Kensington Market Hostel

The location made it easy to enjoy Toronto’s nightlife, right in the middle of downtown with places to go nearby. For the price, it was a really good deal for this city. I showed up at the house without a reservation, and Lucas looked after me anyway. He found me a warm, cozy room that was very clean. I also checked out almost an hour late, but he didn’t give me any trouble, even though he needed to get the room ready for the next guests. He was friendly the whole time. I was impressed and really grateful. Thanks again, Lucas.

The location was very good, but the rest felt like a place just to sleep, and even that needed more basic upkeep. There were cracked walls, odd bedding, and a bathroom covered in fungus, with passive-aggressive instructions about how to use it. The shower button wouldn’t work properly, either. We could hear everything through the bad room door, which in the end wouldn’t lock. The hotel was hard to find because there was no sign outside. We were told check-in was at 3, then waited about 20 minutes in the corridor for the owner, who was not very responsive. Our room was small, apparently because we were there for one night. The smell was terrible, and the place felt more like a dorm, with a family cooking on the first floor. I’d expect even a basic sleepover place to keep an eye on the premises. I don’t want to book with Booking again and would rather use Airbnb in future.

The place was okay for a last-minute night, but I’d look around first if I had the chance. The bathroom didn’t seem to get cleaned, and the other guests weren’t very respectful. We only had contact with the owner by text. There was opened gum and condoms in our drawer, dried food on the blankets, and a tissue on the floor. The cleanliness wasn’t up to standard, and the decor was bizarre.

The price reflects what you get, so be warned. We stayed in four other hotels on our trip, and they were excellent. I’d give this place zero stars if I could. The owner wanted cash, saying his card machine was down. It wasn’t, since I insisted on charging our card and we got the confirmation that night. You have to call when you arrive and wait for him to drive over from his house to let you in. The neighborhood felt a little sketchy. There was mold in the shower, and the whole house smelled. You share a bathroom. Wires were exposed on the porch, duct tape held the front door lock together, and the security cameras on the outside walls were taped up too. I doubt they worked. Duct tape seemed to be his favorite repair method. It didn’t look like the online listing in real life. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you desperately need somewhere to stay.