Mad Monkey East Side

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Mad Monkey East Side on Darlinghurst Road, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The name alone had me thinking it might be some party hostel situation, but actually, this place surprised me in the best way. It’s got this laid-back vibe that somehow manages to feel both relaxed and put-together, if that makes sense. The location is pretty much perfect if you want to be in the thick of things – I mean, you’re literally on the main strip in Kings Cross, so you’ve got restaurants, bars, and the train station all within a two-minute walk. The Cross has cleaned up its act quite a bit over the years, and this hotel feels like it’s part of that positive change.

What really got me was how the staff actually seemed to know the neighborhood inside and out. The guy at check-in told me about this little Thai place around the corner on Macleay Street that I never would have found otherwise – turned out to be one of the best meals I had in Sydney. The rooms themselves are well… they’re not huge, but honestly, you’re not going to be spending much time in there anyway with all the action right outside your door. Everything felt clean and modern, and I appreciated that they’d clearly put some thought into the design rather than just throwing together generic hotel furniture. The shower had decent water pressure (always a win), and the beds were actually comfortable – sometimes you don’t know how much you need a good night’s sleep until you’re getting it.

One thing that struck me was how quiet it got at night, despite being right on Darlinghurst Road. I was expecting to hear traffic and late-night revelers, but the windows must be pretty well insulated because I slept through the night no problem. During the day though, you can just step outside and grab coffee at one of those little cafés, or if you’re feeling ambitious, it’s an easy walk down to the harbor – maybe fifteen minutes if you take your time through the Domain. The whole area has this energy that’s hard to describe, sort of like Brooklyn but with better weather and more international food options. I ended up extending my stay by a night because, well, why leave when you’ve found a good spot? The 7.8 rating seems about right – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Sydney, but it does what it does really well, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Rooms

• Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 12-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult

Reviews

• Exceptional – Melanie from United States of America (8/10)

  I liked this hostel a lot and would stay again! The daily events are a nice touch and help with the social aspect of the hostel. Staff were also super friendly and could always be seen cleaning. Great location as well and close to the train station making it super easy to get to the rest of Sydney. Overall I highly recommend.

• Good, but small spaces. – Catalina from Chile (7/10)

  The renovated showers and bathrooms.
  The staff trying to keep things clean.
  There were opportunities to share food for events organized by the hostel.

• Good – Sushil from India (7/10)

• Very Good – Romain from Australia (8/10)

  The staff and the accommodation are perfect

• Wonderful – Tilly from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Met some great people

• Wonderful – Imogen from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Friendly people very social – lots of events but nice places to relax

• Good value for the money 🌞 – Sandra from Germany (8/10)

  the staff was super nice and helpful, the amenities were mostly nice and clean, the kitchen was super well equipped , location perfect, free use of gym

• Very Good – Jade from France (8/10)

  Location is great, easy to get there. Staff is nice, helpful and available. Gym pass are a great plus. Rooms are well organized and big lockers are available to fit your whole backpack.

• Friendly – Carlos from Argentina (7/10)

  Room

• Good price for what u got. – Asha from Australia (7/10)

  The wifi was very good. Close location to the train station. Each bed had powerpoints and a locker.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities