The 5 Best Hostels in Kuala Lumpur (Updated 2023)

Posted: 8/31/2023 | August 31st, 2023

Kuala Lumpur is one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. It’s a melting pot of influences and cultures (Indian, Chinese, Malay, Western), there’s a ton of activities to do, and has some incredible food. It’s a foodie heaven that I think rivals nearby Bangkok.

Kuala Lumpur is a must for anyone backpacking the region.

To help you make the most of your visit, here are my favorite hostels in Kuala Lumpur. These are the places I stay at when I visit as they’re all centrally located and offer a lot of value, ensuring that you’ll have fun and save money!

Price legend (per night):

• $ – Under 50 MYR
• $$ – 50-70 MYR
• $$$ – Over 70 MYR

1. Chinatown Hostel (by Mingle)

Located in the heart of Chinatown, this is a fun and social backpacker hostel that makes it easy to meet and mingle with other travelers. There’s a shared kitchen and café on-site. The staff organize lots of activities to help you see the city and connect with other travelers. The dorm beds have privacy curtains, and the mattresses are comfy. There are lights and outlets to charge your stuff too. It’s one of the most popular hostels in town.

Chinatown has tons of cheap and delicious places to eat too, so the area makes for a good base (especially for foodies).

Chinatown Hostel at a glance:

• $$
• Convenient central location
• Female-only dorms
• Social atmosphere makes it easy to meet people

Beds from 55 MYR, private rooms from 175 MYR.

2. Penthouse on 34

This is one of the coolest hostels in KL. It’s located in the penthouse duplex of a skyscraper, so you get epic views. There’s a rooftop area where you can take part in yoga classes or just hang out, and guests get access to the infinity pool that looks down over the city from the 37th floor. The staff organize lots of events too, including food tours. The dorm beds are super thick and have curtains so you can get a good night’s sleep. There are bed lights and outlets too.

While it’s one of the more expensive hostels, I think you get a lot of value for the price. It’s a bit further out from downtown but you’re just a three-minute walk from public transit, which can get you anywhere you need to go.

Penthouse on 34 at a glance:

• $$$
• Gym and pool
• Epic views
• Lots of events so it’s easy to socialize

Beds from 75 MYR, private rooms from 130 MYR.

3. Birdnest Collective

This no-frills hostel is also located in Chinatown. All the rooms have AC and…