Hostel Obispo

Can’t think of a bad thing to say! It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a casual person and I will only stay here. I have stayed in 2 separate rooms thus far, both co-​ed bunk rooms. Had places to charge my electronics and interesting people as room mates! Beds were comfy, sheets are air dryers in the back yard (look in back yard if no one is at the office, they are hanging sheets) I only wish I didn’t have to leave so early so I could try the Sourdough pancakes! I didn’t realize how Crazy expensive hotels are in SLO.

Good! Cheap, clean, warm-​welcoming, this house has a soul! Everybody was cheerful, the bed was clean and I didn’t come across creeps.
Perfect for a HI!

Sunday night was chill. Staff really friendly and helpful. Free breakfast. Close to the restaurants and the bars.

A small, totally friendly place to base out of in SLO. A wide variety of guests and staff will keep you entertained in the evenings if you are in. Eddy from Australia was extremely helpful and friendly. There is so much to see and do in this area, you may not spend much time here though…

If you’re looking for a centrally located, chill place to stay on the central coast for a fraction of the cost you’d pay elsewhere, look no further. The hostel is a short 4 block walk to the main drag in SLO, Higuera street. It’s also very close to the train and bus stations. I was driving, and parking was a breeze. No permit, meter, or street cleaning issues here.
The bathroom and sleeping rooms were clean and there are a plethora of books and local area information to keep you entertained and informed. The also have complimentary sourdough pancakes on Sunday morning.
No matter your age, if you’re a no frills type, who wants the best bang for your buck, this is your best option in the SLO area. Sure the beds squeak and you might have a snorer sleeping above you, but for less than $ 30 a night for a shared dorm room there are some sacrifices you have to make. They also have private rooms, which are still a good value if you’re traveling with a partner and want more privacy.
You’ll most likely make some new friends and enjoy swapping travel/​adventure stories with like minded people while saving your hard earned money at the same time.

I wanted to go far away from the city and relax in SLO… so I did.
And it’s worth it! The entire weekend was sunny, beautiful sea cliffs to see, good restaurants and a nice hostel to stay: Hostel Obispo.
The staff is great, the place is welcoming, clean and quiet. It isn’t like a hostel, but more like someone’s place with conviviality and chatting with other sympathetic guests around a lovely fireplace. Breakfast is good and simple: homemade bread, pancakes, maple syrup and coffee.
I recommend this place for those who want to visit SLO County surroundings during the day, eat in downtown SLO for dinner, and get together in the evening at the hostel.
Thank you for this nice weekend!

Yeah well the staff was nice and the hostel was pretty clean, but unless you want a very quiet, non-​fun hostel, I would couch surf or get a room at a B&B. The owner seems very UNHAPPYY and the whole place has a tense feeling about it, like the staff is walking on eggs. Nice neighborhood, close to downtown. If you DO stay there, use it just to sleep at. Spend your days in the HAPPY downtown of San Luis Obispo!

June 3 2014– It is eclectic & charming. It is an older beach home. Beds comfortable. I was surprised to use a very old blanket –finding this nobby 100% alpaca wool both light & comfortable!!’
Inside & out this hostel fits the whole atmosphere of this town. San Luis Obispo has been called the happiest town in the US. The people who stayed while I was there readily played the piano & guitar sitting in the main room.

I think if I would have stayed in one of the upstairs rooms I would have given this hostel four stars. However, we stayed in the downstairs four bed room at the front of the house, just to the right when you walk in.
The good:
The house is very, very cute and lovely. I love old houses and this one if filled with charm.
We were greeted friendly enough by the staff and helped with our plans in town.
We only stayed one night but I could see enjoying spending several nights here as it has a friendly vibe. Which is great because it is a small hostel.
We met some great people and talked to a Dad and his two great kids much of the night and the next morning.
Pancakes were made the next morning as advertised and everyone seemed to be enjoying them. (I don’t eat pancakes much so didn’t participate).
Staying in a hostel is NOT like staying in a hotel so if you’re shy, you may need to get over it because it’s like sharing a home with a bunch of strangers until you reach out and engage with them.
The «needs to be improved»:
The bathroom and shower by our hostel room was by far the most filthy and disgusting I have ever seen in a hostel.
The bathroom looked clean enough however the smell was so horrendous that I was literally gagging. It smells like someone has been peeing in the corner on the floor for sometime now. Do you know the smell of male tom cat pee? This was worse…
The shower (in a different room next to the bathroom) was filthy. I have pictures of this. If you can’t clean the shower curtain then please replace it. The shower it’s self looked as if it had never been cleaned.
Needless to say, I did not use the shower and only used the bathroom when the other one down stairs was in use. This is not acceptable conditions for any establishment hostel or otherwise that hosts guest.
Smaller complaints about our room:
It was the least decorative of any of the rooms. It could use a little TLC
The mattress covers (or at least the one on my bed) could use to be replaced. There is nothing like removing your sheets in the morning (as is customary at hostels) and seeing stains of whatever kind all over the mattress cover that you just slept on all night.
Also, there is an area above the door that is used for storage which either needs some kind of doors to cover it or organize it better. It just looks shoddy.
So all of my complaints above could easily be addressed and I hope they are because this place is otherwise to cute to get such bad reviews.

I have never stayed in a hostel before but coming up to San Luis Obispo I decided to check one out. They had fantastically friendly service and a great community. You practically couldn’t tell the difference between the friendly guests and the friendly administrators. Had a cool European vibe. I definitely recommend this place and definitely plan on coming back and staying again! :)

HI Obispo is clean and friendly. Right when we walked up the front door was wide open and the place is all around inviting. Delicious breakfast and coffee in the morning. Also a really neat way to meet other travelers.

Location was good, quarters were nice, sourdough pancakes were scrumptious. The staff seemed distant; I wish I could put my finger on it. Regardless, they were accommodating.

Used to visit here once a month for the weekend when I would visit my husband at the Mens Colony. Out of the 20 or more times I stayed there I had the best time. Only 2 times a situation where someone staying there got a bit obnoxious, which was quickly rectified by amazing and fantastic staff they have there. It is close to the train station which I loved cause I would come in by train. Will miss staying there but if I ever come into SLO again I am for sure bringing my husband for the private room. Prices reasonable and felt safe.

Excellent location 5 blocks from Higuera. It’s basically a big old house with bunk beds. There is free parking behind the hostel or on the street. I enjoy hostelling — you get to meet people from all over the world. NOTE: No smoking, no drinking and no food allowed in the rooms. Very no frills — they nickle & dime you for everything. Pay extra for a towel. Rent lock from reception. They close you out daily between 11 – 4:30 for cleaning. Private rooms are available but still need to share the bathroom.

My first hostel stay was here back in April 2012. Good place to ease into it! I loved the environment, the cleanliness, the adorable house, the people. Met some cute European guys at breakfast… there are worse things than eating scrumptious sourdough pancakes (batter & griddle provided then, and I think still are) whilst conversing with a man from France, one from England, and another from some other European country.
Great hostel! Small.

All I needed was a place to crash for the night in SLO and this fitted the bill pretty well. I had no problems reserving a dorm bed over the phone. I was told they prefer cash but they readily accepted my credit card without fuss. The lady at the front desk, Janet, was very cheerful and friendly. Like the others mentioned, the mattresses did make a lot of noise and I was quite conscious about moving around while sleeping. But the sheets felt and smelt clean. But then being a camping/​backpacking kind of guy I am not too fussy.
I got a great deal on a rental bike though. May be because I was the only one renting a bike that day! For 10 bucks I got a pretty decent mountain bike that I rode comfortably all the way to Morro Bay and back. The gears shifted pretty smoothly and brakes were decent. It was the best of the lot though and you need to be lucky to get it. Thanks to Janet who took the trouble to find out the best bike for me.
I left by 8:30 am but there were no signs of the pancakes by then so I have no idea how good they are :(I came back around 12:30 pm after my bike ride and they were kind enough to allow me to use the restroom to freshen up.
Lots of hiking and other informative guides to SLO and the region lying around. I wish I was there for a couple of days more. It is a great place to explore the region. Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle, Pismo beach, etc. All close by
I would definitely stay again if I travel solo to SLO again

I definitely recommend Hostel Obispo. I have stayed here twice, on trips about four years apart, and both were very pleasant experiences. We stayed here over the New Year and it was perfect. Very comfortable, affordable, and had everything we needed.
The location is great, in a quiet residential neighborhood but walking distance from Downtown San Luis Obispo which is filled with lovely cafes, restaurants, and bars. SLO is a wonderful stopping point if you are exploring California’s beauty. We visited Santa Barbara, Los Olivos, Morro Bay, Big Sur, and Paso Robles and this was all done very easily from this starting point.
Looking at the other reviews, I see that many were upset about the closure between 10:00 — 4:30. For us this was not a problem because we had no plans to hang out at the hostel. It is a great space to rest, change, and sleep while exploring the exciting things Central California has to offer.
The staff was very nice and we really enjoyed that they made coffee and pancakes in the morning.
The hostel was very clean and cozy. I really love it’s Victorian feel.
I recommend Hostel Obispo if you are looking for a nice place to rest your head after an exciting and filled day, want to save a little money, and prefer a homely vibe to that of the sterility many hotels offer.

I had to catch an early bus in the morning. Quiet time didn’t begin till 11pm or at least it was supposed to. Mistake to stay on ground floor as staff did nothing to quiet noise, very inconsiderate. Kept me up till 1am.
Also I was told I could turn in my key at 7:30am to get the 3 bucks back but at 7:45 there was no one there and I had to take off.
No smoking on front porch say all the signs but many were doing just that.
Nice facility and location but disappointing visit this time.

What I liked: Clean, close to downtown, easy parking, there were two cats (I missed my kitties back home!). They also had a bunch of California travel books and brochures on hand.
What I didn’t like: Closure between 11am and 4:30pm. While I completely understand why they do this, it could be pretty inconvenient depending on your situation. You can’t bring in your own pillows or sleeping bags (again, I get it, but I felt silly sleeping on this ancient pillow while my own sat in the car). And while I felt safe personally, it’s worth noting that during the hours of 4:30 and 10pm, anyone could, conceivably, walk into the hostel and into your room. (After 10pm, you need a code to get in.) There are lockers, but I’m not sure what the situation was with them.

This place is just odd. I’ve been in many hostels in the states and Europe and as others have said, I do not feel like this one compares well. It is in a good location, that’s about all this place has going for it. The staff seems out to lunch — we got no instructions such as towel info, room key, check out time. Nothing. I learned more from the Unilocal reviews than the people who work here. They totally nickel and dime you, as others have said — charging for the room key, towel, etc. If you want to charge more, just do it and provide these essentials. I mean, come on, you’re going to withhold a room key for a room I just paid for as a private? Ridiculous.
I would say book elsewhere. If it wasn’t for the fact we were only staying a night, we would have found other accommodations.