Freehand New York

Hotels
Generator Hostels
8 (2959 reviews)
23 Lexington Avenue , New York , us

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Nightclub
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Beautiful property
Great location
Friendly staff
Cons:
Filthy carpet
Small rooms
High price for quality

Categories

Cleanliness
6.71
Some guests reported filthy carpets and stained sheets.
Service
9.18
Multiple reviews praised the friendly and helpful staff.
Location
9.22
Guests consistently remarked on the excellent location and convenience.
Room Quality
7.17
Several rooms were reported as small or with inadequate lighting.
Amenities
7.7
Some amenities received praise but also complaints about the refrigerator and bathroom size.
Value for Money
7.16
Guests felt it was overpriced for the quality and size of the rooms.
Food and Beverage
8.21
Positive comments about the rooftop bar and in-lobby coffee shop.
Overall Experience
8.68
Guests had a generally positive experience despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 06:18

Property Description

Historic Charm and Creative Legacy:
Formerly the residence of renowned writers and musicians, the Freehand New York offers a unique blend of history and creativity, evident in its design by Roman and Williams.

Luxurious Amenities:
Indulge in bathrobes, slippers, and premium Argan amenities in every room, along with complimentary water, apples, HD smart TVs, and safes for your convenience and comfort.

Culinary Delights and Rooftop Oasis:
Savor delectable dishes at the restaurant and lobby bar by Happy Cooking Hospitality, grab a bite at The Smile's takeout outpost, and enjoy craft cocktails at the rooftop Broken Shaker by Bar Lab.

Experience the vibrant neighborhood of Flatiron from our prime location on Lexington Avenue. Book now to immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of Freehand New York.

Important information:

GROUP POLICY: Any reservation of 10 people or more per night will be considered a group with different terms and conditions. Groups reservations can only be made through our reservations team, and Generator reserves the right to cancel it otherwise.
RESORT FEES: - High-speed WiFi - Access to 24hour fitness center which features Peloton bikes - Priority seating, based on availability, to F&B outlets - Access to game room When traveling with pets, please note that an extra charge of 75 USD per stay applies.
PET POLICY: We would welcome a dog on property but only when staying in a private room, and subject to a fee per dog per Stay. Only Dog under 75lbs./ 34kg.
For Advance Purchase rates/Non Refundable rates, we require the payment card used for booking to be presented upon check in.
AGE RESTRICTIONS: Individuals under the age of 18 can only stay at the Hostel when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in the same room.
The room must be private.
Unaccompanied under 18's are not allowed to stay in shared rooms, unless they are part of a group that has booked out the entire shared room. The group leader must provide the required documentation to Generator. Failure to comply with these policies will result in automatic cancelation of the booking with no refund. Guests violating these rules will not be permitted to check into the HostelGuests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: JFK

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 8 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 2959 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.71
Service: 9.18
Location: 9.22
Room Quality: 7.17
Amenities: 7.7
Value for Money: 7.16
Food and Beverage: 8.21
Overall Experience: 8.68
F
Federica solo_traveller it
10
Pros:

L’hotel si trova in un edificio storico, in posizione centrale. Dalla mia camera al 17 piano potevo godermi la vista dell’empire state building comodamente sdraiata a letto. All’interno sono presenti bar e ristorante. Il personale è gentile e disponibile.

Cons:

Nulla

2026-04-04 via Nuitee
V
Vladimir family_with_children nl
7
Pros:

Style of the room, iron available in the room, close proximity of metro, you can leave a luggage for a longer time after check out

Cons:

Some stuff is extremely rude, you need mln physical cards for deposit before one works, the room is loud due to air-conditioning that does not work in the room... the lights are flickering in the room and the room is extremely dark as there are walls facing windows, so no view.

2026-04-04 via Nuitee
K
kati solo_traveller hu
6
Pros:

Location , staff

Cons:

Had to Change rooms because of the outside vent was too loud. The second room had no heating.

2026-04-04 via Nuitee
D
Daniel solo_traveller us
8
2026-04-03 via Nuitee
R
Ruth couple us
9
2026-04-03 via Nuitee
J
Joerg couple de
9
Toller erster New York Aufenthalt im Freehand!
Pros:

Wir waren zu zweit bei unserem allerersten New York Trip im Freehand New York und hatten eine richtig schöne Zeit. Die Lage im Flatiron District ist super – alles war gut erreichbar. Das Hotel hat uns mit seinem coolen, stylischen Design und der entspannten Atmosphäre sofort gefallen. Unser Zimmer war sauber, das Bett bequem und das Personal sehr freundlich. Besonders der Rooftop-Bar-Besuch war ein Highlight. Für New York ein echt gutes Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis. Würden wir jederzeit wieder buchen!

2026-04-03 via Nuitee
L
Louisette solo_traveller de
10
Memorable
Pros:

The very friendly staff.
It’s central location
The vintage and home like look

2026-04-03 via Nuitee
I
Isobel couple gb
6
Youth Hostel Vibes
Pros:

Great location for our needs. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Cons:

Very old and tired. Very dark. Corridors and rooms very dimly lit. Extremely noisy with garbage trucks clattering around at 5 a.m.
Bed pushed into a corner and was difficult to get around. Basic facilities. Had youth hostel vibes.

2026-04-02 via Nuitee
M
Marris extended_group gb
9
Brilliant!
Pros:

The room was fantastically spacious, great location and great value for money.

2026-03-30 via Nuitee
H
holly extended_group us
8
2026-03-29 via Nuitee
C
Cristina extended_group br
9
2026-03-29 via Nuitee
X
Xiangyu couple us
10
2026-03-29 via Nuitee
D
Debbie Durako couple us
9
Good, easy to walk everywhere and upbeat place
Pros:

Quiet

Cons:

NA

2026-03-29 via Nuitee
J
Jessica family_with_children us
10
100% would stay here again
Pros:

Great location, daily room service, friendly staff, cool vibe.

Cons:

Bathroom sink was so tiny that I splashed water all over my body and the floor while trying to wash my face.

2026-03-29 via Nuitee
D
Dana extended_group us
8
2026-03-29 via Nuitee
L
Lawrence couple us
9
Pros:

Attractive older building with nicely updated interiors.

Cons:

Lighting is dim. Nice aesthetic, but sometimes you need brighter light

2026-03-29 via Nuitee
S
Silke couple be
9
Gezellig
Pros:

Gezellige kamer voor met z’n tweetjes. Alles was netjes. Toplocatie.

2026-03-29 via Nuitee
R
Ronja couple de
8
2026-03-28 via Nuitee
J
Jin Hee couple us
9
2026-03-28 via Nuitee
S
Sid solo_traveller us
6
Decent value and I really liked the location but probably wouldn't stay here again.
Pros:

Location was great, staff was friendly, the desk gave me a couple of free water bottles

Cons:

Initial room was not a city view as I paid for, and I had them switch me.
The room was tiny and the decor looked like a college dorm, just not very pleasant.
The robes were really rough and not soft and overall the experience didn't feel like a 4 star hotel as it claimed.

The rooftop bar was closed for the season, which wasn't disclosed. No room service available was also disappointing.

2026-03-26 via Nuitee