Ian CheesemanMy friend was planning a trip to Toronto and asked me where to book the best capsule hotel in the city. I was like, capsule what?!
Apparently, these compact hotels and hostels are a huge deal in Japan, offering tiny yet comfy pods for budget-conscious travelers. These amazing dorm/pod-style rooms are tiny stays with big perks, offering modern amenities and great value.
So, I gave my friend some solid leads—he stayed for a week, and he loved every second of it!
For travelers looking for affordable, minimalist accommodations with a capsule-style vibe, here are the best options in Toronto.
Capsule hotels in Toronto typically charge between $50 to $120 per night, depending on location, amenities, and season.
Budget-friendly options start around $50 to $70, offering basic yet comfortable pods. Higher-end capsules with premium features, like private TVs and high-tech controls, can go up to $120.
1. The Planet Traveler Hostel
The Planet Traveler Hostel has been welcoming travelers for over 14 years. Sitting right at the crossroads of Toronto’s most exciting neighborhoods, you’ll never be far from street art, indie coffee shops, buzzing nightlife, and some of the city’s best eats!
They offer an 8-pod bedroom designed to give you the best of both worlds: privacy and the social vibe of a dorm. You’ll also get a personal reading light, a small locker built into the head of your bed for valuables, and a privacy curtain.
The pods don’t just stop at comfort; they’re practical too. They also have AC, Wi-Fi, and access to an ensuite bathroom, so no hallway treks in the middle of the night.
And if you’re traveling light, the hostel has washers and dryers with free detergent.
Sadly, we did hear about some of their somewhat rude and condescending staff.
One of the best hostel experiences I’ve had
“My brief stay at this hostel was easily one of the best hostel experiences I’ve had. There was great service, the rooms/facilities were incredibly clean, and the location is accessible by buses or trains to and from the airport or the downtown core of Toronto. I stayed in an 8 person pod dorm and loved that there was a personal locker in the pod as well as a larger locker in the center of the room for bigger items (at the time of writing these lockers all came with keys as well, so I didn’t end up needing to use my own lock for them). Was truly a no-fuss stay and I’d definitely recommend or stay at this hostel again.”
Jake Pauls, Google Review
Location is excellent—conveniently accessible
“I’ve stayed here three times, and the location is excellent—conveniently accessible from the airport by train and easy to navigate the city from. However, the pricing is on the higher side, which is somewhat expected for Toronto, but it still feels steep. The hostel uses dynamic pricing, so if you’re arriving on a weekend, especially Saturday or Sunday, expect to pay at least $110 per night for a shared bunk bed in an 8-person dorm, which is quite high. The service is generally good, with cleanliness being a priority, though there’s room for improvement. The washrooms in the dorms are sometimes only cleaned every other day, which isn’t sufficient given the number of people sharing the space. More frequent cleaning, especially twice a day, would be appreciated. As for breakfast, it’s pretty basic—bread, bananas, milk, coffee, tea, margarine, butter, cereals, and oats. Adding a simple option like poached eggs would go a long way in enhancing the experience.”
Mehrdad Safaei, Google Review
2. Casalife Time Capsules
Casalife Time Capsules or Time Capsule – Value Inn is a capsule-style spot that’s a bit of a hidden gem. And with Billy Bishop Airport just 10 minutes away, it’s a great pick for travelers flying in and out.
The location is definitely a win—nestled near Sunnyside Beach and just a short ride from the Royal Ontario Museum. Plus, if you’re into concerts or sports, you’re within easy reach of Budweiser Stage, Rogers Centre, CN Tower, and Scotiabank Arena.
Now, let’s talk about the rooms—their single, pod-style rooms come with a comfy bed, parquet flooring, and a shared bathroom with a bathtub. You’ll also get free WiFi.
Food-wise, you won’t have to wander far—Tennessee Tavern is within walking distance, serving up delicious Eastern European dishes.
The biggest downside is availability. With just nine rooms, it’s not the easiest place to book, so plan ahead.
Several amenities that would guarantee your comfort
“This 9 Bedrooms Hotel is suitable for tourists and travelers. It has several amenities that would guarantee your comfort.”
SunSki, Online Review
Bus stop is a 5-minute walk away
“This capsule hotel is situated about 5 km from Billy Bishop Toronto City airport and within arm’s reach of Vi’s No Frills. McCormick Arena Stadium is right off the accommodation, while Sorauren Avenue bus stop is a 5-minute walk away.”
TopHotelsToronto, Online Review
3. The Only Backpackers Inn
The Only Backpackers Inn is a laid-back, social hostel that won’t break the bank. Located in Danforth, it’s near Greektown and the beaches.
The hostel offers capsule-style dorms in mixed-gender or female-only rooms, with 4 to 10 pods per dorm. Each bunk comes with free WiFi, linens, lockers, air conditioning, and shared bathrooms.
You can grill up a meal on the shared BBQ, relax in the communal lounge, or cook something in the fully-equipped kitchen. And if you’re feeling social, the rooftop terrace is a great place to meet other travelers.
The real highlight, though, is the on-site café-bar/restaurant, with over 200 beers from around the world. Plus, the free buffet-style breakfast—with toast, muffins, scones, boiled eggs, fruit, cereals, coffee, and tea—gives you a great start to the day.
Just keep in mind that some guests have told us about their dirty bathrooms.
Has a cafe and bar with live music
“Great place, definitely recommend. Awesome stuff, lots of public spaces to hang out. It also has a cafe and bar with live music. Plenty of bathrooms available. Everyone is following the ground rules, which makes sharing living space very comfortable. In general there is this pretty cool vibe, check it out for yourself.”
Andrei, Google Review
Situated just around the corner from a metro station
“The Only Backpacker’s Inn is a wonderfully vibrant and welcoming hostel that’s surprisingly inexpensive. Staff are friendly and eager to assist, the lower floor serves great coffee, and a free light breakfast is provided from 8-10am every morning. The location is practically perfect, being situated just around the corner from a metro station that will get you to old Toronto in about fifteen minutes, and the wealth of multicultural restaurants on Danforth Avenue mean you’ll never struggle for food plans. The rooms are a little cramped, and the overhead light in mine was too dim to see much, but they’re cleaned every day and for the price there’s really nothing to complain about.”
Jay Anderson, Google Review
4. The Parkdale Hostellerie
Housed in a charming brick building, The Parkdale Hostellerie is a casual capsule hostel that aims to be a “home away from home” for travelers. It’s conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from the nearest light rail station.
The hostel offers simple 6-pod and 10-pod rooms, with both ensuite and shared bathrooms available. They have free WiFi, and some rooms even have street views.
We also love their cozy communal spaces. There’s a fully stocked kitchen if you want to cook, a cute dining room filled with books and board games, and a spacious rooftop patio—perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring (and meeting new peeps!).
And if you’re a breakfast person, you’ll appreciate the free continental breakfast.
However, some guests have mentioned that they didn’t always feel completely safe in and around the hostel, so that’s something to consider.
All the shared spaces were awesome
“The staff were super friendly. I stayed during the pride weekend. The private room and the female dorm I stayed at were clean and efficient. All the shared spaces were awesome. A fully stocked kitchen, a really cute dining room with a lot of books and board games folks can use. A really spacious rooftop patio that I spent so much time in. I made so many friends with the guests and the really awesome staff. The new staff member Will and the manager Shawn were especially cool and helpful. I would recommend all of my friends to stay at this really cool hostel in my favourite part of the city, the super vibrant neighborhood of parkdale.”
Maryama Ahmed, Google Review
Everything was clean and very reasonable
“Don’t let the shabby exterior deter you! This was a great hostel (we booked through Airbnb). The hostess was pleasant when we checked-in and showed us around. The room itself was standard. Comfortable and cozy. Everything was clean and very reasonable.”
Jessica Coatesr, Google Review
5. Samesun Toronto
Samesun Toronto is nestled right in Kensington Market, one of the city’s most artsy and eclectic neighborhoods. It’s also surrounded by trendy bars, award-winning fusion restaurants, and just a short stroll from the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The hostel offers 4-, 6-, and 8-pod dorms, with female-only rooms available. The dorms are simple but comfortable, featuring bunk beds with gray frames, white bedding, privacy curtains, and blue lockers for storage.
Each pod has free WiFi, AC, power sockets, and a small tray for convenience. We think the balcony adds a nice touch.
For shared spaces, they offer a well-equipped kitchen—perfect if you like to cook your own meals and save some money. There’s even a TV room for movie nights!
However, while the shared washrooms get the job done, some guests have mentioned that they can be a bit dirty or smelly at times.
Bed was comfortable and had curtains for privacy
“I only stayed for one night, since it was a really quick trip. However, if my itinerary had been different, I would be happy to have stayed longer. Honestly, the staff was so nice; the kitchen, bathroom, showers were incredibly clean. I always double-check surfaces before putting stuff down, and 8/10 times I have to clean it. That was not the case here, I was really impressed by it. I was in a 6-bed female dorm, and everyone was friendly. The bed was comfortable, and had curtains for privacy. My only feedback would be that the lockers were situated really close to one of the bunkbeds, which didn’t affect me. However, I had to leave at 5am so it might have been a little noisy, when I was taking my stuff out, for whoever was sleeping near the lockers. Overall, I would recommend it.”
Alexandra Armendariz, Google Review
Located close to the city center
“Nice hostel, located close to the city center. The price was fair, rooms were clean and staff very welcoming. The toilets were a bit limited, but other than that everything was ok. They had breakfast included.”
Albert Van den Berg, Google Review
