Note: This review is not sponsored or paid for. When I was researching the best Cape Town hostels I had a hard time understanding the differences between the two highly-rated Never at Home hostels. Recognizing that others might encounter the same challenge this is my attempt to remedy any confusion for future travelers!
If you’re looking for the best hostels in Cape Town, you’ll quickly stumble upon the Never@Home hostels. No matter where you’re looking, they’re both highly rated and beloved by backpackers. Never at Home has two Cape Town hostels: One in the Greenpoint neighborhood, and one on Kloof Street. Never at Home encourages you to stay in both hostels to try out two different neighborhoods. Since it was my first trip to Cape Town, I did just that!
I loved both hostels – they were absolutely among the best I’ve ever stayed at. At the end of the day, Greenpoint is the one I’d return to over and over. However, that’s simply because it fit my travel style better – not because it’s an inherently better hostel. So how should you decide which Never@Home hostel is right for you?
I’ve compared the two hostels across six categories: Rooms, Amenities, Location, Social Vibe, Activities, and Pricing. If you still can’t decide by the end, Never at Home makes it easy to spread your stay across both. Hopefully, though, this will help you find your favorite Cape Town hostel.
No matter where you stay during your Cape Town trip, you’ll want to go sunset chasing! Check out my guide to Cape Town’s best sunset spots which are close to both hostels!
In Summary: Never at Home Greenpoint vs Kloof Street
Never at Home Greenpoint
Never at Home Greenpoint is the original Never@Home hostel and is the bigger of the two. It is on a busy road in the quieter Greenpoint neighborhood, outside of Downtown but closer to the trendy Sea Point neighborhood. Greenpoint has small rooms but more common spaces, including the Randy Warthog Bar, a backpacker bar with food and drinks, and a small outdoor pool. It hosts an adventurous, friendly crowd that comes together in the hostel WhatsApp group, common spaces, and through the hostel-organized activities to form a community
Never at Home Kloof Street
Never at Home Kloof Street is the new addition to the Never at Home hostel group. They started it just a few years ago, taking over the space of another hostel that shut down during COVID-19. The Kloof Street hostel is tucked next to (and on top of) trendy bars on the vibrant Kloof Street downtown. It has fewer common spaces, but bigger rooms. There are plenty of food and drink choices just steps from the hostel. It serves as a crash pad for a party-friendly crowd, while still offering a WhatsApp group and hostel-organized activities for those looking to find friends.
Rooms
Greenpoint
At Greenpoint, I stayed in an all-female 4-person dorm. The room was small, with limited floor space in the room. The beds were very comfortable, with cozy mattresses, duvets, and two pillows per bed. Each bed had its own light and charging station. However, the beds did not have any sort of curtain/privacy screen. The base of each bunk holds massive locking storage drawers large enough to fit an entire carry-on suitcase. Be sure to bring your own lock, or you can buy one from the front desk.
Both the room and bathroom had small windows, and crucially, the room had air conditioning. Air conditioning is a rarity among Cape Town hostels, and Never at Home Greenpoint was the only Cape Town hostel I stayed at that had AC. This was a blessing during the hot summer days and felt like a luxury.
The room had an en-suite bathroom which was also small but had everything we needed. In addition to the ensuite bathroom, there was a hallway bathroom with toilets and showers. This is hugely helpful, as it allows you to easily use the bathroom if your ensuite one is occupied.
My room was quite close to the hostel bar but still managed to stay fairly quiet – the bar closes at a very reasonable hour. The room was far enough from the street that there wasn’t much additional noise, and I had no problems with my typical hostel earplugs.
Kloof Street
At Kloof Street, I also stayed in an all-female 4-person dorm, so I had a good comparison point. The room was much more spacious than the Greenpoint room, with plenty of airy floor space. The bed setup was exactly the same as Greenpoint, with good mattresses, duvets, pillows, lighting, and charging stations. Once again, no curtain or privacy mechanism. These beds had the same large lockers as Greenpoint.
Kloof Street does not have air conditioning, rather has a strong ceiling fan keeping the air moving. Obviously, the fan wasn’t nearly as effective as air conditioning. However, it kept the room cool enough to make sleeping comfortable enough.
The room’s en-suite bathroom was massive, with a big shower and lots of floor space. However, I didn’t find any additional hall bathrooms with extra toilets/showers, which was a bit inconvenient at times. There was one set of bathrooms on the ground floor near the check-in desk, but this is unideal for a quick bathroom run if your room’s bathroom is occupied.
The x-factor for Never at Home Kloof Street was the view from my window. When I arrived I had my pick of beds. For the first time in my life, I voluntarily chose a top bunk. Next to the head of my bed, I had a window with a stunning, unobstructed view of Table Mountain which completely blew me away. There is no better way to wake up in Cape Town than to a view of Table Mountain!
One room-relevant item to note is that Kloof Street shares space with a lively public bar that extends to the 1st floor (2nd floor for any Americans out there). As you’re going up and down the stairs, you may see wait staff and patrons on the stairs with you. In addition, if you’re staying on the 1st floor, you may be subject to quite a bit of music/bar noise. I was on the 3rd floor and didn’t have any issues, but I can’t speak to volume levels closer to the bar.
Winner: Tie, pick your poisons
- Greenpoint pros: Air Conditioning, Hall Bathrooms
- Greenpoint cons: Small rooms
- Kloof pros: Large rooms, amazing views (at least from my room!)
- Kloof cons: No AC, No Hall baths, Potential noise challenges
Common spaces
Common spaces are important to me when I stay in hostels. After a long day of exploring, I need some decompression space outside of my shared room. Both Never at Home hostels boast an above-average set of common spaces and guest amenities which set them apart from other Cape Town hostels.
Greenpoint
Greenpoint maintains a large communal kitchen with plenty of shelf and fridge space for food storage, alongside a good food labeling system. There is a small sunroom library next to the kitchen, perfect for working, chilling, or eating. In between the sunroom and reception desk are a few desktop computers open for guest use. This is a thoughtful perk for travelers looking to do research on a bigger screen than their phone.
The largest common space is an indoor/outdoor chill space, with one side dominated by a few large tables with benches/chairs, and the other side with cozier couch/chair seating. There is chic wooden bar seating bridging the indoor and outdoor spaces, with a pool table for entertainment. Outdoors there are a few picnic tables for chilling/eating. As a bonus (and crucial for any sort of working), all of this seating boasts conveniently located outlets.
Up the stairs from the main chill space is the Randy Warthog, a backpacker bar & grill that is open to the public but mainly frequented by hostel guests. The Randy Warthog has a fantastic outdoor pool area, with a small swimming pool, plenty of picnic tables, and a lower chill seating area. A fantastic spot to lounge, meet other guests, and pregame for a night out.
Kloof Street
Like Greenpoint, Kloof also has a great communal kitchen which makes it easy to cook if you’re on a budget. Outside of the kitchen, you’ll find their outdoor common space, complete with several picnic tables and a firepit which they use for their weekly braais (South African barbecues). Kloof Street also has a small gym which is open to the guests. For travelers missing their workout routines, this is the place for you!
Kloof has one main indoor common space, a mid-sized common room dominated by a large, stately table. On one end is a bookshelf with some [ephemera/bric-a-brac]. On the other end, cozy bean bags form a chill area.
The Yours Truly bar and restaurant shares some spaces with the front of the hostel. This is a public establishment so is not technically a hostel space, but makes a quick for drinks or food very convenient.
Winner: Greenpoint, for its diversity and scale of common spaces
Location/Neighborhood
The Never at Home hostels helpfully contain their neighborhoods in their names. Greenpoint and Kloof Street are not far apart (~15-minute drive), but the areas have completely different vibes.
Greenpoint
Never at Home Greenpoint is in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Cape Town, located on the main road between downtown and the up-and-coming Sea Point neighborhoods. During my time in Cape Town, I didn’t find the Greenpoint neighborhood itself to be a must-visit destination in itself. However, I absolutely loved it as a home base.
There was a spa next door where I got a great foot massage after a hike and a fantastic bakery down the road (Jason Bakery) where I had my best brunch in Cape Town. There are two small supermarkets within a 5-minute walk for any grocery needs. You can easily Uber (or walk, if you’re feeling up to it) to the [Waterfront], Sea Point, and even Downtown neighborhoods in three different directions. The Clifton beaches aren’t far beyond Sea Point, easily accessible by Uber from Greenpoint.
For me as a solo woman, Greenpoint was among the places I felt safest in Cape Town. It wasn’t quite as busy as downtown, which made it feel a bit more walkable and low-key. I quickly settled into the Greenpoint vibes and enjoyed the calmer atmosphere with great accessibility to most spots in town.
Kloof Street
Never at Home Kloof Street is, unsurprisingly, located on Kloof Street in central Cape Town. It is outside of the [main downtown area] but still very much feels like the city center. Kloof Street is close to the famous party row of Long Street, which has plenty of its own Cape Town hostels. Never@Home is high enough up on Kloof street to take it out of the most intense party area.
As soon as you approach Never at Home Kloof, you’ll be greeted by the lively atmosphere of Yours Truly, a bar/restaurant that shares some spaces with the hostel and gives a good introduction to the neighborhood vibe. Kloof Street is vibrant, bustling, and lively, with countless restaurants, shops, and cafes within walking distance of the hostel. If you’re in Cape Town to party, you’re within walking distance of plenty of bars and clubs so you can avoid late-night Uber surge pricing. If you want to cook a big brunch to recover from that night out, there’s a large Woolworths practically across the street
However, the bustle means that you’ll benefit from keeping your wits about you when walking. Unfortunately, petty theft is common, and someone tried to swipe my phone from my hand at one point near the hostel.
Kloof Street positions you close to Table Mountain and Lion’s Head trailheads, which is great if you’re hiking. You also aren’t far from the Clifton beaches via a road that cuts past Table Mountain. However, you’re a bit further from the Sea Point and Waterfront neighborhoods. All of this is relative, though – again, the two hostels are only about a 15-minute drive apart.
Winner: Tie, pick your vibe
- Greenpoint: Lower-key neighborhood with safe streets and easy walkability: great for longer-term or chill vibes stays
- Kloof Street: Bustling commercial district with lively bars and restaurants: great for quick see-it-all trips and partiers
Social scene/vibe
During my stays at these two Cape Town hostels, I observed a significant difference in the social vibe of each place. In many ways, the social scene mirrors the neighborhood of each hostel. The best vibe for you will depend on the atmosphere you’re looking for.
Greenpoint
Greenpoint has a welcoming social scene that thrives on the hostel’s WhatsApp group chat (join it at the front desk when you arrive) and the abundant common spaces. As an introvert, I’ve never met so many new folks and headed off on so many spontaneous adventures as I did while staying at Never at Home Greenpoint. While I was there, the crowd at Greenpoint skewed on the slightly older side of hostel-goers (mainly mid-20s to mid-30s).
The spontaneous plans tended to involve day trips, beach trips, sunset outings, and meal outings, though people were still organizing nights out and festivals as well. The WhatsApp group was highly active, and a quick “Hey who’s in for sunset?” message usually garnered a few takers. Often, such spontaneous plans picked up unsuspecting guests in the common areas on the way out the door, providing a nearly effortless way to make friends.
Kloof Street
The Kloof Street hostel seemed to skew a bit younger than the Greenpoint hostel, with most of my fellow guests in their late teens to late 20s. Unsurprisingly based on location, the atmosphere was closer to that of a party hostel. As such, the less active group chat was more commonly used to organize nights out than daytime activities. I was less successful at joining spontaneous outings at Kloof Street, though much of that likely stemmed from my lack of interest in the night-out plans. If you can’t tell already, I’m not a huge party person.
Winner: For me, Greenpoint, but if you’re a partier through and through, go for Kloof
Hostel-Led Activities
Rather than splitting out the activities experience between hostels, I’ll discuss them together. The activities experience is practically the same at both hostels, with slight variance in the free activities offered. Never@Home has an excellent daily activities setup which is a huge value-add, particularly if you’re solo traveling Cape Town. None of the other Cape Town hostels I looked into had nearly as robust of a program. Never@Home knows its audience well and is constantly adjusting and adapting its tours based on guest feedback. They publish the activity schedule on their website, and you can sign up for the activities in person at the hostel.
They offer a mix of free, low-cost, and higher-cost (but still cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere) activities. As of 2024, the activities program is coordinated by Phil, a fantastic guy who has been with Never at Home in Cape town for many years and personally makes sure the activities are the best experience possible.
Free Activities
The free activities include movie nights, bike tours, and market tours, among others. I opted to join the market tour from Greenpoint on my first full day in Cape Town. While it was more a group walk to a lovely farmer’s market than a “tour”, I was very happy to turn my brain off and use the opportunity to meet some fellow travelers for free.
Cheap Activities
The lower-cost activities include guided hikes of both Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, led by hostel volunteers. Both hikes are under $10, and include transportation, water, a group to hike with, and a drink at the Greenpoint bar afterward. I joined both hikes during my time at the Cape Town hostels and had a great time. I was grateful for the built-in safety of group hiking as there were lots of mountain muggings at the time. Plus, I met several friends through the hikes – always a bonus with hostel activities. These hikes bring together the Never at Home Kloof Street and Greenpoint guests, so it’s a good chance to broaden your friend circle.
Higher-Cost Activities
The higher-cost activities are primarily day trips from the hostel which combine the guests from Greenpoint and Kloof Street. These include a Cape Point day, a township tour, a wine-tasting tour, and a 1-day safari. The pricing on these varies but is almost always cheaper than comparable tours that you’ll find at other agencies. In addition, when you do a Never at Home tour, you know that the rest of the group is going to be like-minded hostel guests.
My favorite activity that I did at Never@Home was the wine-tasting tour, where we visited (and tasted at) 4 different wineries for ~$65. Because I went on a hostel tour rather than a public tour, Phil was not only our driver, but also our DJ. There was nothing like scream-singing to throwbacks with a bunch of blissfully tipsy hostel guests while we wound our way through the Winelands.
If there are additional activities that you’re interested in doing while in Cape Town that aren’t specifically offered by Never@Home (Shark diving? Kayaking? Paragliding?), check in with the helpful front desk staff. The activities team has relationships with many tour operators in the area and can get cheaper direct pricing and availability than if you were to book online/through other agencies.
Winner: Tie, the same at both hostels, and absolutely worth checking out!
Pricing
We’ll keep this short and sweet. The pricing between the two hostels is almost identical, with Greenpoint being ever-so-slightly more expensive on average. My Greenpoint 4-bed female dorm was ~$2/night more expensive than the same room setup at Kloof Street. I ended up paying about $23/night at Kloof, and about $25/night at Greenpoint. When I compared it to other Cape Town hostels, this was right in line with the running rate. For the quality of both hostels and the fantastic activities, I felt that it was an excellent value.
Winner: Nearly a tie, but Kloof Street just edges out Greenpoint
In Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you know that both Never@Home properties are fantastic Cape Town hostels. The right hostel for you will depend on your priorities and your traveling persona. If you’re like me and you value a more laid-back, homey vibe while prioritizing daytime activities, Greenpoint is likely your best bet. If you’re in Cape Town to party and hit as many bars and restaurants as you can, you’ll probably be best served at Kloof Street. And if you want to do a little bit of both, why not split your stay between the two and try out both?
Leave me a comment if you have additional questions about Cape Town hostels, and have a great stay in the city!