Freehand New York
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Hotel Details
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Freehand New York · New York City, United States
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Expert Review: Freehand New York
Freehand New York, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a vibrant and stylish stay in the heart of Manhattan's Flatiron District. Housed in the historic former George Washington Hotel, the hotel is celebrated for its unique design, social atmosphere, and excellent location.
Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for Freehand New York is overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of "very good" (8.0-8.8 out of 10) based on numerous guest reviews. Guests frequently describe it as "unapologetically hip," "stylish and affordable," and a place with "character, creativity, and comfort."
Key Highlights
Guests consistently praise several aspects of Freehand New York:
- Location: Its prime location in the Flatiron District is often cited as unbeatable, offering easy access to attractions and public transport.
- Design & Art: The hotel's "retro and modern vibe" and "not cookie-cutter" aesthetic, designed by Roman and Williams, is a significant draw. Custom artwork by Bard College students and alumni is featured throughout the property.
- Amenities & Atmosphere: The array of on-site dining and bar options, particularly the lively Broken Shaker rooftop bar, and the overall social atmosphere, are highly valued. The communal spaces, including The Gallery lounge and a game room, add to the inviting ambiance.
- Comfort: Despite some rooms being compact, guests generally find them comfortable, clean, and well-designed.
Room Quality
Rooms at Freehand New York are designed by Roman and Williams, featuring a distinctive retro-modern aesthetic with beautiful wood furniture and custom artwork. While some entry-level Queen rooms are described as "cozy" or "compact" with efficient use of space, they are generally found to be attractive, clean, and well-decorated. Beds and pillows are often highlighted as extremely comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep. All rooms include private bathrooms, modern amenities like smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, powerful AC, safes, Bluetooth-enabled radios, and multiple USB chargers. Bathrobes, hairdryers, clothes steamers, mini-fridges, and Argan toiletries are also provided. The hotel also offers less traditional room types, such as three- and four-bed bunk rooms and "Three's Company" units with a queen and an overhead twin bed, catering to friend groups or families.
Dining Experience
Freehand New York boasts a variety of dynamic food and beverage options:
- Simon & the Whale: An upscale and trendy restaurant serving dinner, known for its weekend brunch with offerings like caramel-coconut pastries.
- Smile to Go: A grab-and-go counter offering breakfast items like homemade granola, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and coffee. Breakfast is available daily from 7 am to noon.
- Studio: An all-day café and restaurant serving a full menu with North African and Near Eastern flavors from early afternoon until late night, as well as a healthy-ish breakfast spread with fresh baked pastries.
- George Washington Bar (GW Bar): A classic and moody cocktail bar that opens in the evening.
- Broken Shaker: An award-winning, playful rooftop bar offering handcrafted cocktails, light bites, and breathtaking views of the city. It is closed during the winter season and reopens in April.
- Bar Calico: Another bar connected to the Georgia Room, offering cocktails in a sophisticated setting.
Service & Staff
Guest feedback generally describes the staff as friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Many appreciate the genuine hospitality received. However, one older review from 2018 noted inconsistent and sometimes unfriendly service at check-in and in dining venues, which impacted the overall guest experience. Recent employee reviews also suggest challenges with management, understaffing, and heavy workloads, which could potentially affect guest interactions.
Location & Accessibility
Freehand New York is situated at 23 Lexington Avenue in the vibrant Flatiron District, a location consistently praised as "outstanding" and "unbeatable." It offers excellent walkability to popular areas like Union Square, Midtown, and the iconic Flatiron Building. Public transportation is easily accessible, with the 23rd Street subway station (R train) just a short walk away. The 28th Street-Lexington Avenue Subway Station provides connections to multiple lines (4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, W trains), making it effortless to reach attractions such as Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. The 14th Street-Union Square Subway Station is also nearby, offering access to even more lines. The hotel is easily accessible from all major airports: LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Newark Liberty (EWR) via public transit or taxi/rideshare.
Value & Pricing
Freehand New York is considered a stylish and budget-friendly option in New York City. Average room prices hover around $224-$304 per night, though deals can start from as low as $107-$110 per night, depending on the season and room type. The hotel offers an "unbeatable deal" compared to the city's average hotel room price. A refundable deposit of $200 and a daily facility fee of $35 plus tax are applied.
Common Complaints
While generally well-received, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
- Room Size: Standard Queen rooms, particularly entry-level ones, can be quite compact or small, with limited space to move around.
- Noise: Rooms located near elevators may experience hallway noise. One guest also reported hearing sirens frequently.
- In-room Amenities: The absence of in-room coffee or tea facilities is a common observation, though electric kettles can be requested from the front desk.
- Lighting: Some guests have found the hotel hallways and bathrooms to be dimly lit.
- Service Inconsistencies: An older review highlighted occasional unfriendly or inattentive service. Employee reviews also suggest issues with management, understaffing, and unreasonable workloads, which could potentially impact the guest experience.
- Wi-Fi System: One guest mentioned having to sign up for the Wi-Fi system every 24 hours, though it worked well once connected.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While generally well-received, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
Google Reviews
2,265 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
h5hthth Mrgrbrgeg
Excellent hotel. Beautiful architecture, café on-site, clean, friendly and well- laid out. Cons are the rooms are small but for a traveler or two who will be mostly out exploring, it's perfect. It's in an excellent location where you can step outside and walk to the tourist locations. No laundry machines on-site and no free breakfast, so it's a simple lodging. But it hits the important details; cl...
Response from the owner
Thank you for sharing your experience at Freehand New York. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay and truly appreciate your excellent score. It’s wonderful to know that our hard work is r...
Daphne Vaughan
Stayed here to tour Baruch College with my son for a morning tour. Very clean with a very fun vibe with hand drawn art on the walls. Stayed in a room for 3 with a queen bed and twin bunk above. Very unique. Staff was friendly and check in and out was simple. Had breakfast in the café associated with the hotel accessible from the lobby when open. Less than a 5 min walk to Baruch College. Great ar...
Response from the owner
Hi Daphne, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay! It’s awesome to hear that our blend of history and art resonated with you. We’re constantly fine-tuning things to make sure every guest feels that uniq...
Melanie Sparkle
Me and my family went on a little weekend trip. (First time for them in N.Y, second for me) We decided to stay in this hotel and it was amazing! Room is small but cozy, clean bathroom as well, we had issues with the AC but they call someone to help us and that was really lovely of them. Daughter of mine forgot a few things from a tour and I called the hotel and they found it and sent it thru post...
Response from the owner
Hi Melanie, On behalf of the entire team at Freehand New York, thank you so much for your glowing review! We are honored that you chose us for your family’s first visit to the city, and we’re thrilled...
Viola Sororia
I've been traveling back and forth to the East Village fairly frequently and the Freehand is in the rotation of places I stay depending on who's got the best room rate. I've stayed at the Freehand multiple times and the experience has been very consistent. First, the downsides: it's an old hotel which means the rooms are small and can feel a little claustrophobic. The bathrooms are particularly c...
Response from the owner
Hi Viola, what a heartwarming review, thank you for sharing your experience at Freehand New York. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay and truly appreciate your excellent score. It’s won...
natalie drohde
Great experience. Would recommend. The decor is original and funky. When we checked in, there were a few things in the room that needed attention from maintenance. The front desk took care of it right away and offered us complementary breakfast for the inconvenience, which was really nice. The staff at the cafe were super friendly and the food was good. And look, it’s NYC so the rooms are small ...
Response from the owner
Natalie, thank you for taking the time to complete our survey and share your recent experience with us. We’re thrilled to see such a fantastic score and genuinely appreciate your kind words.<br>Provid...
ARACELY CHAVEZ
I really enjoyed staying here. The rooms were clean. Staff was friendly. Bathrooms were clean. Shower pressure was on points. Our central heater did not work during our stay, so they brought us an electric heater. I would have liked more lighting too. The rooms were quiet and beds were comfy. One thing I would do differently is book directly with them and not a third party.
Response from the owner
Aracely, thank you for sharing your experience at Freehand New York. We’re genuinely sorry that we fell short of your expectations in some areas. Your feedback is invaluable, and we appreciate the tim...
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