Providence Hostel and Guesthouse

I've stayed at this hostel twice and was a much bigger fan of it the second time around, after a brush with the WORST hostel I've ever experienced (been staying in hostels for 20+ years) The neighbors can be loud on the weekends but are quiet by morning I love the Chinese food spot on the corner—cheap and good but only takes cash And it's just down the road from the most wonderful little coffee shop, Rise and Shine You're near a bus line but close enough to walk to everything Only thing I wish they'd change would be to add hand railings on the stairs If you're looking for affordable and comfortable, this is it Any other hostel in Providence is not—I promise you, do not go there

Best stay I could have imagined in Providence! Owner John is a super sweet guy and could not be doing Providence more right than by having a place like this. He also has a wonderful volunteer, Aurora, working with him as of July 2025! Having stayed in hostels across more than 50 nations and numerous other US states, it is sometimes difficult to find a place this meticulously cleaned, helpful in terms of travel advice posted around the stay, safe-feeling, close to relevant public transportation, and close to desirable tourist sights of the city. Not to mention, there is no place ever available in the entire area that has all that to offer at the incredible price John offers his stay. It’s a backpacker’s haven in one of the least expected cities! Thanks, John! (Not pictured: the beautiful common-area kitchen and living-room spaces, the spacious bedrooms with super comfortable beds and high-quality AC, and the very detailed whiteboards with super interesting and helpful travel info!)

I loved my stay here. John is so knowledgeable about the area and gave some excellent suggestion about what to do. Its quiet, cozy, and clean. The location is great - close enough to downtown while still giving it a neighborhood vibe. Looking forward to my next stay here 😊

Absolute gem of a place! Very clean, organized and comfortable. Conveniently located next to great shops, restaurants and historic neighborhoods without the high price tag. Public transit systems are easily accessible as well so I was able to take advantage of all the wonderful recommendations the staff had to offer.

Had a wonderful experience staying here. John was a wonderful host. The Location is perfect for any travelers on foot. It is centerally located in providence with access to plenty of public transportation. The stay was comfortable and the house was well kept. I recomend this hostel to anyone visiting the area.

Great stay! Highly recommend. I slept very comfortably throughout the night! On sight manager was very friendly.

I recently stayed in a five-person co-ed room on the third floor of this hostel. Alina, the owner, and John, the staff member, were very personable and provided a lot of helpful information about traveling in Rhode Island. I have stayed in many youth hostels, and I have never met more enthusiastic hostel staff than them. The room I stayed in had three portable folding beds and one bunk bed, and I slept in the lower bunk. Since I visited Providence during a quiet time of year, I only had one other roommate at a time in the room. There is space to store your personal belongings under the bed. However, some beds are not near electrical outlets, so you might want to bring an extension cord just in case. The room is well-ventilated, but noise can occasionally enter at night (mostly music and shouting), and the light can come through the blinds. If you're a light sleeper, I recommend bringing earplugs and an eye shade. The bed was comfortable, and the blanket and bedding smelled fresh. You can ask for extras if you feel chilly at night. While the room was clean and organized, I should note that it is essentially a small bedroom shared by five strangers, which is somewhat smaller than a standard-sized room. However, you get what you pay for. The hostel was said to have been established in the summer of 2016, and to me, it still feels relatively new. I enjoyed using the shared kitchen and living room, as they are quite well-equipped. I didn't cook during my stay, but I used the microwave, fridge, and electric kettle. I also appreciated that the kitchen supplies filtered water and has USB charging ports. When my charger broke during the trip, it was helpful not to have to buy a new one. There are two bathrooms shared among all guests. Since I visited during a quiet season, I never had trouble finding an available bathroom. The sign in the bathroom states that the bathrooms are cleaned three times a day, and judging by their cleanliness, I believe this is true. I especially appreciate that the lockers are located in the common areas and are within the range of security cameras. This provides extra peace of mind. I think more hostels should adopt this system, although thefts in hostels are still quite rare, to my knowledge. The hostel's location is very convenient. The train station is about a 20-minute walk. There are multiple bus stops within a minute’s walk, and if you prefer, you can walk 25 minutes to the plaza, where you can access additional bus lines. It’s an easy 30-minute walk to downtown Providence, where many entertainment options are available, or to the RISD Museum, which is a fantastic place to visit. Walking around the neighborhood feels safe—I walked near midnight and early in the mornings without feeling unsafe. The area is very convenient; there are several restaurants nearby, as well as a 24/7 7-Eleven. If you're willing to walk a bit further, you'll also find Whole Foods, Dunkin’ Donuts, and the Providence Place shopping mall. As the only hostel in Providence, it makes a strong impression as an affordable and convenient place to stay. If you don’t mind sharing a room at night and want to be close to everything in the city, I highly recommend this hostel.

Excellent stay at this hostel - very cozy and friendly place, perfect for a weekend stay. Big shoutout to the manager John, who was very communicative and quick to respond to inquiries, thanks for hosting us!

The owner and on-site manager were fantastic. Any questions or concerns I had were addressed and resolved swiftly which was extremely appreciated. The hostel's location was also fantastic. It was a short walk away from downtown Providence which made its accessibility a treat. The hostel itself was nice and comfortable. There was a lot of different pots and pans to use to cook with that made it nice to eat in when I didn't want to eat out. Being able to relax in the living room space was nice as well. Overall, I would recommend this hostel if your looking to explore Providence.

it was okay ,clean and everything went smoothly during check in.