Bloom Cafe & Hostel — A Spotless Hostel on Walking Street With a Great Coffee Cafe Downstairs
Koh Lipe is known for pricey beachfront stays, but if you're travelling as a backpacker or want to save your budget for diving, Bloom Cafe & Hostel is the name that comes up most often · a 2-star hostel in the middle of Walking Street (the island's central lane) that earns special praise for cleanliness · dorm beds have privacy curtains, stairs instead of ladders up to the bunks, lockers and strong AC, and there's a specialty-coffee cafe with breakfast downstairs · rates start at around ฿320/bed for a dorm, making it a go-to base when you want a clean, central place to sleep without paying beachfront-resort prices.
The first thing nearly every review mentions is cleanliness · Bloom is a hostel where someone is cleaning the bathrooms and common areas almost constantly · sheets and towels are changed daily and beds are made every morning — a standard you rarely find at this price · on an island like Koh Lipe where fresh water and electricity are limited, having genuinely clean bathrooms and AC that actually gets cold is the reason guests cite most for coming back.
There are several room types · on the dorm side there's an 8-bed mixed dorm, a 4-bed female-only dorm and a 6-bed dorm with shared bathroom · what sets Bloom apart from the usual dorm is that the bunk beds use stairs rather than ladders, and every bed has a privacy curtain, a power outlet and a locker · if you'd rather not share, there's a Private Double Room with a shared bathroom that reviews describe as having comfy beds and a shared bathroom that isn't shared with many people · opened in 2017 and renovated in 2022, the rooms look newer than comparable hostels on the island.
"The cleanest hostel I've stayed at on the island — the bed curtains close all the way so it sleeps like a private room, and step out the door and you're surrounded by restaurants and dive shops."
Another standout is the downstairs cafe, which takes its specialty coffee seriously · several reviews say the coffee here is a notch above the usual island cafes · the morning menu has smoothie bowls, fruit bowls and breakfasts that guests praise for fresh ingredients · note that breakfast isn't included in the room rate — you order it at the cafe — though free coffee and tea are available in the common area · the cafe has a relaxed feel and makes a good spot to work, plan tours or meet fellow travellers.
Location is Bloom's trump card · it sits right in the middle of Walking Street, so you step out the door into restaurants, mini-marts, dive shops and tour desks all within walking distance · it's about a 5-minute walk to Pattaya Beach, with Sunrise and Sunset beaches a 10–15 minute walk away · the hostel has a desk to help book boat tours and ferry tickets, plus lockers, a first-aid room, and staff that reviews call friendly and helpful.
To be straight with you, the trade-off for a central Walking Street location is noise · Bloom is next to Maya Bar, so on nights the bar runs late you may hear music, especially in the front rooms · it's also not on the beach, so if you want to open your door onto the sea this isn't it · and because it's popular, beds book up fast — reserve ahead in high season · but in hostel terms, these gripes are minor next to what you get.
The takeaway from real guest reviews: Bloom Cafe & Hostel is ideal for solo travellers, budget-minded couples or backpackers who want a clean, central place to sleep and save their money for diving · cleanliness, curtained dorm beds and a good coffee cafe are what push it to the top of Koh Lipe's hostels · if you want a sea view at your door or total silence to fully unwind, look at a beachfront stay instead — but for value at a central hostel, this one genuinely delivers.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very clean — bathrooms and common areas constantly maintained, linens changed daily
- ✓ Curtained dorm beds, stairs up to the bunks, AC that actually gets cold
- ✓ Central Walking Street location, walk to restaurants and dive shops
- ✓ Good coffee cafe downstairs with fresh-ingredient breakfasts
- ! Next to Maya Bar — you may hear music on late nights
- ! Not on the beach, about a 5-minute walk to the sand
- ! Breakfast isn't included; you order it at the cafe
- ✓ Clean rooms and common areas, comfortable beds
- ✓ Friendly staff, helpful with tours and ferry tickets
- ✓ Private Double's shared bathroom isn't shared with many people
- ✓ Central location, everything within walking distance
- ! Beds book up fast, reserve ahead in high season
- ! Some nights you hear the Walking Street and the bar next door
- ! Dorms are shared sleeping; if you want high privacy choose the Private room
- 💡If you want to open your door onto the sea — Bloom is in the middle of Walking Street, not on the beach, about a 5-minute walk to the sand → choose a beachfront resort on Sunrise or Pattaya Beach instead.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper — the hostel is next to Maya Bar and on the central lane, so late bar nights can be audible → ask for an inner room or pack earplugs.
- 💡If you need full privacy — dorms are shared sleeping, even with bed curtains → book the Private Double Room or look at a private-room stay on the island instead.