Pfefferbett Hostel

An awesome, cheap, clean, conveniently located hostel in Berlin.

Location can be a little tricky to find. To find it: take U-Bahn to Senfelderplatz, exit the station at the side without the elevator. Take a right and cross the street as soon as possible. You will reach an arch with writing Pfefferberg. Go up the stairs, go the to end of the "square" and take a left. You should see a neon sign saying "hostel". Take a right and the door immediately on your left is the hostel.

Rooms are clean, beds are made (no fumbling getting the sheets on), and doors and lockers are chip-key controlled. Beds are comfortable, and big points for a shelf with outlet and light. However, the blanket is very thick, and the hostel has no AC. You could always pull it out of just use the sheet, but a thinner blanket for summer may be a better bet.

Bathrooms are very clean too. Men's shower room also provided body wash, hair gel, and body spray. Also, what people are saying about showers being in delay is wrong. Showers (at least on the first floor) are hot, have amazing pressure, and stay on as long as you want.

Common area is nice, but has a bit of a party atmosphere, especially towards the evening. Music is decently loud (not deafening, just don't expect to be making any phone calls). Big TV screen, and computers (Linux, awkward keyboards, no USB ports.)

Wifi is good, but not the fastest (about 4 Mbps), Skype or VoIP calls may be challenging. Only works in lobby, not rooms.

Staff can be hit or miss, some are nicer than others, and some know more information than others. (Not all staff are the greatest information source about Berlin) Plenty of informative flyers though.

Free city tours have a pick up at the hostel.

Location is nice, quiet for the most part, but depending where your window comes out, you may encounter a little noise from a nearby club. Proximity to U-Bahn and Alexanderplatz is unbeatable.

Overall, not perfect, but for about 15 euro a night (when I went) the value is tremendous.

I booked two nights in a 6 bed female dorm at the Pfefferbett Hostel. Location was great, only a short walk to the Senfelderplatz U-Bahn. Like Mark T said in his review it can be a bit tricky to find the place, but once you find it you'll be like, "duh that's where it is" and it's fine. It didn't help I got in at night and navigating through an unfamiliar city at night is harder than during the day.

The rooms were modern and spacious. What I loved about this hostel was that there was a plugin, small wall mounted shelf, and light (under the shelf) at every bunk (top and bottom). You wouldn't believe how many hostels have 2 outlets in a room with 6 people. This was great because I could charge my phone or tablet in my bed.

Speaking of the beds I got the top bunk, and I normally prefer the bottom, but this was great. Why? Because the bed was sturdy. Again I've been to lots of hostels where the beds seem cheap, and while I'm sure they're safe any time I would climb up to the top bunk it makes a big racket. Not here. These beds were sturdy as were the ladders to the top. And there seemed to be enough space between the bottom and top bunk that the person in the bottom could sit up without bumping their head. These bunks are what every hostel should have.

The room was set up so that there were plenty of space between each set of bunks. There is a locker asigned to each bunk and you get an electronic key for the room that also opens your locker (and just yours) when you check in. This is great because you don't have to bring a lock.

Bathroom is ensuit and was quite nice. There was a big rain type shower head mounted to the wall and a smaller detachable shower head. There is hand soap at the sink and they have a mounted bottle of shampoo and body wash, so you don't have to bring those. They don't provide towels but you can get one at the front desk for 2.50. Unlike some hostels the towel is then yours to keep.

Front lobby has a common lounging/dining area and bar. You can get a local Pfefferbrau bottle of beer for 3, which is a good deal. They also have other drinks. There were people in the lobby, but I didn't find this hostel had a big party vibe, least not when I stayed. There's no self serve kitchen, but they have a breakfast buffet (cost extra) with fruit, veggies, rolls, deli meats and cheese, and I believe cereal (which I don't eat). You can buy a sandwich for lunch and there are usually a couple of dishes on offer for dinner. Coffee and tea is free. Alternately there's a grocery store nearby, but since guests don't have access to a kitchen I found it easier to have breakfast here. If you don't want to eat at the hostel there's lots of restaurants nearby.

Staff was very friendly and I had an easy time checking in and out. If you need to store your luggage before you check in or check out there is free luggage storing available.

Traveling solo I felt safe at this hostel and in this neighbourhood. This was my first time in Berlin, but I'd certainly book at the Pfefferbett Hostel if I was coming back.

I've traveled all over the world, and this is hands-down the best hostel I've ever stayed at. I was recently in Berlin over Christmas doing a solo-lady travel trip, and wanted to stay at a hostel, since it would be easier to meet other travelers as well as cost concerns, but also stay in a place that had decent private rooms (I'm getting too old to shrug off people having sex in the bunk above mine).

The room itself was spacious with a comfortable bed, big windows, and was very clean. The hostel lobby was great place to hang out - couple couches, a fireplace, plenty of tables and chairs, a pool table, and a bar. I also enjoyed the breakfast they served - lots of food for 5 euros that filled me up all morning.

The staff were excellent - extremely friendly and very helpful. I really appreciated them. The guests at the hostel really seemed to run the gamut - everyone from young backpacker party types to some older folks and young families. Maybe hostelling has changed drastically in the last few years, but I was a little surprised by how many people sat around idling on their iDoohickies instead of talking to other travelers. Luckily I managed to meet some cool people.

The hostel is in a great location - right next to the Senenfelder Platz U-bahn stop. It's a little difficult to find the first time you get there, so check the map on their website before you go. There was a ton of construction going on in the Pfefferberg structure when I was there, but I bet the courtyard is fun to hang out at during the summer.

Only complaints:
--While I appreciate the environmentally-sound feature of a timed shower head, it gets annoying to have to jab it every 10 seconds to keep the flow of water on
--I thought there would be free wifi in my room, but the only internet access was via a cord (so would have been fine for laptops, but I was unable to use it with my iPad). Free wifi was in the lobby, but it was occasionally funky, and the public computers were out of order.

I thoroughly enjoyed staying at Pfefferbett, and would definitely stay there again next time I'm in Berlin.

I absolutely love this hostel. Hands down one of the best places I've ever stayed and it's so cheap! The rooms were awesome with extremely comfortable beds and pillows, as well as a personal shelf, light, and outlet.

Aside from the rooms the main area of the hostel is perfectly geared towards comfortably sitting and chatting. Pfefferbett is the hostel where I met the most people and had the best conversations. Every night I would hang out in the lounge and talk until midnight. I was there in the off season, but the music wasn't too loud (able to actually talk) and the rooms were quiet.

The staff is extremely helpful and kind, and the food is delicious. My only complaint is that I don't think the breakfast is worth 6.50 Euro, but their dinners and lunch are very nicely priced.

There is an underground station right by the hostel, meaning getting around Berlin is simple, and getting to the hostel from airport as well.

Pfefferbettt is my favorite hostel I've stayed in. I'll recommend it to everyone!

I just spent a night in this nice hostel and I really enjoyed my stay.
The interiour is modern, there is a nice lobby where breakfast is served in the morning (EUR4 extra charge) and where you have computers with free internet access (you can also access the internet with your own notebook via WLAN).
There's a metro station just a few steps away from the hostel entrance and e.g. Alexanderplatz is only 2 stops away. But you don't need to go so far: There are restaurants, bars, cafes and shops in the closer area, too.
Everybody here was very friendly, and things went really smoothly.
I wasn't really satisfied with the cleanliness of my room though: Especially the bathroom wasn't that clean, and on the floor there was some dirt.
But this wasn't that bad and so I can really recommend this hostel!

The crew on the hotel's reception are unpolite.
I tried to obtain some information, but it's was not possible. The guy who had talked me said that no information could be supplied, so that I could have to see everything.

The staff of some of these hostels really don't know how to be polite, how to treat tourist.

So I gone home and search for another accommodation.

I really don't recommend it.

The pepper bat hostel! I loved it! Cozy, social, and affordable.

I stayed in both a six-bed with private bathroom, and a double room with a queen bed and private bathroom (bathmat and two towels included). Both rooms had hard floors and firm beds with soft, clean comforters. The six-person had bedside outlets and reading lights, room-key controlled lockers, and unfortunately, no hand soap! Also, the showers produce sort of stinging rays of water, but they're large. The windows of the double room open completely and offered an excellent view of snow descending on the trees and the city.

The lobby includes plenty of cafe-style seating, a pool table, three computers (though two were out of order during my three-night stay), and great music. Seriously, I loved the music they were playing. In the morning they offer a modest cold breakfast buffet for 5.50€, coffee and juice included, eggs available as a separate plate (2-3€). Also, there was a semi-large patio directly outside the lobby, but it wasn't being used in December.

Perhaps my favorite feature: the sofas around the fireplace, well-stocked with real wood! Grab a piece and put it on the coals, cozy into the sofa, and chat with your fellow travelers. Bonus: enjoy a hot chocolate or a selection of teas from the full bar while you share traveling stories with new friends. Drinks and libations 2-4€.

Nothing is nicer after a long journey than a warm welcome. Being relieved of luggage, offered breakfast, and given a free locker are small things that make a big difference. And the same guy had same cheery attitude every time.

Farid was welcoming, too, always very helpful & respectful & particularly tactful when a misguided employee was under the impression I was a thief. Like I told him, Nice save. Farid should teach customer service at all hostels.

The only desk guy who seemed the least bit ornery was the one dragged to our room by my roommate, Princess. Within hours of arriving, Princess demanded that desk guy completely change her bedding after an errant hosteler left a sweater on her bed.

Next morning, Princess covered the floor with the contents of her suitcase while two of us tried to sleep, and declared that she could make as much noise as she wanted after 8am. Her "no" to my "Are you leaving today?" had me dressed, at reception and in a new room in 10 minutes. My request to change was cheerfully granted. Life is too short to waste on princesses, especially she can be replaced by four hotties and an Indian girl who loves movies and biryhani. And Daniel Craig. She had to be talked into The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but now she agrees DC is a hottie, too.

At 11E a night, Pfefferbett is the also best bargain in Europe. So clean, so clearly put together by people who understand travelers' needs. rooms are ultramodern with high brick ceilings from the original brewery. Reading lights and electrical outlets equip each large comfy bed. One coded key accesses sleeping areas, room and large locker. Heat was efficient, water hot and the ensuite bathroom should be the blueprint for every hostel.

So accessible. Take the U2 to Seinfeld (Senenfelderplatz), cross the street and up the stairs. It's a short walk to Alexanderplatz, a longer walk to Reichstag, Tiergarten, Holocaust Memorial.

And the food! Tasty and reasonable, especially the chili. Make the coffee a little stronger and...perfection.

I hope Pfefferbett doesn't lower its standards by joining Hosteling International for exposure. Keep up the good work and viral marketing is bound to ensure success.

I went here for a quick breakfast on a Sunday morning before 9am when all the other coffee shops were closed. I had scrambled eggs (looked like 3), two strips of bacon, bread roll, butter, a tomato/cucumber garnish for 2.50. A tasty bargain plus friendly service.