I stayed in a full cabin with a friend. We were woken up throughout the night by noisy people arriving back and shouting, stomping up the stairs, etc. The bathrooms and showers were really clean and nice, but when we left I was covered in bites. Think carefully before you stay here because your bags have no where to go but on the floor and you definitely don't want to bring these bugs home with you. Any money saved was cancelled out as each bed bug bit started to itch - skip this place unless you want to get bitten and bring bed bugs home with you...

Good location and clean bathrooms. Really near to everything. Basically there are no ceilings and yes you can hear people snoring. Only had one drink downstairs at the bar as I didn't find the staff friendly. If your looking to party hard and just want crash this will do. remember that they taxes on your bill at the end.

Brilliant location - eateries around here are ...aaaahhh delicious and you get to see real new york life. Stairs are a bit of a pain if you've got heavy luggage - lovely doorman but you gotta haul your own bags up there - and there's no lift (open to correction-I just didn't find one)
Cabins are the cutest things ever - to be honest - prefer this option when traveling - you're not in a new city to sit around in a nice hotel/hostel room - bowery reminds you of that. Place was newly opened when I stayed there Aug 2011 so I can't account for common areas or breakfast but the rooftop is a pleasure in itself. And the cabin I had was beautiful and that was such a pleasant change from grubby hostels or even bad hotels. Bathroom facilities luxurious I would even say. I did hear raunchy night time activities as the walls aren't to ceiling on all cabins by my understanding - but I guess I didn't have my ear plugs that night. No doubt would pick this place again and again. Staff were fantastic - Patti in particular.
Don't forget city tax - Europeans don't have this - so it's always a surprise to me - a lady who budgets every penny - only to later blow on shoes. Just remember that!
Had stayed in a "young funky hostel" in Brooklyn earlier in the trip - a reminder to everyone that the US don't do hostels like Europe so the options aren't so plentiful (for decent places) anyway much better to stay in the thick of the Manhattan - the Brooklyn thing didn't feel as safe and it was a waste of time and energy taking the subway especially on weekends when they upgrade/do maintenance - real pain to have to be delayed when you already have to commute into the city - a waste of precious NY time if you ask me.
Get Bowery if you can - I've tried to book a couple of times since - but needed to book further in advance - popularity speaks people.
P.S go to "the best chocolate cake in the world" - cake shop nearby - sells only one kind of cake - the best....light chocolate meringue thing...swoon...still dreaming about it.

It is hard to adequately judge this place. It is a hostel, plain and simple, even though they go a long way to hide that fact. As such, I think it is a little overpriced for dorm accommodations, but being in lower Manhattan probably justifies the price. It is located 2 blocks from a metro station and is relatively obscure, only a small green neon sign.
There are a lot of stairs, so if you're a girl with an unwieldy suitcase, you' re in for some work out. Girls on reception were super friendly, explained the rules, and gave me a key to the dorm room. These communal bedrooms are somewhat loud, not only because people snore or pack & unpack, but also because there are late night partying going on outside on the streets. Good thing the ear plugs were given to everybody. Nevertheless, I felt very comfortable and safe there. I even left my backpack on my bed when I went to town and nobody bothered it and nothing got stolen.
The bathroom facilities are the best I've seen in a hostel for a long time. Look brand new, upscale and modern. Bathroom gets packed by 10:00 am (which is also the time they get cleaned), but the wait is not very long.
You also get 10% discount at the restaurant downstairs "The Bowery Kitchen". I strongly recommend this place for light dinner and tasty varieties of beer. The latter does wonders to put you to sleep in such a place.
I will most likely stay at this place again when I'm in town next time. You just can't beat their prices.