Everyone knows visiting Los Angeles is far from cheap, especially if you want to stay in a beachfront neighborhood like Venice Beach. With buzzing bars, bodybuilder-laden boardwalks, and neon-lit amusement parks, we fully understand why some accommodations in Venice Beach are pricey. However, if you’re on a budget, don’t be sad! That’s because Venice Beach is also home to affordable, high-quality hostels that’ll give you your slice of sun-drenched paradise. While they don’t have fancy amenities like on-site pools and glamorous bars, they offer super comfortable rooms and budget-friendly amenities. They’re also perfect for those who want to meet other travelers! So, what are the best hostels in Venice Beach California that are worth checking out? Here are our top picks!
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Venice Beach Hostel
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Kicking off our list of the best hostels in Venice Beach California is the Venice Beach Hostel. Set only a short stroll away from the lively Venice Beach Boardwalk, this hostel allows you to enjoy the sun and sandy beaches. From this hostel, you’ll be close to Venice’s crazy stores, markets, street entertainment, and Muscle Beach! Even better, the Venice Skate Park and plenty of eateries and bars are walkable. If you want to explore more, you can rent the hostel’s bike for free and visit the Pacific Park, Santa Monica Farmers Market, Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Avenue, or Christopher Grimes Gallery! They’re only about a 10 to 15-minute’s bike ride away! Best of all, bus stops in different directions are just around the corner.
Similar to other top hostels in Venice Beach, California, this small, clean, and friendly hostel offers dormitory and private rooms. The hostel’s twin and double rooms offer private accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere, and you’ll have plenty of space for your stuff. Meanwhile, the dorms are the perfect suit for everyone who wants to meet other travelers on a budget. There are 8-bed dorms and 13-bed dorms, and all of them are extremely clean. Every morning, you can start your day by enjoying an American breakfast. Tea and coffee are also available all day at the property. During your spare time, release your inner chef and make some delicious food for your roommates! Then, hang out in the comfy lounge area and watch your favorite TV shows or sports games. This hotel also offers free LAX pick-up service to guests who have booked a minimum of two nights accommodation.
PodShare Venice
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Los Angeles hotels can be expensive, including the ones near Venice Beach. Thankfully, there’s PodShare Venice, one of the most affordable hostels in Venice Beach California. This is the perfect accommodation for solo travelers and budget backpackers. Here, all your basic needs are met. Food in the fridge, toiletries stocked, cleaning, maintenance, and security are sorted. It also accepts in-state residents, doesn’t have minimum or maximums stays, and doesn’t require a safety deposit or proof of income! Like other hostels in Venice Beach California, it’s only blocks from the beach, a short stroll to the canals, and a long block to Abbot Kinney. Staying here means you’ll be able to enjoy the sun, surf, and sand. Don’t forget to explore the bohemian shops and stalls along the boardwalk, visit Muscle Beach for a workout, or take a ride up to Santa Monica!
Even better, this hostel has 4,000 square feet of grass and full-court basketball! They’re the perfect spots for you to hang out with your roommates and share tales. Behind the hostel’s wooden gate on a bustling corner across from the public library, you can also enjoy a game of volleyball, soccer, ping pong, or lounge on the hammock. This place is serene for morning yoga, mid-day meditation, and co-working on the patio. Meanwhile, the kitchen is stocked with shared food, so help yourself and brew more coffee for the house! There are 32 twin-size pods at this hostel across two aisles, all facing each other with different penmanship of co-ed names across each chosen pod. Other notable amenities include free private parking, free Wi-Fi, and free bikes! By the way, did you know that PodShare also has a nice hostel in Hollywood?
STAY OPEN Venice Beach
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Modern and affordable, STAY OPEN Venice Beach is another option that’s worth considering. This pod hostel is located directly on the beach, with art and life around every turn! The Venice Skate Park and Venice Beach Boardwalk are a few steps away. On your way there, you’ll spot plenty of restaurants and bars where you can hang out with your friends. Meanwhile, Tongva Park, Pacific Park, Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and Ocean Avenue are around a 15-minute walk away. If walking isn’t your thing, you can use the hostel’s free bike to go there! Yes, unlike some hostels in Venice Beach California, you don’t have to pay to use the bike! Pretty awesome, isn’t it? That said, there’s no parking available at the hostel, which isn’t a problem since it already provides free bikes for its guests.
Moreover, the rooms at this pod hostel are superb! Each room has several private pod beds that are incredibly cozy and clean, a spacious seating area that comes complete with sofas, as well as a spotless bathroom. We also appreciate that you can enjoy the sea views from your room! There’s also air conditioning, so you can always have a good night’s sleep. However, you should note that no Wi-Fi is available. While this might be a bummer, think of it as a chance for you to socialize more! The shared kitchen is well equipped, and you can cook whatever you want there. You can also make new friends in the lounge area or spend time with your roommate during the movie night. Best of all, there’s no such thing as a curfew here!
Samesun Venice Beach
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Sitting on top of this list is the Samesun Venice Beach, one of the most popular hostels in Venice Beach California. Situated on the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk, this hostel is many travelers’ favorite base when they’re in the city. The beach is only a stone’s throw away, but if you need a break from the sun and sand, this hostel is surrounded by places to shop, eat, and relax! Even better, it’s only a short bike ride away from most of the sites you’ll know from the movies, including Muscle Beach, the famous Venice Skate Park, and the Santa Monica Pier. If you’re unsure where to start, talk to the friendly staff! They’ll clue you in on the best happy hours and favorite places in Venice or sort you out for a surfing lesson or tour. Even better, they also speak Spanish and Portuguese!
There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to room selection. Like other hostels in Venice Beach California, there are dormitory rooms and private rooms. There are mixed and female-only dormitory rooms, with the biggest ones to house up to eight travelers. Each bed is also fitted with a reading lamp and power socket, so you read your favorite novel at night and charge your gadgets. The private rooms are spacious, and they’re perfect for those who want a guaranteed good night’s sleep. Some rooms have a private bathroom, while others have a shared bathroom. After you’ve had a day of sunning, swimming, or just people watching, feel free to hang out in the hostel’s newly renovated lounge to swap stories or kick back!
Where to Stay in Venice Beach
There are many top things to do in Los Angeles, and one of them is visiting Venice Beach. That said, the first area that you should consider is the Venice Boardwalk. It’s the perfect place for people watching! This pedestrian walkway effectively continues from the southern end of Santa Monica Beach without a break. Trust us, it’s always fun to watch the wheeled action at the skate park, and there are plenty of worthwhile eateries too! Plus, the beach here is particularly soft and wide, with great views of the mountains.
Or, you might also want to stay near Muscle Beach. When the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica disappeared in the ’60s, this competing spot in Venice arose to fill the void. Since then, it’s morphed into a voyeuristic gym for chiseled bodybuilders, where curious onlookers can watch from outside the fence of the postmodern, dumbbell-shaped building or from the stands at the competition stage.
In addition to that, you should also check out the Venice Canals. It offers a completely different side of the famed beachfront neighborhood. Take a stroll through these three canal-lined blocks of Dell Avenue, and you’ll discover arching pedestrian bridges, charming beach houses, bunches of ducklings, and the occasional paddleboarder.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Venice Beach
- Mao’s Kitchen – If you love Venice Beach, you’ll also love this restaurant. The food is original and tasty with some creative dishes like Mao’s Hometown that’s just a little spicy. There are good prices on the lunch specials and the entrées are reasonable. The restaurant has a rustic look with lots of old commie propaganda art, more of a satire then a praise for the old chairman.
- Great White – This beachy all-day Aussie café offers salads, sandwiches, smoothie bowls, and a tater-tot-laden breakfast burrito across the street from the famous Venice sign off Windward Avenue. There are Aussie staples such as flat whites, plus L.A.-tailored items like the algae-packed smoothie bowl, naturally dyed bright blue via butterfly pea protein. Come evening, Great White also makes killer pizzas, with a curated list of funky, small producer natural wines.
- Hinano Cafe – Locals and travelers love to visit this place for beers and wines. Apart from that, it also serves a few bites like burgers, vegetarian burgers, tuna metls, and chips. While this dive bar doesn’t offer anything unique or jaw-dropping, everything does taste good and is affordable.
Recommended Activities in Venice Beach
- Venice Beach: 2-hour Group Surfing Lesson – Take part in a two-hour group surfing lesson which is ideal for everyone from beginners (even first timers!) to upper intermediate levels! Start the lesson by getting geared up with the wetsuits and surfboards. Then, head down to the sand with your group of five to six fellow students. After the class, an instructor will lead you to an outdoor public shower where you will be able to rinse off. Don’t worry about your belongings, as you will be able to leave everything locked in the surf school van!
- Small Group Electric Bicycle Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach – Take a pedal-powered tour through the beaches and streets of the famous Santa Monica and Venice Beach areas of Los Angeles during this electric bike tour! Skip the tour bus as you enjoy fresh ocean breezes and laid back riding with a guide aboard an electric bicycle. Cruise the famous canals of Venice and cycle the trails along Santa Monica Beach, choosing if you want to use your own leg power or get a boost from your electric-powered cycle. This L.A. electric bike trip also includes a helmet rental and bottled water!
- The Ultimate Venice Beach Experience – As the name suggests, this is the ultimate Venice Beach experience! Explore the boardwalk, lift weights at Muscle Beach (or just watch others do it), visit the skate park, and stroll along the famed canals as you learn the history of this most remarkable community!
