10 Hostels You Actually Want to Stay In

Cocomama is proof that properties can embrace their history and local culture without being stuffy, uncool, or loaded with dusty antiques. The self-described “boutique hostel” in Amsterdam has individually decorated rooms with Dutch themes (e.g. “Tulips” or “Van Gogh”). Windmills, clogs, and Delft-blue pottery abound, but never without a touch of cheeky humor -- just witness the cow figurines in the private “Farm” Room.  The wood-beamed ceilings, a narrow staircase, and a resident cat are conventionally Dutch, too. But bold orange and blue accents inject the historic town house with a jolt of youthful fun.

The looping cursive graffiti by the pool reading “love love” pretty much sums up our feelings for the Freehand. The building is pure 1930s glamor; the furnishings are mid-century hip; and the pool scene is cool. Private rooms are available, but even the Quad bunk-bed rooms are thoughtfully designed, with jaunty navy accents and little privacy curtains between the bunks. Retro bikes with lipstick-red frames and leather seats are available to explore the area, should you ever want to leave.

This high-design gem has quickly become a media darling. From the front desk with metal rivets and a bright marquee sign baring its name to the communal bathrooms with tiles that spell out cheeky messages like, “Text me, I dare you,” delightful little details abound. It’s these touches that make the rooms feel more luxe than what you'd expect at a hotel. Private rooms have fold-away nightstands and trompe l'oeil bookcases behind the beds. But even the shared rooms have nice details like leather butterfly chairs. If you’re visiting the City of Love with your paramour, consider the private Twin Terrace Room with a little balcony furnished with striped loungers and a hammock. And if you’re going solo, you may find romance en route to the Generator’s bar, decked out in curved subway tile to mimic a stop on “Le Metro.”

New York City’s epicenter of cool long ago decamped from Manhattan, and while the Wythe Hotel makes a good argument that Williamsburg is where it’s at, The New York Loft Hostel (and just about every episode of HBO’s “Girls”) will tell you it’s in Bushwick. This property is a primer in all things “Brooklyn cool.” Bright, punchy arrows lead guests all over the property, to the shaded courtyard with grills and sun loungers, to the shared kitchen with its looming ceilings and exposed brick, and to the rooftop lounge complete with purple ping-pong tables. The slinky, red-lit bar has room for bands to play, too.

True to its name, this hostel is far from the typical cramped, dark backpackers’ den. Instead, it’s airy and streamlined practically to the point of being aerodynamic. The communal kitchen has sleek chrome ranges and built-in refrigerators; tables are white lacquered surfaces paired with backless benches; bunk beds have industrial frames and flat ladders -- even the black sun loungers are made up of arcing metal legs joined with mesh. The decor may avoid embellishments, but the amenities, including a sprawling roof deck and giant hot tub, add plenty of bells and whistles to the property.

In many ways, Clink78 was the property that kicked off the invasion of the poshtels; its blend of historic building with punky, fashion-forward decor is the blueprint that other like-minded properties strive to copy. Stencil graffiti and graphic patterns climb the walls of this 19th-century courthouse all the way up to the lobby’s stained-glass skylight. Occasionally, it takes a Banksy-esque turn, like the stenciled coat rack with real hooks protruding. Some of the rooms are converted jail cells and have the reinforced doors to prove it. The bar, named after The Clash who faced trial here, is a riot of color with teal leather couches, red-tasseled lamps, and foosball and pool tables.

Most hostels are decorated in clashing colors and a cacophony of graphic patterns, but Golly&Bossy bucks that trend. Rooms, both shared and private, are a study of white-on-white minimalism, with white platform beds, white walls -- even white flat-screen TVs. There’s no in-room artwork to detract from the airy serenity, and built-in storage lockers are devoid of handles. But one accent color -- the hue of a sour apple Jolly Rancher -- keeps things from looking institutional. And it radiates off the lacquered floor of the restaurant, which is illuminated by bare bulbs hanging from tendrils of wires. It’s the perfect jolt of electricity to wake up guests before they tumble out into the terrace and back into the Technicolored world.

Blowing out design trends is what the Generator does best: If one paper lantern is pretty, why not cover the entire ceiling of the restaurant? The result is a hostel that feels like a design fun house with swing-arm lamps the size of fridges and couches upholstered in two different fabrics. Barcelona has a legacy of flamboyant design -- this is the land of Gaudi, after all -- and the Generator clearly brought it's interior design A-game to the city. But it’s not a museum piece. Guests can be found cramming into the photo booth, playing foosball, or swinging from suspended loungers. Overall, the lively energy here and fresh look give its Paris sister property a little continental competition.

L.A.’s Stay on Main has an exterior that’s red-carpet worthy. And the lobby, with its columns, statues, and balconies, looks like it’s been dipped in gold -- thanks to brass and gilt trim used generously everywhere. The lobby bar is a nod to Hollywood Regency style, with white leather tufted banquets and mirrors in a jumble of frames. (Note the bar’s small popcorn-maker -- only in L.A.!) But rooms are a bit more modern and simplified, with boldly printed sheets and hand-shaped chairs. Its location, between The Standard, Downtown L.A. and The Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, completes a sort of hipster golden triangle.

If the high-octane design of many of the previous properties gives you a headache, consider the calm Casa Gracia. There’s no splashy graffiti or throbbing lights. Instead, the understated elegance of a boutique hotel quietly hums throughout. Parquet floors, wall moldings, and white columns set the backdrop, but a dash of chrome light fixtures and weathered leather furniture keep things from getting precious. The result feels like a marriage between Restoration Hardware and Urban Outfitters. Rooms, even the ones that sleep six, have regal details like crystal pendant lights or tiny wrought-iron balconies. It’s a civilized little hostel that’ll give you cause to linger long after the free continental breakfast has ended.