OStellin Genova Hostel
The caruggi-deep social hostel where Piazza delle Erbe nightlife is one alley away
A small, friendly hostel hidden in the medieval caruggi maze of the Maddalena district, three minutes' walk from Piazza delle Erbe and the heart of Genoa's bar circuit. Family-run with a tight communal kitchen and a free morning focaccia run.
OStellin sits on Vico dei Parmigiani, one of the narrow medieval alleys (caruggi) that make up Genoa's Centro Storico. The building is a 17th-century townhouse with the original stone arches and a painted entrance — easy to miss if you walk past too fast. Capacity is small (around 35 beds across mixed and female dorms plus a few privates), which is why the social scene actually works: by night two you know everyone.
The Maddalena district, just north of Piazza delle Erbe, is the most concentrated nightlife zone in Genoa. The bar crawl circuit (Piazza Erbe → Vico Lavagna → Macelli di Soziglia) starts three minutes from the front door, and the focaccerie open at 7am are even closer — Antica Sciamadda is two alleys away.
Dorms are simple but clean, with proper individual lockers and reading lights. The kitchen is small but functional and there's a real common room with sofas and a board-games shelf. Breakfast is included — a Genoese take with focaccia, cornetti, jam, and proper espresso, not the buffet-cereal stuff.
Reception runs a daily walking tour at 10am (free, tip-based) and books you onto the evening pub crawls run by Free Walking Tour Italy. Staff actually live in Genoa and route you to real focaccerie, not the tourist traps on Porto Antico.
- 01The 17th-century building still has its original stone arches and painted ceilings
- 02Reception books you straight onto the evening Piazza Erbe pub crawl
- 03Antica Sciamadda focaccia is two alleys away — the real Genoese breakfast
- 04Mixed and female dorms, individual reading lights and proper lockers
- 05Vico dei Parmigiani is a real medieval caruggi — falling asleep here is a city experience
- Three-minute walk to Piazza delle Erbe, the densest bar district in Genoa
- Free morning walking tour from reception — staff actually live in the caruggi
- Small enough (35 beds) that you know everyone by night two
- Focaccia-and-cornetto breakfast included, not the cereal buffet
“Very friendly and small hostel — felt cozy and easy to meet people, one of the best hostels I've stayed in. The location in the caruggi is perfect for nightlife and breakfast focaccia.”
“Everything was great. The team is very nice, they make you feel at home. The room was perfect and the apartment as well. Living room was the social heart.”
“Perfect location, interesting buildings with visible history that didn't impact comfort or conveniences. Great staff who actually know the city.”
- Piazza delle Erbe (nightlife)180 m
- Antica Sciamadda focaccia230 m
- Cattedrale di San Lorenzo320 m
- Porto Antico and Acquario550 m
- Principe train station950 m
- Spianata Castelletto lift650 m
