central location within walking distance of Union Station and Down Town area. Beds were very comfortable and bathroom facilities clean. Staff were friendly and accommodating, special thanks to Jared.

A little bit of noise from the bar area but thankfully it didn't keep me awake as I was quite tired.

4.0
Berenice

15 October 2024

Great, fun place - wish I could have stayed longer... I may be back! Sooo close to Coors Field ;)

Staff were great - very helpful. Rooms were good - privacy curtains a must in hostels!! The bar was very busy (and got busier) but TBH you couldn't really hear any exterior noise when the door was closed (must have good insulation).

I had a big case with me and it wasn't that easy to navigate the streets to the hostel.

4.0
Wang

7 October 2024

I sleep well

Location

Pillow sheets too dirty and also I prefer to take the cotton material.

3.5
O'brien-touchie

5 October 2024

Pleasant

No breakfast option, not even for a fee No milk offered for a cup of coffee Well below the convenience level of a European hostel on account of the above

4.5
Atilano

1 October 2024

Fabulous

It’s a good alternative for staying in Downtown Denver as opposed to the pricey competitors. The location is very walkable to Coors Field and Union Station. Bed was very comfortable, restroom was never crowded and showers did the job. The bar staff were friendly and professional. Herbal shop next door was an added bonus . As a senior, never felt out of place , people were cool. Looking forward to returning 2025 .

Best hostel I’ve stayed at!!!! Some may find the kitchen limited but great food options are right around the area .

3.5
Masaharu

30 September 2024

Pleasant

The toilet was clean, but I didn't feel like using the shower.

4.0
Piyawadee

30 September 2024

Pleasant to stay except the loud noise from bar.

Location, cleanliness, thick comfortable mattress and it’s curtain, quality of tissue paper, provide shampoos, conditioner and soap

The very loud noise of bar upto 3 am. Hard to sleep and woke me up from joyful screaming

4.5
Fiona

25 September 2024

Fabulous

I liked the showers.

I didn't like the lumpy duvet.

4.5
Evelyn

17 September 2024

Will come back!

This hostel has the comfiest beds I have ever slept in, I wish I could've stayed more nights! The staff was friendly although not always easy to find. I loved the atmosphere with the bar & common area.

The area had a lot of homeless people which can be scary to some. I didn't mind them but if you do, choose a different stay.

4.5
Sinadepp

2 September 2024

Chill Hostel

Chill and relaxed atmosphere. Nice building. Free water and coffee. Close to the Coors Field stadium

Parking Situation is kind of difficult or expensive when there are baseball games.

4.5
Dorottya

15 August 2024

The vibes were really great during my stay and I actually made friends. It was awesome :)

It was a commercial hostel experience where you really could make friends with fellow backpackers along the way. I also loves that there were take it or leave it boxes. The bathrooms were super clean!

I got a bit scared when we arrived at the location, but there was no problem during my stay. The ventilation in the rooms wasn't the best, but it wasn't unbearable.

4.5
Martin

9 August 2024

Fabulous

Beds were probably the best I have had at a hostel so far And the room did not have stairs on the bunks but little wooden stairs next to it. Amazing The location is just two blocks from Coors Field. I could literally be at my seat at Coors and back in the Hostel within five minutes

Probably would have liked information on towels at checkin. Not that big a deal though

4.0
Shamsa

8 August 2024

Good for a solo trip with a comfy bed top lay if you’re just there to sleep!

Solid unique spot with a friendly staff and great company from other visitors!

People kept leaving the bedroom door open. A man tried getting into my bed and I had to yell at him waking up the other bunkers for him to stop getting in my bed. Homeless population was pretty gnarly and even if it’s not the hostels fault it was a little sketchy every time I left the building.

4.5
Desiree

15 July 2024

Dez Says

We loved the location and the bar was great. Also, ophelia's night club within the building was not only convenient, it was Amazingly fabulous

It was a bit pricey for a hostel & a shared bathroom

4.0
Noble

1 July 2024

Glad i stayed, nice helpful staff

Cool decor, and nice spacious rooms

Showing signs of being an old building, to be expected

4.0
Robert

1 July 2024

Decent hostel with a great bar in a good location. Rooms comfortable, bathrooms could be cleaner.

Nice hostel close to downtown. Great social bar and kitchen attached. Rooms quite clean and beds fairly comfortable.

Loud music played through the hostel until after midnight. Bathroom, especially showers, were not very clean.

4.0
Jiří

29 June 2024

Very good

Very clean hostel, comfortable bed and spacious room for 4 people.

Noisy party in the hostel till 1:30am. Bring your earplugs ;)

3.5
Michelle

22 June 2024

Enjoyed the Hostel very clean restroom / shower area. Common area was great.

I loved the location of the Hostel it was located in the city However chose your journey cautiously. Paid $5. for a 1:00 pm checkout. 4 Blocks from Coors Field (Rockies). 👍🏼👍🏼🫶🏼

Female room bed of 6 the others guest arriving very late not so Quite nor considerate. Preparing to leave I pulled on the bed sheet uncovering the mattress cover and it had dried blood stains! Made me feel sick that I slept on that. SMH YUCK 🤮. Bed quilt reused after other guest checked out. Male staff cleaning All Female room while guest in their private area. Not good. BUT worth the $$ if you don’t mined certain things. Need a small table to place clean clothes when showering. 👍🏼✌🏼

4.5
Yijun

11 June 2024

Fabulous

Everything. I like the location very much. Especially that it is well connected by public transportation and there are good grocery stores just by the corner.

Only thing that I didn't like is that the air conditioner in the room was very loud and the street outside was not very quite during sleep time.

4.5
Kathleen

31 May 2024

Fabulous

Quiet rooms in spite of active evening bar.

Everything was pretty good.

4.5
Ira

26 May 2024

Good stay in Denver.

Free Wi-Fi with good connection. Good breakfast. Very nice staff and answered my questions before my travel. Close to Union Station where 24 hrs good connection to the airport. Good bus connections to the Oriental Theater. Clean room, bed and toilets. I will stay here again if will visit Denver.

Everything was good.

4.0
Anup

26 May 2024

Overall a great stay, except the toilet issue

Great location, amazing staff, bar on site, comfy bed.

The shower was great, but the water didn't drain for the duration of the shower. My last day had puddles of water in both the shower cubicals and water flowing out.

4.5
Nancy

23 May 2024

Fabulous

The place was very organized. The beds had their own lights and plugins. There was a place under the beds for luggage.

But dont lock anything up in the room downstairs, they dont lock the room and I had things stolen from my suitcase stored there. If you leave it in your room only the people in your room have access to it. Downstairs everyone has access. The door is not locked, it's not even closed. But it is one of the most thought out hostels I've ever stayed in, other than that room. Just dont bring too much.

4.5
April

11 May 2024

Unbelievable value and thoughtful staff.

Staff was pleasant and the shared bathrooms were well kept. They continually checked to ensure needs were being met. Located in the heart of downtown without being in the middle of the chaos that can happen. Even better priced than expected.

An option for good coffee would be nice.

4.0
Karen

29 April 2024

good location

was easy to find from Union Station. friendly receptionist. bed comfortable. very clean bathroom.

as others have commented, from 9pm to 2.30am it was extremely noisy, even though I was on a floor above the bar. supposed to be quiet after 2 am but people were still shouting at 2.45am. it’s a shame.

4.5
Hema

25 April 2024

Great location, clean room and space to work

The check-in and checkout process was smooth and simple. We got the King room and it was spacious, with a large bed, two bedside tables and a chair. The bathroom was stocked with towels, soap, shampoo and body wash. Everything was quite clean. Also at the bar there are seats and space to work if you need to.

It would have been helpful to have a table or something in the room where we could put our backpacks, clothes and other items, rather than the floor or the chair in the corner. Also, sound travels quite well through the hostel, it was quite loud until late at night due to the bar, but a good tradeoff for the location & price!

3.5
Sarah

17 April 2024

Pleasant

The property is 10 minutes from the union station, I wouldn’t walk alone though at night as a solo female. The area will make you a little uneasy at night time if you’re alone but other than that great location. Staff is really chill and the bar is a fun place to sit and hang out.

The pillows are very flat so bring your own.

3.5
Maria

16 April 2024

Pleasant

Near to union station, friendly staff

insufficient space to store personal items

3.5
Dontavian

5 April 2024

Good location

Location

Nothing

4.0
Evzen

27 March 2024

It was ok

Not far from the station

Some noise at night

4.0
Evzen

27 March 2024

it met my expectations

bed was good

it was a bit noisy all night

4.5
Georgios

14 March 2024

I enjoyed my stay in Hostel Fish!

I liked the building, the room, the bed, the bathroom, the shower & the complimentary coffee. And of course the location! Everything was very comfortable and up to my expectations.

On Tuesday March 12, at 7:30 a.m. the kitchen and the small relaxing space on the side were still locked. There was not even the possibility to drink some water before leaving the hostel to visit the city.

4.0
Lucas

4 March 2024

Excelente cost X benefit if you are planning to stay for 2 or 3 nights

Location

Old building and structure

Hotel facilities

Food & Drink

  • - Bar
  • - Wine/champagne (additional charge)

Outdoors

  • - Terrace

General

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

Cleaning services

  • - Laundry (additional charge)
  • - Daily housekeeping

Activities

  • - Skiing
  • - Games room
  • - Table tennis
  • - Darts
  • - Hiking
  • - Nightclub/DJ (additional charge)
  • - Evening entertainment (additional charge)
  • - Temporary art galleries
  • - Pub crawls (additional charge)
  • - Movie nights
  • - Walking tours
  • - Happy hour
  • - Live music/performance
  • - Live sport events (broadcast)

Reception services

  • - Tour desk
  • - Luggage storage
  • - Concierge service
  • - Lockers

Ski

  • - Ski storage

Kitchen

  • - Shared kitchen

Entertainment & family services

  • - Board games/puzzles

Parking

  • - Street parking

Miscellaneous

  • - 24-hour security
  • - Key card access
  • - Smoke alarms
  • - CCTV in common areas
  • - Fire extinguishers
  • - Delivered food is securely covered
Check availability 33£29$41¥4346C$31A$31HK$321S$54SFr38¥260kr338kr247kr319