The Only Backpackers Inn
966 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4J 1L9 Canada
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About
#3 of 24 hostels in Toronto
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
The best way to describe your new Home-Away-From-Home is relaxed.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Board games / puzzles
Adults only
BBQ facilities
Wifi
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Chinese
Location
966 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4J 1L9 Canada
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 73 out of 100
73
Toronto Island Airport
5 km•
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Toronto Pearson Intl Airport
23.3 km•
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Donlands
1 min•Toronto Rapid Transit
Rental Cars
43 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
3 Attractions
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
Stayed there for a week in August. Location great 2 min walk to subway. Kept very clean. Staff friendly and welcoming. Atomosphere is great. To know: can't check in until 2pm or later, 10 dollar refundable key deposit required, check out by 11 am. No alcohol or food allowed in rooms. Overall great...only things I would say are: breakfast was only cereal toast danishes and coffee/tea when I was there it would have been nice to have some juice or some of the delicious baked options they offer at the cafe. Also although the doors are all locked the only options were small lockers...can you make the lockers a bit larger so that I would feel comfortable leaving my laptop etc? There are quire a few stairs so it wouldn't be appropriate for those with mobility issues. Loved the decor very bright artsy and cheery. Thanks had a great stay :)
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Date of stay: August 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â They do offer private rooms at a larger cost otherwise you are sharing
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In the rooms, the beds are pretty standard but rather comfy with you sinking into the mattress and not feeling the bedsprings under you like many hostels. Inside the rooms, there isn’t a huge amount to complain about other than the space and the lack of sidebars for the top bunks. There are some rooms with a great amount of space in them but there are also some where you feel packed in like you’re on a Japanese Bullet Train at rush hour, it’s just the luck of the draw. In every room, there isn’t a safety bar alongside the top bunk which gives you the burning fear that you’ll fall 6ft to your imminent death, or just a big boo-boo, even with you sinking into the mattress pretty deep.
The hostel is rather small but not compacted where you’re suffocating over the lack of space. The largest space is the kitchen situated above the TV room but below the outdoor area. The kitchen is rather large with plenty of space to sit and eat your food whilst having plenty of room to cook your food. Everything about the kitchen is large in hostel size, including the fridge and food storage space. The TV room below is also rather intriguing with a creepy basement feel to it but not a Fritzl basement feel. It’s just rather dimly lit with some artwork and other bits and bobs packed away to the side along with what seems to be a heating system or something that seems very significant to the hostels’ livelihood. The basement TV room is genuinely the best if not one of the best things about this hostel. It’s perfect to watch the cable tv until 4 am but also perfect to chill out and do some work or watch Dora The Explorer on your laptop without people judging you too much. For full review check out the website in my bio (loser travels) and have a wee gander at this review and more!
The hostel is rather small but not compacted where you’re suffocating over the lack of space. The largest space is the kitchen situated above the TV room but below the outdoor area. The kitchen is rather large with plenty of space to sit and eat your food whilst having plenty of room to cook your food. Everything about the kitchen is large in hostel size, including the fridge and food storage space. The TV room below is also rather intriguing with a creepy basement feel to it but not a Fritzl basement feel. It’s just rather dimly lit with some artwork and other bits and bobs packed away to the side along with what seems to be a heating system or something that seems very significant to the hostels’ livelihood. The basement TV room is genuinely the best if not one of the best things about this hostel. It’s perfect to watch the cable tv until 4 am but also perfect to chill out and do some work or watch Dora The Explorer on your laptop without people judging you too much. For full review check out the website in my bio (loser travels) and have a wee gander at this review and more!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Newfoundland and Labrador was the best room I stayed in. Poor wifi connection in the two rooms...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at this hostel while going to Toronto to visit a close friend. Finding a place to stay in Toronto is expensive, but this hostel offered what I need: a safe, clean place to stay for the night. I also enjoyed eating my breakfast outside on the porch. I'm 37 and sometimes feel a little old for hostels, but that was not the case at this hostel! Very diverse group of folks staying there, which made the experience all the more comfy. My only suggestion for improvement is considering adding another bathroom or shower to the building.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Not for solo travelers looking for a strong social scene or if you’re looking for organized activities. This is a hostel operated by the cafe/bar downstairs, and you can tell the cafe/bar is their number one priority. Don’t expect any organized activities to promote socializing between guests. In fact, you start to realize how reliant you are on a front desk (that doesn’t exist here) for advice for things to do, general help, tours to purchase, etc. Staff here veered between friendly and “just alive”. Lockers are very small, just enough to fit a laptop and valuables. Bedding was definitely old and my roommate complained of hair and bloodstains on her sheets. They charge you a $10 credit card deposit for your key, which they refund, but charged a $2 transaction fee for the refund. Weird in the little ways. My roommates checked out the lounge but complained it was small, TV didn’t work, and was dingy. It’s a somewhat affordable hostel in an expensive city. The proximity to the subway is the best thing going for it, but it’s an out of the way neighborhood. My roommates and I didn’t like that the showers looked into the guest only patio and the only thing separating it were window screens (so yes people outside can see into the shower room - great pressure though!). One night we found the door separating the downstairs bar patio open which would have allowed bar guests to enter the upstairs guest patio and look into/enter the showers. Definitely freaked us out.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at The Only Backpackers Inn from January 10 to January 14
We stayed in the Superior Queen room
Our time at the hostel was wonderful, the room was spacious and beautiful with a great shower. And a nice place to arrange all our clothes
The adjacent living area with kitchen was a surprise. Very spacious— with a couch, coffee table, large table and chairs and then a outdoor deck!?! Really!
We felt we like we were staying in a boutique hotel!
The staff was welcoming and helpful and it was great to be able to grab a coffee in the morning at the cool and groovy cafe downstairs, and continue to the subway around the corner. I always want to stay in a place with a pub and coffee downstairs. You get a real idea of the life of the area.
We’ll definitely comeback again next time we are in Toronto
Tal
We stayed in the Superior Queen room
Our time at the hostel was wonderful, the room was spacious and beautiful with a great shower. And a nice place to arrange all our clothes
The adjacent living area with kitchen was a surprise. Very spacious— with a couch, coffee table, large table and chairs and then a outdoor deck!?! Really!
We felt we like we were staying in a boutique hotel!
The staff was welcoming and helpful and it was great to be able to grab a coffee in the morning at the cool and groovy cafe downstairs, and continue to the subway around the corner. I always want to stay in a place with a pub and coffee downstairs. You get a real idea of the life of the area.
We’ll definitely comeback again next time we are in Toronto
Tal
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I was on a road trip with my boyfriend and we took a short trip to Toronto. I liked the Only Café. The room was "ok" and nice. The toilets were shared, but I can live with that for one night! I felt myself returning to my younger middle school years and I have to say I didn't hate it!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Il y a des stationnement de la ville 5 minutes Ă pieds plus loin. Le meilleur est de se promener...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Duo-travellers from Germany...We booked this hostel according to our budget and also after reading a few good comments on the internet. We thought we should give it a shot. The check-in was terrible!!! Although their website states that the check-in is in the café, however it was very hard to see one available Barista to help us or to welcome us. They were too busy with making coffee or receive the orders of the café customers. There was a door in the bar to the patio and to the hostel directly, which was open at all times. Not safe at all for the guests staying in the hostel !!!! Some drunk old guy was, looks like an employee, working there , too, we heard him shouting at a guest "get out!!!" In a very crude and intimidating way, while she was helping other guests or the new comers. We witnessed this, shocked !!!! This old man, later learned his name--Jeff, in the hall of the hostel during our last night while he wasn't even booked in, or staying thete, but was wandering around in the hostel while he was not even a guest....drunk...he was creepy. I am glad that we checked out today! And you girl, the guest, you were shouted and mistreated by this man, report this creepy guy for harassing you and other guests! Good luck! All in all, after 2 nights of stay, this place is terrible due to noise, verbal harassment of some drunk employee, poor cleanliness!
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On a freezing Toronto day, we, with my girlfriends, chose this hostel based on the high ratings, unfortunately we were so frustrated by everything! The day we went in to the cafe where we were supposed to check in, the bartender didn't care to check us in, because he was too busy with making coffee!!! When we finally went upstairs, we were in awe to see the room in a terrible condition. Smelly, too small. On the Day1, Our food was stolen from the fridge, yes, our names were writtenm still !!!!! Like WTF!! had to go to the bar to have a pint. Their laborer man Jeff or Jeffry, we don't know, but was too creepy, standing around us all the time, if not him, there was always another creepy man! We felt so unsafe! There was nothing to do in the hostel, no common room, no patio option 'cuz was too cold outside! Seriously guys just stay somewhere in downtown, breakfast is free everywhere, even in HI hostels. Girls, stay away from Jeffry or Jeff, and the homeless people staying in the hostel!
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Choose a room facing the street, breakky was OK, overrated!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They play play loud music downstairs every night until 2:30am. They then stomp around the halls every morning doing cleaning starting at 8am. The doors have large holes in the front of them. It's hot as hell with no ventilation in use despite ducts everywhere that seems to carry everyone's conversations in to my room with frightening clarity. The "king size" bed is two twins pushed together and was the proper length for a hobbit. Their free wifi is worse than rural countryside. I can't wait to leave.
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Date of stay: October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As a couple, we stayed in this hostel in 2016 summer when we were travelling across CA and stayed this year, again on our way back home. Have been on roads for so many months, left several reviews on other websites, this is my first review here.
Things were so vague in this hostel. I read the earlier reviews, and def. agree with the previous neg.comments about the old employee with glasses named Jeff. He was intimidating the guests, harassing them a lot, for no reason, his targets were especially the FEMALES or Girls!!I witnessed so many things, recorded, made photos, saved it all, in case any bad thing happens to any girl by this guy in this hostel! I wanted to share it here.
I witnessed and saw he was after one particular girl, who was the kindest, smartest, and the nicest person I met there. She was respected among her friends. She was doing nothing, although others were violating the rules, he was catching her and shouting at her, he was telling her “I don't care, you were with the guys”, I heard this and saw this with my eyes at breakfast. He was clearly jealous! I saw him on the upstairs patio drinking the guests’ beers for free, next day I saw him banning the alcohol in the entire hostel, it was very hypocritical! He was drunk even when working!
$30 per night to be harassed by this rude guy! The owner of the hostel should have refunded the money to the guest really!!! He will come to you pretending to be fatherly advise you that guy or this guy is hitting on you stay away from him, blah blah, and he will add he’s married with 2 kids , etc , DON'T BUY IT! If he was talking badly about other employees, he was really the only worst one there, not the other employees! In fact, we all loved Dimitri very much, so to speak!
RECORD everything! Make a formal complaint to the police even if he shouts at you or other girls! Don't try to find the owner of the hostel, because he didn't care when this girl and many others was harrassed by Jeff, he cared $$$.
Aside, the location was great, Greek town, loved it so much! So many great Greek tavernas and restaurants! Liked the waffle and coffee, but breakfast should really have savory options!, too!
Things were so vague in this hostel. I read the earlier reviews, and def. agree with the previous neg.comments about the old employee with glasses named Jeff. He was intimidating the guests, harassing them a lot, for no reason, his targets were especially the FEMALES or Girls!!I witnessed so many things, recorded, made photos, saved it all, in case any bad thing happens to any girl by this guy in this hostel! I wanted to share it here.
I witnessed and saw he was after one particular girl, who was the kindest, smartest, and the nicest person I met there. She was respected among her friends. She was doing nothing, although others were violating the rules, he was catching her and shouting at her, he was telling her “I don't care, you were with the guys”, I heard this and saw this with my eyes at breakfast. He was clearly jealous! I saw him on the upstairs patio drinking the guests’ beers for free, next day I saw him banning the alcohol in the entire hostel, it was very hypocritical! He was drunk even when working!
$30 per night to be harassed by this rude guy! The owner of the hostel should have refunded the money to the guest really!!! He will come to you pretending to be fatherly advise you that guy or this guy is hitting on you stay away from him, blah blah, and he will add he’s married with 2 kids , etc , DON'T BUY IT! If he was talking badly about other employees, he was really the only worst one there, not the other employees! In fact, we all loved Dimitri very much, so to speak!
RECORD everything! Make a formal complaint to the police even if he shouts at you or other girls! Don't try to find the owner of the hostel, because he didn't care when this girl and many others was harrassed by Jeff, he cared $$$.
Aside, the location was great, Greek town, loved it so much! So many great Greek tavernas and restaurants! Liked the waffle and coffee, but breakfast should really have savory options!, too!
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Choose rooms not above the bar, music is too loud, female room is 4 bed, it is the best! Stay...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes you can but the lockers are tiny
Yeah would be good to do so :)
"Newfoundland and Labrador was the best room I stayed in. Poor wifi connection in the two rooms right next to the stairs on right hand side."Read full review
"Give it's location the rooms are fairly quiet but try to get a room at the back as the road it's on is fairly busy."Read full review
"Wifi was too bad, breakfast was too cold, rooms were too cold, too noisy, too crammed!"Read full review
LOCATION
CanadaOntarioTorontoEast End / The Danforth (Greektown) / Old Toronto
NUMBER OF ROOMS
52
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Only Backpackers Inn
Which popular attractions are close to The Only Backpackers Inn?
Nearby attractions include Madinah Masjid (0.1 km), Mavericks Pub (0.3 km), and Navito World (0.09 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Only Backpackers Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, laundry service, and baggage storage.
What food & drink options are available at The Only Backpackers Inn?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at The Only Backpackers Inn?
Yes, street parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Only Backpackers Inn?
Conveniently located restaurants include Athens Restaurant, Danforth Pizza House, and Square-Boy Drive-In.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Only Backpackers Inn?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Chinese.
Are there any historical sites close to The Only Backpackers Inn?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres (4.5 km), Casa Loma (5.7 km), and Spadina Museum (5.6 km).