Y Loft (Youth Square)

Youth Square is a sprawling community center designed to provide a safe, stimulating environment for local students and international youth groups. The huge, glass-covered building was the result of an architectural design competition (commissioned by the government’s Home Affairs Bureau). Y-Loft is just a part of the enormous, often hard to navigate development, with youth groups and students mingling with the odd international traveler.

Y-Loft (Youth Square) is located at the end of Hong Kong Island's public transportation line, in Chai Wan. The largely uninteresting neighborhood is dominated by industrial buildings and government housing towers, with a massive cemetery and public park to the south. The MTR Chai Wan Station is just a five-minute walk away, but it's about a 30-minute ride to attractions in Causeway Bay. It's far from Hong Kong International Airport; expect at least a 45-minute drive or two hours via public transportation on the airport express. 

Unlike most hostels catering to students, the many room types at Y-Loft have en-suite bathrooms. Both the decor and furnishings are a cut above for this caliber, with hardwood floors, colorful walls, and small functional desks. All the beds are twins and rooms are designed for two, three, or six people. There are also Duplex Rooms for families with partially separated bedrooms, and many have small balconies looking out into a small central courtyard. Amenities are more like those of a mid-range hotel than a hostel, and include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric tea kettles, and safes. The black and orange tiled bathrooms have walk-in showers with handheld showerheads.

Next to the reception area, a cafe called On Egin serves coffee, an all day breakfast (for a fee), and light meals, but has limited weekend hours. A communal lounge also has a kitchenette with a pair of microwaves so guests can prepare rudimentary meals. Down the hall, a fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows has treadmills, rowers, and cardio bikes. There's also a climbing wall and the rooftop is circled by a jogging track. The most impressive facilities are shared with the Youth Square community center, including a large performance theater with 643 seats, a fully equipped music studio (including three piano rooms), several galleries and exhibition halls, and a dance studio.