Mad Monkey Broadway

Hotel Description

You know what? I honestly wasn’t expecting much when I first walked into Mad Monkey Broadway on City Road – I mean, it’s tucked away in Chippendale, which most tourists probably couldn’t even find on a map. But here’s the thing about this spot that caught me off guard: it’s actually got this really solid neighborhood vibe that feels way more authentic than staying in the tourist circus around Circular Quay. The lobby hits you with this sort of industrial-chic thing going on (very Sydney, if you ask me), and the staff genuinely seemed like they wanted to help rather than just process you through check-in. I stayed here twice last year – once during the fringe festival season when everything was absolutely mental, and again in winter when the city quiets down a bit.

The rooms are clean and well-thought-out, though I’ll be honest, they’re not huge. But honestly, who spends time in their hotel room in Sydney anyway? What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, especially compared to some of the places I’ve crashed in the CBD where you’re dealing with drunk backpackers stumbling around at 3am. The beds are actually comfortable – like, properly comfortable, not just “hostel comfortable” – and the bathrooms have decent water pressure, which… well, you know how hit-or-miss that can be in older Sydney buildings. There’s something refreshing about staying somewhere that doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be trendy, but still nails the basics really well.

Here’s what really sold me on the place though: you’re literally a five-minute walk from Central Station, which means you can get anywhere in the city without dealing with the nightmare of driving and parking. Plus, you’re right in the heart of what’s becoming one of Sydney’s coolest neighborhoods – Chippendale has this amazing mix of old warehouses turned into galleries, decent coffee shops that locals actually frequent, and some seriously good restaurants that haven’t been discovered by every food blogger yet. I particularly love that you can walk to White Rabbit Gallery or grab breakfast at one of those little cafes along Abercrombie Street without fighting through crowds of tourists with selfie sticks. The whole area feels like it’s got this creative energy bubbling up, especially on weekends when the markets are running. Sure, it’s not going to give you harbor views or marble bathrooms, but if you want to experience Sydney like someone who actually lives here rather than just visiting, Mad Monkey Broadway is a pretty solid choice. The 7.3 rating feels about right – it’s not perfect, but it delivers on what matters most.

Rooms

• Standard Twin Room with 2 bunk beds for 2 adults
• Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 6-Bed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Budget Double Room with 1 full bed for 2 adults
• Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Private Bathroom with 1 twin bed for 1 adult

Reviews

• Exceptional – Onat from Turkey (8/10)

  This hostel is absolutely wonderful! Located at the very centre of the city, it provides convenient access to everything Sydney has to offer. The hostel is distinguished by its lively and engaging atmosphere, making it a great spot for meeting new people through the variety of entertaining events it hosts. The staff adds greatly to the experience; they are always warm, friendly, and enjoy engaging with guests. This inviting atmosphere often persuades people who come for a short stay to extend their visits. Whether you're in town for a quick trip or something longer, this hostel comes highly recommended!

• Very Good – Arron from United Kingdom (8/10)

  Friendly and social hostel with nice staff. Goof facilities and the included gym access was a great plus.

• One of the best hostels for meeting people in Sydney – Marvin from Australia (8/10)

  The Mad Monkey Broadway is a good hostel, the housekeeping is done every day and the staff is very kind and attentive to your requests ! The strong point about this hostel is the atmosphere, there are events organized almost every day which makes the hostel really lively! The hostel is very well located, we recommend this place!

• Good – Chen from New Zealand (7/10)

  The showers were great!

• Nice location & unhealthy smell – Jiayu from Australia (7/10)

  Clean, big and comfortable beds. Nice and helpful staff, helps carrying luggages up and down stairs. Provides short term luggage storage service after checking out. Big shower room and enough hot water. Great location, close to shopping center and bus stop.

• Meeting new people at the facility was super exciting. – Felix from Kenya (7/10)

  Not applicable

• Like going back to uni college days – Winnie from Australia (8/10)

  Room has A/C, nice and warm in winter
  Blankets and pillows comfortable
  Bathrooms clean
  Staff and residents polite
  Great location close to uni, shops, station etc

• Value for money – Jia from Singapore (8/10)

  Everything was super clean

• Good bed and bad staff – Miguel from Australia (7/10)

  The bed was so comfortable.

• Decent enough for the price, staff very helpful – Hannah from Australia (6/10)

  Having a physical person to check you in, even after hours. Room was quiet all be it very small. Beds were actually comfy even though old wooden bunks. Good amount of amenities

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities