249 Varet St, Brooklyn, New York, United States | (618) 248-8274
Two blocks from Morgan Avenue L train stop, with direct access to Union Square
Near a natural foods market and a variety of bars and restaurants
Free breakfast included with the rate and free Wi-Fi in common areas
Bike rentals as well as phone and iPad rentals available (for a small fee)
Big modern kitchen with stoves and fridges for guest use
Loft area above kitchen with wall-mounted TV and extensive DVD collection
Low-lit bar on ground floor plus big outdoor balcony with ping pong and lounge chairs
Laundry room on-site
Guests can visit a nearby gym for a reduced weekly rate
Ground floor rooms can be noisy due to proximity to common areas
Wi-Fi can occasionally be unreliable
Fee for towels in shared rooms as well as soap, use of computer, and locks for the safes
Set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick, The New York Loft Hostel offers 21 large, spartan, high-ceilinged rooms with the option of a private or dorm-style set-up. The common areas are configured around hang-out spots, such as the outdoor patio with lounge chairs and a ping-pong table. The hostel plays host by throwing weekly barbecues in the summer and fondue-pot nights in the winter. The area is home to a plethora of bars and artisanal food offerings; the bustle of Union Square is a 15-minute ride from the Morgan Avenue L train stop, which is two blocks from the property. Beds are generally twins, some bunked; complaints have centered around noise, lack of hot water due to high traffic, heat that is often set too high in the winter (a common problem in New York), and that there are fees for towels, soap, locks for the in-room safes, and for the use of the common computers.
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Scene
Festive hostel with an emphasis on social common areas
The New York Loft Hostel appeals to a younger set and attracts guests from all over the world; it is laid out around a number of outdoor and indoor common areas in a loft style. Many of the sections, as well as the rooms, have large floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick walls, and colorful, sturdy steel and wood furniture. The vibe conjures a hip dorm. A large outdoor area with tables and giant round loungers encourages hanging out, and serves as the location of BBQ Wednesdays in the summer and fondue get-togethers in the colder months. The atmosphere is lively and convivial -- many people choose hostels to socialize with other guests.
Location
Two blocks from the L train at Morgan Avenue, in Bushwick
The hostel is located in a hip area of Brooklyn, near the bars and shops at Morgan Avenue, a post-industrial section of Bushwick that retains a gritty feel but is rife with cozy restaurants. There is a large natural and organic supermarket steps from the hostel, a specialty beer bar, and any number of artisanal cocktails within stumbling distance. Side streets starting a few blocks away may feel deserted at night, though the main area around the hotel stays busy until fairly late. Even more stores, restaurants, and bars are five stops away in the pedestrian strip off Bedford Avenue; Union Square is a 10-minute ride on the L train. JFK Airport is about an hour away on the subway with one transfer.
Rooms
Spartan rooms, some private, some dorm style, all with twin beds or bunk beds
The rooms here offer the very basics in the form of twin beds, many of them bunked, and little else. Decor is supplied entirely by the raw look of exposed brick walls and sheetrock. While many of the rooms have gigantic windows to match the high ceilings (no block-out shades here), a few offer less light. All rooms have outlets, a few wall hooks, and a safe or two, and most, though not all, beds have an LED reading light mounted to the wall. In some rooms a single safe must accommodate all occupants. There are no closets. There are a few private rooms available with adjacent subway-tiled bathrooms; otherwise, guests must use the shared bathrooms on their floor.
Features
A bar, several common areas, a kitchen, computer room, and laundry
Multiple common areas provide places for guests to use the free Wi-Fi or else meet other guests; there is an open-plan kitchen with a fridge for food storage, a lofted area with a couch and a wall-mounted TV, a generalized (non-secure) storage area for larger items, a ground floor bar with drink specials, and an outdoor wood patio with a ping-pong table and deck chairs. The property also maintains a laundry room, rental bikes, and a computer area, all available for guest use for a fee.
