Set the scene for us.
This is a hotel that does young, hip, and affordable extremely well—something so many places often fail at spectacularly. Open spaces, including the restaurants and the mezzanine lounge, are filled with music, color, art, plants, and people enjoying craft cocktails that they’ve waited half an hour for.
What’s the story behind the hotel?
It's the one of four Freehand hotels (there's also Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago) from the same team behind the NoMad. It’s set in a building that dates to 1928 and was thoughtfully renovated by Roman & Williams, the supercool design duo who started out as Hollywood art directors, and who are known for their friendly, sometimes theatrical, and often quite idiosyncratic interiors (they worked on various private houses, including one for Gwyneth Paltrow, and the new British Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art).
What can we expect from our room?
Various sizes—but one of the main draws if you're traveling with a group are the bunk rooms, which sleep four. The rooms are comfortable, and relatively spacious for Manhattan, though a little bit dorm-y with simple wooden beds and low sofas. Ten artists from Bard College were invited to paint or draw original work directly onto the walls and ceilings. Bathrooms are small but neat with good lighting, slick green tiles, and blonde wood.
How about the food and drink?
Plenty to choose from. There's an outpost of award-grabbing cocktail outfit The Broken Shaker (first a pop-up at the Freehand Miami, then with permanent bars in Chicago and L.A.) on the terrazzo-covered roof—guests get to skip the line that often forms down the block at weekends. Just off the lobby, you can pick up kale and carrot sandwiches and sea-salt chocolate-chip cookies from The Smile To Go. Downstairs is Comodo, a Latin American-inspired eatery serving vibrant, bold flavors, with options like picanha (sirloin cap) with creamed spinach and farofa or wild mushroom tacos with Oaxaca cheese and habanero ash. And above the mezzanine level, gather at the brand-new Georgia Room, a sophisticated space paying homage to artist Georgia O’Keeffe while ushering in eclectic energy from the neighborhood (and throwing some seriously good parties). And then there’s Bar Calico, a lounge equally inspired by the landscapes of New Mexico and New York (while honoring the building’s original 1930s architecture). Come here for modern takes on the classics, including the Martini Caprese (with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and tomato and basil-infused vodka).
Anything to say about the service?
Chipper and to-the-point, but you can sense when they're overwhelmed by the occasional crowds.
Who comes here? Well-traveled and young, out for a good time, and willing to spend more on a meal than they are on their hotel room. For Levi-wearing local creatives, it’s becoming a hop-in-hop-out rendezvous before a night out.
What’s the neighborhood scene?
This is strategically located more than anything else. The Flatiron district is low-key and just far away enough from the madness of Midtown or the cool-hunting fray of Downtown. The immediate surroundings aren't exactly hopping, but you're a quick 6-train ride from other places.
Anything you'd change?
The color palette in the rooms is a little bit forgettable, but then again you're not going to be spending that much time in them. It's all about the public spaces here.
And anything we missed?
Instead of in-room minibars there's a shop in the lobby with snacks and drinks (and chic candles, and throw blankets, and designer toothbrushes).
Is it worth it—and why?
Yes. For genuine style and great vibes at a non-panic-inducing price for Manhattan, this hits the spot.
23 Lexington Ave, New York, New York 10010
United States
https://freehandhotels.com/new-york/
(212) 475-1920