Travel slow.Stay green.
A friendly, social backpacker hostel in the heart of San Francisco. Free breakfast, family dinners, and a house full of new friends — at a tortoise's easy pace.
- 35+
- years in SF
- 120
- happy beds
- 1
- very slow mascot
“What's the rush?” — Sheldon, resident tortoise
A San Francisco classic since 1990
Tucked into a grand old building on Broadway, the Green Tortoise has been welcoming wanderers from every corner of the planet for decades. We're named after the slow, steady traveler who carries home on its back and never misses the scenery.
That's the whole idea: unpack, slow down, meet your neighbors, and let the city come to you. North Beach's cafes, Chinatown's markets, and the bay are all a short stroll from the front door.
- ☕Steps from North Beach's legendary Italian cafes
- 🐉A five-minute walk into Chinatown
- 🌉Easy reach to Fisherman's Wharf & the bay
- 🚋Cable cars & transit right around the corner
More house party than hotel
Everything here is built to get you out of your shell and into good company.
Free Breakfast
Roll downstairs in your slippers. Coffee, eggs, and good company every morning — no rush, we run on tortoise time.
Family Dinners
Three nights a week the whole house gathers for a big home-cooked meal. Strangers sit down, friends get up.
Cedar Sauna
San Francisco fog seeping into your bones? Thaw out in our cozy in-house sauna before bed.
Common Room Jams
A grand old lounge with couches, board games, a guitar in the corner, and nightly hangouts.
Free City Tours
Our crew walks you through North Beach, Chinatown, and the secret stairways the guidebooks miss.
Slow Travel Basics
Laundry, lockers, fast Wi-Fi, luggage storage, and a kitchen that's yours whenever hunger strikes.
Pick your shell
From a bunk in a buzzing dorm to a quiet private room — there's a place for every kind of traveler.
The Shell Bunk
A bed in a bright shared dorm. The classic backpacker move.
- ✓4–8 bed dorms
- ✓Personal reading light & outlet
- ✓Lockers included
The Slow Lane
Private room, shared bath. Your own quiet corner of the house.
- ✓Private double
- ✓Shared hallway bath
- ✓Sleep past breakfast
The Den
Ensuite private with room to spread out. Travel slow, stay a while.
- ✓Private room + ensuite
- ✓Weekly rates available
- ✓Window over Broadway
Tales from the shell
Showed up for two nights, stayed two weeks. The family dinners turned a solo trip into a whole crew of friends.
Best location in the city — walk out the door into North Beach cafes, walk five minutes into Chinatown.
The sauna after a foggy day exploring the coast? Unbeatable. This place just gets slow travel.
Right in the middle of it all
Green Tortoise Hostel494 Broadway
North Beach, San Francisco, CA 94133
Reception: open 24 hours
Phone: (415) 555-0193
Email: hello@greentortoise.example
Come out of your shell
Beds fill fast in summer. Send us a note and we'll save you a spot at the next family dinner.
No spam, just slow-travel good vibes. 🐢