What to Expect

Top: Place Monge near the Young & Happy, Paris; Middle: Rue Mouffetard street market; Bottom: A fellow backpacker at the Y&H

For a city as large and as touristed as Paris, it’s surprising how few high-quality hostels call the French capital home. The Young & Happy, somewhat obscure and underpromoted, is my favorite hostel in Paris, for its unparalleled Latin Quarter location, creaking spiral staircases and upbeat character. After hopping between faceless, sterile hostels for several weeks, it’s a bonus when a hostel feels like home.

Steps from the distinctly Parisian Place Monge, Young & Happy’s address is easily its best asset. Rue Mouffetard is itself famous for its bustling Sunday market, where both locals and travelers gather to buy fresh vegetables, meat, cheese, seafood and any other imaginable culinary creation — pigeon pâté, anyone? Notre-Dame and the Seine are about 15 minutes away, and for lazy afternoons, the Luxembourg Gardens are nearby.

The Latin Quarter is well-equipped for budget-conscious diners, with dozens of shops offering grilled sandwiches, döner kebab and crèpes for dining on the go. Several supermarkets are nearby; one is directly next door. Local nightlife is plentiful but expensive; informal groups depart from the hostel nightly to relax avec vin near the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame.

Quirks

Directions

Take the Métro (line 7) to Place Monge. You will exit in a large square. Find the intersection of Rue Ortolan and Rue Gracieuse, and proceed along Rue Ortolan (a one-way street) in the direction of car traffic. After walking a block, Rue Ortolan dead ends at Rue Mouffetard. You should see a Best Western hotel in front of you. Turn left onto Rue Mouffetard. Young & Happy is about a block down, on your right. Look for the blue neon ‘Hostel’ sign. The hostel provides a rough map; Google’s is better.

Disclaimer & Call to Arms

Things change. These reviews are written based on the last personal visit to each hostel. Use this guide confidently, but at your own risk. If your experience was different, we would love to hear about it.

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