Summer House Kings Cross

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be straight with you about Summer House Kings Cross – it’s one of those places that surprises you in the best way possible. When I first rolled up to 153 Forbes Street, I honestly wasn’t expecting much from the exterior, but step inside and there’s this immediate sense that someone actually thought about what travelers want. The lobby has this relaxed, almost residential vibe that makes you feel like you’re crashing at a well-designed friend’s place rather than checking into another cookie-cutter hotel.

What really won me over though is the location – and I mean, you’re right in Woolloomooloo, which sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud but is actually brilliant for exploring Sydney. You’ve got the Royal Botanic Gardens literally a five-minute walk away, and honestly, there’s nothing better than grabbing a coffee and wandering through there in the morning before the tour groups descend. The harbor’s right there too, so you can walk to Circular Quay without dealing with trains or buses. I spent most evenings just strolling down to the water because, well, why wouldn’t you? The staff seemed to get that this was the real draw – they’d casually mention the best times to hit the gardens or which walking route to take to avoid the crowds at the Opera House.

The rooms themselves are solid – I mean, it’s a four-star place so you’re not getting luxury, but everything works and it’s clean and comfortable. The beds are actually decent, which you know matters when you’re walking around Sydney all day. My room faced the street and yeah, there’s some traffic noise, but nothing that kept me up at night. What I appreciated was the little touches – proper hangers in the closet, outlets where you actually need them, and a bathroom that didn’t make me feel like I was showering in a phone booth. The 7.4 rating makes sense to me; it’s not perfect but it delivers on what it promises without any major disappointments. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels more like a neighborhood spot than a tourist trap, and you want to be walking distance from the harbor without paying harbor-view prices, this place gets it right. Just don’t expect a concierge desk or room service – it’s more about giving you a comfortable base to explore from, which honestly is exactly what I wanted.

Rooms

• Bed in 4-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 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 11-Bed Female Dormitory Room with 1 twin bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 12-Bed Dormitory Room with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room with 1 twin bed for 1 adult
• Budget Double Room with 1 full bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Crossing – Chloe from France (8/10)

  All the hostel was very very clean.
  The staff is very friendly and attentive to our questions.
  No noise at night or in the morning.

• Nice for short stays and visit Sydney – Ignacio from Australia (7/10)

  Good price. The location is excellent. Cleaning is good. The bed was comfortable. The courtyard is a nice space.

• Best price/quality rate among Sydney's hostels – Germán from Australia (8/10)

  Price (the best price, for sure) and cleanliness

• I extend because good vibe – Yann from Australia (8/10)

  Good vibe and good manager holly and Noah

• Very Good – Filippo from Italy (8/10)

  The staff was cleaning frequently! Feel like home for a couple of weeks!

• Good – Jasmine from United Kingdom (7/10)

  Facilities

• Wonderful – Kwil828 from Australia (9/10)

  Single beds, large outside area to meet people, luggage storage

• We enjoyed and would definitely come back. – Charlotte from Germany (8/10)

  We loved the Common Areas and the Events.
  Also liked that the rooms have lockers and Power sockets next to every bed.

• Nice, Warm and Confortable – Delphine from France (8/10)

  The location is amazing, I really liked the hood. And also the staff were very helpful when I needed them 🙂

• Great little hostel – Alice from Australia (9/10)

  Staff are very friendly and welcoming. The hostel is in an ideal location for Sydney, and the train station is down the road. It's cleaned regularly and pretty tidy.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities