The Downing Hostel

6.7Pleasant323 reviewsSee rooms

Hostel

Facilities at a glance

Parking
Bar
Terrace
Non-smoking rooms

About this place

Vibrant CBD Location Located in the heart of Sydney's bustling CBD, The Downing Hostel offers a lively atmosphere surrounded by a variety of dining and entertainment options. Convenient Facilities Enjoy complimentary WiFi, shared kitchen amenities, and an on-site bar/restaurant during your stay at The Downing Hostel. Additionally, take advantage of the free laundry and ironing facilities available to all guests. Exciting Activities Let the front desk assist you in planning fun-filled activities such as archery, bowling, and tennis, ensuring a memorable stay at The Downing Hostel. Experience the vibrant CBD life at The Downing Hostel - book now for an unforgettable Sydney getaway!

Choose your unit

Pick check-in and check-out to see live room prices.

4 room types

Choose your room
Room type	Guests	Show prices
Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only) 12 m²Bunk bed	Sleeps 1	Show prices
Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only) - no window 12 m²Bunk bed	Sleeps 1	Show prices
Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only) 21 m²Bunk bed	Sleeps 1	Show prices
Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only) 12 m²Bunk bed	Sleeps 1	Show prices

What this place offers

Parking

Food & drink

Restaurant
Bar

Outdoor

Terrace

General

Non-smoking rooms

Location

Address
249 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, 2000, Australia
0.4 km from the center of Sydney
Nearby landmarks
- Australian Museum0.5 km
- Sydney Football Stadium2.1 km
- Sydney Opera House2.2 km
- Sydney Harbour Bridge2.7 km
- Taronga Zoo4.7 km

Questions about this stay

Quick answers from the information this property gives us.

What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 14:00. Check-out by 10:00.
Is parking available?
Yes, this property lists parking. Check the room offer for any fee.

Guest reviews

6.7323 reviews

Reviews from guests who stayed at this hotel, shared by our hotel supplier. Score based on the latest 200 reviews.

Cleanliness5.1

Service8.6

Location8.6

Room quality6.6

Amenities7.1

Value for money7.1

Food and drink8.1

Yassine
France · Solo · March 2026
1.0
“Shit”
+The receptionist
−The rats and the holes in the wall
Jelle
Australia · Couple · March 2026
5.0
“Could use more cleaning and renovations”
+They organise typical hostel activities so that might be nice and the location is pretty convenient in the cbd. Matrasses were pretty comfi.
−I stayed in a lot of hostels but this might have been the dirtiest I’ve ever stayed at. No carpet on the floors (which was very sticky in the room) and more cleaning staff would help a lot. I saw a cockroach in the kitchen and in the room. There was just one toilet with working light available for the floor (the light in the bedroom was also not working), smallest sinks in the hallway, three showers unisex which is fine but I didn’t feel comfortable with the big gap in the door and also very dirty. A squeegee to wipe the shower after/before use might help a bit here. Except for the rooftop there wasn’t a nice place to chill (and be social) except for two tables in the hallway next to the kitchen to eat. So with bad weather limited. In the room I could smell smoke from people smoking on the rooftop (i think) and kitchen smells. Although the hostel has potential it could really use some care. But I guess for the price and in the center this is what you get.
Zhenrong
Chile · Solo · March 2026
5.0
“A one-night stay is more than enough”
+I had late check-in with no issues.
−The room I stayed stank of humidity. Too many stairs with no lift as it's an old building. I stayed a night which is more than enough.
HuanMing
Taiwan · Couple · February 2026
1.0
“Worst experience in my life!!”
+Only 5min walk to train station
−1/5 stars - Major Issues with Stability, Noise, and Cleanliness - The bed frame is extremely unstable - whenever someone on the lower bunk moves, it feels like an earthquake shaking the upper bunk. - The mattress was uncomfortable and severely sagging, leaving me with back and waist pain; plus, the mattress and sheets were visibly dirty. - Room windows have terrible soundproofing; street cleaning noises at night always woke me up. - The bathroom had multiple burnt-out bulbs, forcing me to use it in the dark. - Many guest perks were expired, like the downstairs restaurant discount, yet promo flyers were still posted in the lobby. - Frequent guests chatted loudly in the hallways late at night, which was very disruptive. - The fridge had insufficient space and was hard to use effectively. Overall, this stay was frustrating and not restful - won’t return.
rylie
United Kingdom · Couple · February 2026
4.0
“alright for one night, wouldn’t write home about it”
+good location and cheap
−beds were so noisy, felt like they would break at any moment, could feel every move from the person sharing the bed, so noisy from outside, everywhere was dirty, communication wasn’t great for example had to carry luggage up and down the stairs as it wasn’t made clear where to leave our stuff which was a struggle as there is so many stairs and the toilet facilities were odd and not well looked after
Nicolás
Australia · Solo · March 2026
7.0
+El staff fue muy amable y atento. Las instalaciones cumplían.
−Muchas cucarachas y el roof no tenía luces.

Good to know

Check-in & check-out
Check-in from 14:00 · check-out until 10:00
Pets
Pets are not allowed

Facilities at a glance

About this place

Choose your unit

4 room types

Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)

Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only) - no window

Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)

Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)

What this place offers

Parking

Food & drink

Outdoor

General

Location

Address

Nearby landmarks

Questions about this stay

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Is parking available?

Guest reviews

Good to know

Check-in & check-out

Pets

Guest reviews