Northwest Portland Hostel

About Northwest Portland Hostel

Experience a family-owned hostel in Portland’s vibrant Northwest District. Our well-traveled staff is happy to share local tips, favorite restaurants, and recommendations for exploring the city. We’re located near downtown attractions, Washington Park, the Rose and Japanese Gardens, and nearby hiking trails.

Guests are welcome to join daily events such as walking tours, beer and wine tastings, live music, and trivia nights. For over 25 years, our mission has been to provide a welcoming, affordable, and safe place that connects Portland with travelers from around the world while supporting the local community.

Since opening, we’ve grown from a 36-bed hostel into a village of six historic buildings, many dating back to the late 1800s. Today, we offer private rooms, dorm beds, an apartment, and a dedicated Group Lodging Building. Our Hostel Café, completed in 2017, is a guest favorite and community gathering space.

We were voted the #1 Hostel in the USA by Hostelworld in 2025 and named the 3rd Best Medium-Sized Hostel in the World by Hostelworld in 2020.

Amenities include:

• Free in-room lockers

• Free WiFi

• 24-hour access (front desk staffed 7am–11pm)

• Free luggage storage on arrival and departure days

• Laundry facilities

• Fully equipped self-service kitchen

• Outdoor courtyard and garden with BBQ

• Bike storage

• On-site café open daily from 7am–11pm, featuring espresso, a full menu, and local beer, wine, and kombucha on tap

Reviews & Ratings

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July 30, 2025

kloucks

Standard hostel

Pretty standard hostel. Not the most glamorous or anything but completely fine. The area gets some seedy people who hang out in front of the doors but i always felt safe inside.
July 26, 2025

Victoria Q

Overpriced and overrated

This is a wildly overrated hostel. It’s expensive, the beds are still the metal ones we have in Europe (everywhere else I have stayed in the States has the wooden beds which don’t move and creak!) and this is the only hostel I have *ever* stayed at with no free coffee! They give you $3 off of the breakfast menu but can’t be redeemed on coffee or pastries and it’s an expensive menu, so best to think no perks at all. I would definitely recommend walking the 3 mins to Ken’s artisan bakery for your breakfast instead.
March 12, 2025

Sightseer43256337770

Unsafe Conditions and Poor Customer Service at Northwest Portland Hostel

I would not recommend staying at the Northwest Portland Hostel based on my recent experience. While the location seemed promising, I encountered several serious safety concerns during my stay that were either ignored or dismissed by management. 1 Hazardous Stairs Steps: The stairs steps at both the Flanders and 425 NW 18th Ave buildings are dangerously shallow, measuring less than 12 inches deep. I witnessed another guest trip on these stairs steps, nearly falling on top of me. This presents a clear hazard for anyone staying here, especially for those with larger foot sizes or mobility issues. 2 Broken Soap Dish: In Flanders Room #74, the porcelain soap dish in the shower was broken and posed a serious injury risk. This was a simple fix that should’ve been addressed before it became a safety issue. 3 Blocked Heat Vent: The heat vent in Flanders Room #74 was blocked by furniture, preventing any heat from reaching the room. I had to move the furniture myself, and even then, the heat was sporadic. I had no control over the heating system, which seemed to be switched off at night, despite the colder temperatures. 4 Dust Hazards: After being moved to 425 NW 18th Ave #7, I found the ventilation system in the small hallway leading to my room and bathroom full of dust, which raised serious concerns about air quality. I also discovered significant amounts of dust under the bed, on the boxspring, and along the top of the mirror, which exacerbated the situation. Despite presenting clear evidence and raising these issues with management, I was told they did not consider them a significant hazard. I was ultimately refunded for the unused nights of my stay, but I would strongly advise caution when considering this hostel as your accommodation.
August 26, 2024

claguey1

A great friendly place with safe comfortable rooms and many extras

First time I have ever stayed at a hostel, at 60 years old I expected to be the oldest person there, I was surprised at the age range of everyone between teens and retirees. I shared a 4 bed room with a 24 year old and a 70 year old ! The check in staff were super friendly and helpful. No question was too stupid for them as I am sure they had heard it all before. All bedding is supplied and was spotlessly clean. Free loan towels were available as well as loan padlocks for bedside lockers. Like I said I stayed in a 4 bed room which was warm and comfortable I was surprised that the bed was so comfortable I was expecting a creaky saggy mattress but it was great. A personal fan and two power points for each bed as well as a reading light. At the end of the corridor we’re 4 seperate lockable bathrooms with toilet and showers, no sharing with anyone. There are also laundry facilities as well as irons/boards. A large kitchen with utensils cutlery crockery pots pans etc, just supply your food! A on site cafe serves reasonably priced food and breakfast, you also get a FREE breakfast drink and bagel with various toppings, but other options are available to purchase. Most nights have some kind of event on, the night I was there was a wine tasting, some days have free walking tours of the city too. Parking permits are available for $5 per day which is a real bargain. There are private rooms available too and they are priced accordingly, but if you don’t mind sharing with strangers it is a very economical option in quite an expensive hotel city. My one and only negative for this place was the pervasive smell of cannabis throughout, I know it’s legal but personally the smell makes me feel sick. I wish they would only allow smoking weed outside away from sleeping areas. Saying that I would definitely recommend this place and would stay again, it’s great!
August 6, 2023

lanetam2023

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!!

This accommodation DESERVES the #3 rating for medium sized hostels in the WORLD that it has EARNED per Hostels International. Clean, well designed facility with exceptional hospitality in a safe and accessible neighborhood within a mile of the train station. Beside the very good cafe in the hostel itself, there are numerous excellent restaurants and bars within walking distance. Also ready access to the many natural attractions and entertainment venues in the Portland area.

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Northwest Portland Hostel

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About Northwest Portland Hostel

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Reviews & Ratings

Standard hostel

Overpriced and overrated

Unsafe Conditions and Poor Customer Service at Northwest Portland Hostel

A great friendly place with safe comfortable rooms and many extras

BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!!