Reviews of The Downing Hostel This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!
253 Castlereagh Street, Sydney Central Business District, 2000 Sydney, Australia
#292 of 342 hotels in Sydney
Guests' ChoiceReview Score
Based on 240 hostel reviews
6.7Score breakdown
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Cleanliness
6.6
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Comfort
6.6
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Location
8.9
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Facilities
6.5
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Staff
8.8
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Value for money
7.4
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Free Wifi
8.1
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Reviewed: April 11, 2025
Cinthia
New Zealand17 Reviews1 helpful vote8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
It's really close to everything, the room was spacious, the bathroom was quite unconformable but for the price is a very good hostel
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: April 11, 2025
Harry
United Kingdom5 Reviews8.0“Brilliant for the price”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Beds were fairly creaky but that was all
The staff were great. Has a nice social vibe.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: April 1, 2025
Oka
Australia7 Reviews7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Clean Location Staff
Stayed in March 2025
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Reviewed: March 20, 2025
Neta
United Kingdom13 Reviews1 helpful vote7.0“Great location, good value for money”- • Leisure trip
- • Travelers with friends
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 4 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Sleeping on the upper bunk was a challenge cause the beds move a little, the sheets were a bit stained, but the staff helped me change them. It was really hot inside the room
The location was superb, the staff were very helpful and it’s a very friendly hostel, they have activities for the backpackers
Stayed in March 2025
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Reviewed: March 16, 2025
Tanvir
Australia1 review6.0“N/A”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Cleanness
Location
Stayed in February 2025
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Reviewed: March 14, 2025
Shani
Australia1 review8.0“Great for what we paid, friendly staff and good location.”- • Travelers with friends
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Buying a used towel for $5 just to have to give it back is a bit ridiculous. No parking but understandable due to the location. The blankets provided had a bit of a dirty unpleasant smell.
Very friendly staff. Perks like $6 drinks, cheaper food and the pizza night. I was able to organise getting one room for my group. The location was good because we didn’t need to book an uber/taxi to get to town.
Stayed in March 2025
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Reviewed: February 20, 2025
Aida
Mexico1 review6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 7 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
It was sooooo loud and hot!
Location was great and nice staff
Stayed in February 2025
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Reviewed: January 29, 2025
Hannah
United Kingdom1 review7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Travelers with friends
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Bathrooms were unclean on the first floor
Stayed in January 2025
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Reviewed: October 24, 2024
Chloe
United Kingdom6 Reviews7.0“Easy bed for the night and friendly crowd”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Very basic everything, bunk beds wobbly
Good rooftop spaces but tight kitchen and bathrooms
Stayed in September 2024
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Reviewed: September 28, 2024
Marco
Peru7 Reviews8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Probs the bathrooms that were not that clean, but nothing really serious
Liked how small it is, so it’s more like a family type of environment
Stayed in September 2024
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Reviewed: August 26, 2024
Darcie
Australia11 Reviews1 helpful vote8.0“Average”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Felt very unclean, mould spores all over the walls in the shower rooms and toilets. Bunk beds were also very shaky which isn’t great for a hostel as people who were coming in later would wake up everyone in the room just trying to access their bed. Has a lot of potential but not up to scratch currently
Great central location and the on sight bar was great
Stayed in August 2024
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Reviewed: August 20, 2024
Seanin
Ireland1 review7.0“Really nice people, good location, excellent value for money”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 6 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
The only problem I had was with how dirty the kitchen was kept, although it was cleaned twice a day I think it needs more
Staff were very friendly and happy to help with all questions I had on arrival such as where to go what to see. The rooms were decent with lots of storage. Kitchen had everything I needed but was a left dirty most of the day. Overall I had a good stay
Stayed in August 2024
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Reviewed: April 24, 2024
Madeleine
United Kingdom14 Reviews1 helpful vote6.0“Lovely staff, unpleasant place”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 7 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
It’s the sort of building that probably never looks clean because of its age and condition but the floors were always dirty, there was litter under my bed, the showers were a bit gross, the toilet and sinks are right in the dining area which feels wrong, and unfortunate I was there while there were very loud guests who came in drunk a few nights so my dorm didn’t get very good sleep. I also didn’t report this to staff so can’t comment on their process for handling such situations but they were very approachable :) The area is uncharacterful and you could be in any city anywhere in the world. Great food nearby tho.
The staff were great and really friendly. Location is convenient for trains and buses. Well organised and supplied kitchen. Pillows were good :)
Stayed in April 2024
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Reviewed: March 30, 2024
Rivers
Australia2 Reviews7.0“Good spot!”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Good location, good prices, comfy beds, cool people, free internet, open rooftop.
Stayed in March 2024
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Reviewed: February 28, 2024
Conti
Australia8 Reviews7 helpful votes8.0“8/10, ONE OF THE BEST HOSTEL IN SYDNEY!”- • Business trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 6 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Even if the kitchen is a little bit small, NO WORRIES. There's space for everything, in the shelves for your food and in the fridge (there are two fridges, no freezer). No air conditioning, there are big windows and a huge fan, so NO WORRIES, you will be fine here. ATTENTION: NO ELEVATOR. There are only three floors, not that many, but no elevator guys. Just to let you know!
One of the cleanest hostel I've been in Sydney, and I've been in four. Rooms, Kitchen, Bathrooms and Shower, everything very clean and tidy. I highly recommend it for all of you. I'm with WHV and I stayed very well here.
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: February 27, 2024
Jemma
United Kingdom4 Reviews1 helpful vote6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
There was no living area other than the rooftop but that was no good in the rain. You had to sit in the corridors to socialise and the kitchen was small and could have been cleaner. Seemed like a lot of long term people staying too.
Close to the train station and walking distance to the main attractions.
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: February 17, 2024
Monika
Slovakia9 Reviews2 helpful votes7.0“would recommend for short term stay”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
there is no lift, but they are happy to help, it would deserve more deep cleaning, hot and cold water on the shower was not really working properly.
comfortable bed, nice stuff, quiet room, good location.
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: January 29, 2024
Diego
Argentina9 Reviews1 helpful vote8.0“I recomend if you are traveling”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 5 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
The plug in was hard to connect at the toilet
The location and the room are confortables.
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 28, 2024
Matt
Australia1 review1 helpful vote8.0“Great location, great way to meet people”- • Business trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 7 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Great value for money, staff friendly
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: November 21, 2023
Sam
Philippines25 Reviews1 helpful vote6.0“.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
the room smell bad, the bunk bed is squeaky.
the location is convenient, the happy hour all day for hostel guest in the bar.
Stayed in November 2023
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Reviewed: November 16, 2023
Jingyu
China8 Reviews1 helpful vote6.0“For a short-term stay, it's quite acceptable.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
The ambiance can be a bit noisy, requiring the use of earplugs for a peaceful sleep.
1. The location is very convenient, making it easy to access various attractions. 2. The receptionists are friendly and accommodating. 3. The beer at the downstairs bar is delightful, and the room card discount is a nice perk.
Stayed in November 2023
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Reviewed: November 10, 2023
David
Australia17 Reviews2 helpful votes8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Travelers with friends
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18-35 years only)
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
The air in the room was bad
The location
Stayed in November 2023
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Reviewed: November 8, 2023
Natalie
Australia4 Reviews1 helpful vote6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 3 nights
We specifically had requests for our rooms to be in certain spaces or locations, and it would have been ok if it wasn't anyway, however the hostel had responded with all my requests saying they had it all sorted the way we wanted. When we got there, the rooms were all over the place and my friends were split into different rooms. There was no message or anything prior to let us know of this change, and I was rather unhappy about this. When we got there, the hostel was full so we couldn't be rearranged and had to cop it, and we had no compensation.
Location was very central, it was very close to the bus and train stations.
Stayed in October 2023
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Reviewed: October 27, 2023
Diogo
Australia19 Reviews2 helpful votes6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (18 - 35 years only)
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
While the facilities were clean they were clearly old and not very well maintained, with some things being broken. The shower areas could have also done with a bench or something else to leave belongings on while showering
Staff were extremely friendly, and a consistent effort was made to keep facilities clean
Stayed in October 2023
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