CURIOCITY Johannesburg

The receptionist was friendly, and when I had to leave at 4 AM for a 5 AM safari pickup, someone opened the door for me. I’d asked for a bed in a six-person room but was given a private room for all four nights, which I really appreciated. It was clean when I arrived, the beds were comfortable, and the kitchen had good cooking equipment. I was worried about security throughout the stay. The neighborhood felt dangerous, so I wouldn’t recommend going out. I got my food and water through Uber Eats, which worked well. I told reception the day before about my early tour, but at 4:30 AM someone tried my room code and came in without permission or knocking, supposedly to wake me. That left me feeling anyone could enter. I slept with a chair against the door because I was afraid someone might come in at night. Several people know your room code, so keep your things in the locker and valuables with you. Even with a padlock on mine, I kept my passport and cards on me because I didn’t feel secure. The public bar also connects to the rooms by a corridor, so different people can enter the hotel. Keep your room door locked. If low cost, cleanliness, and a comfortable room matter most, this could work. If safety and being able to walk around are more important, I’d spend more to stay elsewhere.

The social atmosphere was a highlight. People were friendly, and it was easy to meet others, so as a solo traveler I didn’t feel alone. The staff were helpful too, especially Vee, who was warm and welcoming. Everything was very clean. The hostel is near the CBD, which felt a little intimidating to me, and I wasn’t comfortable going out alone at night. Keep that in mind when planning your stay.

I hate leaving a bad review, but other travelers should know what happened to us at Curiocity. While we were staying in a private room, someone entered our locked room and took all the money hidden in pockets across three different bags. We reported it, but staff said the footage showing the theft had been deleted. Several staff members lied while handling the incident and didn’t help us. The owner treated us very badly afterward.

The hostel was comfortable, with a nice kitchen and bathrooms, and the staff were lovely. Its spot on fox street puts you right in the heart of Maboneng, surrounded by art galleries, street art, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It felt great to be in creative Joburg, with plenty of life and especially lots of music on weekends.