The Nolita Express Hostel

Great location, design and concept. If you want to stay in downtown Manhattan for 1/3 for the price of a hotel and meet cool solo travelers this is the place to go! The design reminded me of the roaring 20s era in NYC. Would definitely stay here again

If you value a decent (not even need to be good) night's sleep, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. Despite the advertised rule of no noise between 9 pm and 9 am, this policy is NOT enforced. The cleaner came to 'clean' very loudly before 8am, slamming doors, trash bins, and speaking loudly for about half an hour, despite guests' attempts to quiet her. The $100 fine for making noise is merely for show. Guests were talking loudly through the night, laat night in particular it was between 3-4 AM, without any repercussions. The noise level here makes it impossible to get any rest. Additionally, the check-in process was confusing, and there was no one at the front desk. Despite calling multiple times, no one answered. After waiting for 20 minutes, a staff member who had been chatting in the lobby finally assisted me. It was frustrating to realize that he had seen me waiting but chose to ignore me until it suited him. The website falsely claims that toiletries are included, which they are not. Additionally, the internet password provided was incorrect. Overall, the staff's disrespectful behavior and the high noise level make this place not worth the price. Avoid staying here if you want any sleep

Took a last minute 2-day swing into the city and found this little place while web surfing on the train ride over. Wasn't an area of the city I was real familiar with, but it was pretty easy to get to and find. 1st floor walk-up, so you must be able-bodied. It's a little pricey compared to other Manhattan hostels with similar amenities, but the location and style are top-notch. Arrived around 8:30. The girl at the desk was not particularly welcoming, but was professional and efficient. Bored-looking Europeans sat in the lounge area, clearly unaware that New York friggen-city was right outside. I got a basic private room, which is a 30-sq/ft cubicle with a 5'8" bed, an end table, light bulb, and wall hook. A towel and pack of earplugs were placed on the bed. It was clearly a stylized homage to the building (and neighborhood's) history as a collection of flophouses for semi-homeless drifters. I thought it was super-cool. Not for light sleepers, as you can hear just about everything, though the earplugs helped a little. Also, if you're tall, don't get the basic 'cabin' with their short beds. I think the bunks are a standard length. The bed was otherwise comfortable, and the temperature was good. Despite the age of the building, everything seemed well-kept and clean. Shampoo/soap/conditioner provided in dispensers within each rain shower. Water temperature got real cold on me for a minute or two, but I just stepped out of the way and it warmed back up. Coming and going, as well as check-out, was a breeze. There's a cafe/bar on the ground floor. Good breakfast (10%off and free coffee for guests) with friendly service. Chinatown to the South, Soho to the West, Greenwich Village and NYU to the Northwest. New Museum for contemporary art right across the street. Bowery Ballroom one block down. Great area to walk around. Close to several subway lines. Would definitely stay here again with the same budget/location needs. Also-never realized there was a nice roof deck- definitely would have checked it out.