Kiez Hostel Berlin

Only a quick 7-minute walk from the train station, this felt like a clean and welcoming place to stay. The owner and staff were really friendly and helpful. The free kitchen and tea were a nice bonus, and it was great value. I'd gladly come back!

The kitchen was fully equipped, with a fridge anyone could use, and each morning the rooms were tidied up nicely. My room was spacious and clean, and the staff were very friendly. If vegan food is your thing, the location is especially good: lots of vegan restaurants and even a vegan supermarket are just around the corner. There was some noise from the laminate floors, and the beds squeaked whenever someone moved. Earplugs helped a lot. After a few days, the location felt a little less handy for exploring the whole city, but public transport is close by, so that matters less if you don't cycle.

I arrived on October 21 at 20:30 after a long day of travel, expecting the booking I had made through the hostel's own website and system. They'd told me the price was 20 euros and confirmed that tax was included. I replied that sounded good and said I'd see them the next day. At the time, there were 15 beds available. But when I got there, I was told I wasn't in the system and there was no space. The receptionist tried a little to help, then a worker acting as a BOUNCER told me to leave while I was asking them to take responsibility for their mistake and help find a solution. It was night, there was no nearby space available, and nothing close to the price they'd agreed with me. He wouldn't check the emails or look into the error, and said that's not how they work. Nobody had sent me any message all day about a change or cancellation. He escalated the situation and was the rudest, most disgusting host I've ever encountered at a hostel. He accused me of disturbing the place, although until then I'd stayed absolutely calm and quiet, especially considering the situation they'd caused. The lack of professionalism and accountability was unbelievable. If you want to be treated like a number and thrown out onto the street when the hostel makes a mistake, this place may suit you. If you expect a place to understand travel and honor a booking you clearly made, there are much better options in Berlin. This left me with a really bad impression of the city.

The cleanliness and attention to detail were better than at any hostel I've stayed in. The lobby and chill area are tastefully done and relaxing, and there's a kitchen, fridge, and space to make coffee or tea. I was bike touring, and they let me keep my bike in my room, which made things so much easier. I absolutely loved the place and highly recommend it. I think it's the best hostel in Berlin.