How to find the best hostels in Kuala Lumpur for your trip
Kuala Lumpur is often described as ‘a melting pot of cultures’, and you’ll understand exactly what this means as soon as you start to explore the city. You’ll encounter Malaysian, Chinese and Indian influences in all that you see, do and eat, and it’s this unique mixture of cultures that makes KL a city like no other. It’s a worthy stop on any South East Asian backpacking itinerary, and whether you’re visiting on a brief stopover or staying for a while, finding the right hostel will take your Kuala Lumpur trip to the next level.
From non-stop party hostels to chilled out dorms and romantic private suites, there’s a hostel for every type of traveller on this list. Accommodation hotspots include the bustling foodie heavens of Chinatown and Little India, the entertainment hub of The Golden Triangle or amid the crazy bars and clubs of Bukit Bintang. Wherever you choose to stay, it’s just too easy to fall in love with Malaysia’s one-of-a-kind capital.
Read on to discover how to find the best hostels in Kuala Lumpur!
Jump straight to:
- Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur for solo travellers
- Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur for couples
- Best party hostels in Kuala Lumpur
- Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur with private rooms
- Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur city centre
- Best of the rest hostels in Kuala Lumpur
Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur for solo travellers
The best thing about travelling solo in South East Asia? There’s no shortage of other people doing the same thing, and the easiest place to meet them is in a hostel. Stay in one of these KL hostels for an always social atmosphere and fun communal events. Here’s to new friendships!
Mingle Hostel
Found in Chinatown, Mingle Hostel is a fantastic place for solo travellers to connect with other backpackers. They’ve got plenty of social spaces, like a rustic rooftop terrace and speakeasy bar serving locally sourced cocktails. And you’ll never have to worry about finding a friend to explore the city with – there are free events for hostel guests every single day, from food discovery tours to waterfall excursions and communal dinners.
Hostel highlights:
- Central location
- On-site café
- Library/book exchange
Address: 53, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Nearest station: Pasar Seni LRT Station
TWENTY5 by OHANA
TWENTY5 is one of those hostels where travellers arrive solo, but leave with friends and memories for life. ‘Ohana’ means family in Hawaiian, and the motto here is to make sure every guest feels the warmth of family. And what says family better than food? The host here is a total foodie who loves sharing Malaysian cuisine with his guests. In fact, every guest is invited to bring a packet of instant noodles from their home country to trade for a Malaysian staple!
Hostel highlights:
- Swimming pool
- Gym
- Free breakfast
Address: Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Pudu
Nearest station: Imbi Monorail Station
Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur for couples
The following hostels are ideal for couples visiting Kuala Lumpur together and seeking some creature comforts. Think romantic sunset spots, beautifully designed private rooms and on-site dining to get those hearts racing 
.
Tuxedo KL
This lavish hostel on the 37th floor of a luxury tower block has been raking in the awards since it opened its doors in July 2017. They pride themselves on providing a bespoke, personal service to every one of their guests, which is why they only accept 14 travellers at any one time, perfect for couples seeking luxury from their hostel stay. Their fabulous amenities include a rooftop infinity pool, mini cinema, gym and steam rooms. Guests say the highlight is being able to watch the sunrise directly from their bed each morning!
Hostel highlights:
- Super soft beds
- Spa facilities
- Incredible views of the city
Address: Regalia Service Apartment, 2, Anjung Putra, Block Madison or A, Off Jalan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Central KL
Nearest station: Putra Komuter KTM Station
Paperplane Hostel
This beautiful, artsy hostel in Bukit Bintang is loved by couples for its quirky rooms and laid-back ambience. It’s got a glasshouse lobby for reading and chilling out and a rooftop garden for soaking up that sizzling KL sun. It’s perfect for couples who want a quiet place to stay while still being on top of the action, as it’s just minutes from the Jalan Alor Night Market as well as Changkat’s hundreds of pubs and bars.
Hostel highlights:
- On-site café
- Amazing location for foodies
- Impeccable cleanliness
Address: 15, Jalan Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Bukit Bintang
Nearest station: Huang Tuah Monorail Station
Best party hostels in Kuala Lumpur
Here for a good time, not a long time? These are the wildest party hostels in Kuala Lumpur, where you can expect the drinks to flow and the music to blast until the early hours.
Reggae Mansion
Parties on the Reggae Mansion rooftop start with an hour of unlimited free beer every night, and end…well, whenever they end! This is a true party hostel where the music is loud and the cocktails are cheap. Private pod style beds in every dorm ensure a great night’s sleep, and on those days you feel like just chilling out why not cook up a storm on the BBQ or catch a movie in their 40-seat private cinema room?
Hostel highlights:
- On-site restaurant
- Incredible rooftop views
- City tours
Address: 53, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Nearest station: Masjid Jamek LRT Station
Step-Inn Too Guesthouse
Situated in The Golden Triangle, Kuala Lumpur’s busiest entertainment hub, the party comes to this hostel every night of the week. The vibes are good, the crowd is lively, the drinks are cheap and they don’t stop flowing! There are drinking events almost every night, from club crawls to beer pong tournaments and outrageous happy hours. One of our guests says, “the atmosphere is electric – if you’re up for a good time and love a drink this is the place!”
Hostel highlights:
- Crazy events
- 24-hour reception
- Tour booking desk
Address: 64&66, Jalan Pudu Lama, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Bukit Bintang
Nearest station: Plaza Raykat LRT Station
Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur with private rooms
Because staying in a hostel doesn’t always mean sharing a room. Whilst dorm life is an incredibly fun part of any backpacking trip, when you’ve been on the road a while it’s only natural to want your own space every now and then. That’s where these bad boys come in handy.
1000 Miles
Foodie travellers love this stylish hostel, located in the heart of KL’s Little India. Step outside your door to discover the city’s fascinating Indian influence, as well as some of the best curries you’ll ever taste! From the hostel’s roof terrace you can admire the colourful buildings, arches and shops which characterise the area. They have dorms and private rooms, both offering AC and en suite bathrooms at a bargain price.
Hostel highlights:
- Free breakfast
- Iconic location
- Great staff
Address: 17 & 19, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Little India
Nearest station: Masjid Jamek LRT Station
iO Hotel
Private rooms, but not as you know them! iO Hotel’s futuristic pod style beds ensure that every guest gets their own space and privacy without having to sacrifice the fun, social experience of staying in a dorm. Each pod has a fully-closing sliding door, as well as an individual AC unit, mirror, lights and even a TV! But don’t worry, if you’re travelling in a couple or just prefer your space, traditional single and double private rooms are also available.
Hostel highlights:
- 24-hour reception
- On-site café
- Large password-controlled lockers
Address: 18, Persiaran Jubilee, Off Jalan Loke Yew, Pudu, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Pudu
Nearest station: Pudu Starlink LRT Station
Best hostels in Kuala Lumpur city centre
Kuala Lumpur is an incredible city with so much to see and do, which is why it makes sense to base yourself in the thick of it, especially if you’ve got limited time. Stay in one of these hostels to have the best of KL right on your doorstep.
BackHome
BackHome Kuala Lumpur is a chilled out, modern hostel located next to some of the city’s most exciting attractions. It was named as the best hostel in KL at our 2018 Hoscars, so you know it’s legit. It’s got a super cool coffee shop/workspace downstairs, making it the perfect place for digital nomads to set up camp. Guests can also catch some rays in their sun-trapping courtyard, unwind in the movie screening room or tag along to one of their free walking tours to get to know one of the most fascinating areas of the city.
Hostel highlights:
- Free breakfast
- Book exchange
- On-site café
Address: 30, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Nearest station: Masjid Jamek LRT Station
Sunshine Bedz KL
If you’re looking for a prime location in KL, you can’t get much better than this hostel. It’s located near the iconic Petronas twin towers on the bustling Bukit Bintang walk, as well as being just minutes away from the Changkat club and bar district. They throw exciting events every week, from BBQs on the roof to pub quizzes and bar crawls to help you get to know your new hostel-mates. When you’re ready to explore the rest of the city you’ve got a monorail station a short walk from your doorstep.
Hostel highlights:
- Free breakfast
- Awesome parties
- Amazing staff
Address: 65B (2nd Floor), Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood:Bukit Bintang
Nearest station: Bukit Bintang Monorail Station
Best of the rest hostels in Kuala Lumpur
We couldn’t sign off without shouting out these guys…
Skyline Hostel
You know that iconic Insta shot of someone looking out over the Petronas towers from the edge of a rooftop infinity pool? Total perfection. You might not expect to be able to recreate this on a backpacker’s budget, but at Skyline Hostel you can enjoy an unbeatable view of the city while you swim from just £10 a night! When the KL sun gets too hot, head inside to the comfy air-conditioned common room where the PS4 tournaments can get a little… competitive.
Hostel highlights:
- On-site bar
- Pizza nights
- Free to use gym
Address: Block C Regalia Suite and Service Apartment, 2 Anujung Putra, Milan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Nearest station: PWTC LRT Station
Space Hotel @ Chinatown
We bet you’ve never stayed anywhere like this before! The theme of this fantastically wacky hostel is all things outer space. It’s got spaceship-style pod beds, life-sized space suits and is even complete with an astronaut’s tube slide to get you downstairs in a hurry! It’s more than just novelty though – our guests say that the beds are wonderfully comfy, the cleanliness is outstanding and the staff are out of this world – see what we did there?!
Hostel highlights:
- Air-conditioned pods
- Lively common areas
- An actual slide!!
Address: No 5, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Nearest station: Pasar Seni LRT Station
Ready to start exploring Kuala Lumpur? Let us know in the comments which of these hostels gets your vote!
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