Rostel Hostel

About Rostel Hostel

Rostel Hostel suits travelers who want a plain, practical base in Upper Manhattan and plan to spend most of the day out. The address on East 116th Street puts you in East Harlem, with Midtown a subway ride away and Central Park reachable on foot for many guests. Couples, solo visitors and small groups who treat a room as a place to sleep and wash will find the setup workable. Bookings open in the IMPT app.

Rostel Hostel is a hostel with an official one-star rating, which sets expectations at the simple end of the scale: a place to sleep, wash and store a bag, not a full-service hotel. Travelers who value an Upper Manhattan address over lobby services are the natural audience. The terrace gives somewhere to sit between outings. Read the room type carefully before booking and confirm the details directly with the property. Bookings open in the IMPT app.

Rooms and listed facilities

The facilities listed for Rostel Hostel are free Wifi, laundry service, luggage storage and a terrace. Couples can plan around the terrace for quiet evenings, and families may find laundry service useful on longer trips. Business travelers get Wifi for email and can work from the terrace in mild weather. Late arrivals should confirm reception hours with the property before traveling, since check-in times vary by booking. Confirm luggage storage hours and any laundry charges with the property when you book.

Rooms at Rostel Hostel are booked through the IMPT app, where the available room types and prices and availability appear for the dates you choose. Read the description of each option before you commit, because a hostel building holds a mix of setups. Ask the property directly about bed size, bathroom arrangements and how many people a room takes. Checking the total price with taxes and fees at the time of booking avoids surprises on arrival.

The setting

Rostel Hostel sits on East 116th Street in East Harlem, part of Upper Manhattan, on a residential block north of Central Park. The park at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street is about 2.9 miles (4.6 km) away in a straight line, Times Square about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) and Grand Central Terminal about 3.7 miles (5.9 km). Central Park, measured to its nearest edge, is about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in a straight line. Subway stops along the nearby avenues connect the address to Midtown; check current service with the MTA.

Location and neighborhood

East Harlem is a good base if food and evenings out shape your trip. The neighborhood, often called El Barrio, begins above the Upper East Side and runs up to Harlem, with Puerto Rican and Mexican kitchens, bakeries and grocery aisles that reward a slow walk. Murals appear on walls along the main avenues and side streets, and the area keeps a local evening rhythm rather than a tourist one. From Rostel Hostel, the rest of Manhattan is a subway ride south, while Central Park and the northern end of Museum Mile sit within easy reach to the west and south.

Evening plans can stay close. The streets around East Harlem fill with casual spots for tacos, tamales, roasted chicken and rice plates, and the pace is unhurried. For a wider choice, the Upper East Side and Harlem are short trips, and the Theater District is a straight ride downtown for a Broadway curtain, usually at 7 or 8 pm, so check the show. Rostel Hostel sits far enough north that nights feel residential, yet close enough to go out and return without crossing the whole island. Keep an eye on subway service changes on weekend evenings and check the transit authority before a late return.

Getting there and around

The subway runs 24 hours, and you pay by tapping a contactless card or phone; the MetroCard is being phased out, so tap to pay. From East Harlem, the airports are around 14 miles (22.2 km) away, major rail stations around 3.7 miles (5.9 km), and the Midtown core around 3.6 miles (5.8 km). Check current fares, tolls and service updates with the transit authority before you travel. Drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay a congestion toll, in force since January 2025. Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal are the main rail and bus gateways. Rostel Hostel is well placed for subway journeys south and for buses along the avenues.

Nearby sights and food

Sights close to the area center cover a wide range. Central Park begins to the southwest and offers free entry, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, at the start of Museum Mile. Harlem's music venues around West 125th Street are a short trip north, with listings to check. The High Line and the 9/11 Memorial are further south. Check opening days and timed tickets with each museum before setting out.

For food, East Harlem is strongest on Puerto Rican and Mexican cooking. Look for casual counters and dining rooms serving roast pork, plantains, rice and beans, tacos, tortas and tamales. Bakeries sell pastries and ingredients for a picnic in Central Park. Along the main avenues, the evening choice widens to Dominican, Italian and Caribbean menus. Portions are generous, and many places are family-run. Reservations are rarely essential at the casual end; check with the place for weekend waits. The neighborhood is best explored on foot, with a stop whenever a mural or a busy counter catches your eye.

A day from Rostel Hostel

A day from Rostel Hostel can start with coffee and a pastry from a bakery, then a walk past the murals of El Barrio. Head south to Museum Mile for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which sits near 82nd Street, and check its opening days before you go. In the afternoon, cross into Central Park for a free wander, or visit the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. As evening comes, return to East Harlem for tacos or a rice plate, then take the subway downtown for a Broadway show, with curtains usually at 7 or 8 pm. Check show time with the theater and subway service with the transit authority, then make your way back to Rostel Hostel.

Distances

Facilities listed by the supplier

As listed by the booking supplier; a facility not listed here may still exist. Confirm anything important with the property.

• Express check in
• Express check out
• Free Wi-Fi
• Laundry Service
• Luggage storage
• Multilingual staff
• Terrace