New York Loft Hostel (CLOSED)

Situated in arty Bushwick, this budget lodging fuses the traditional youth hostel setup (dorm-style rooms with bunk beds and lockers, communal lounging areas) with a fashionable loft aesthetic. In the former clothing warehouse, linen curtains billow in front of huge windows, and there’s plenty of industrial-chic exposed brick and piping. Above the big shared kitchen is a mezzanine equipped with a large flat-screen TV (DVDs can be rented at the front desk). The spacious patio is the site of frequent summer barbecues and there's even a hot tub deck. Unlike old-school hostels, there’s no curfew; an electronically encoded room-key card opens the front door after hours.