Freehand New York

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

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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
C
Clara Mi Young • solo_traveller • it
9
This is my third time staying at the Freehand. It’s become one of my favorite places to stay in NY.
Pros:

Welcoming atmosphere and great location. Staff is very friendly. A plus is the coffee shop just next door which can be reached from inside the lobby.

Cons:

It can get very busy and depending on the room a bit noisy.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
M
Mariana • couple • ch
9
2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
J
Janet • solo_traveller • us
3
Cold and disappointing
Pros:

Great location.

Cons:

My room was drafty and freezing cold. The heat stopped working. The desk wanted to send up the engineer but it was 2am and I was alone. Also none of the property’s bar restaurants were open that evening.

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • solo_traveller • it
10
Highly recommended!!
Pros:

Has a lovely homey, intimate feel to it but with all the comfort of a mainstream hotel; great room and bathroom; nice decor; super helpful staff

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
S
Silke • solo_traveller • us
10
Excellent, very fun and artsy hotel to stay at!
Pros:

The atmosphere with it’s artsy decoration and style was incredible! The room was spacious, extremely clean, no street sounds, loved the Smile to go Breakfast place which I used every morning. They also offered fantastic mediterranean dishes for lunch. Healthy, tasty and a great variety with gluten free and vegan options. The front desk staff was very friendly. It was a hopping place. The Bar on the mezzanine level had a cool old time charmed atmosphere with it’s wooden panels. Can’t wait to come back and try out their newest restaurant which is supposed to open soon. The hotel is centrally located in the Gramercy neighborhood with easy access ( subway) to Uptown, Downtown or Brooklyn. Flatiron area was reachable by foot.

Cons:

Nothing!

2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
B
Breda • couple • us
8
Great vibe!
Pros:

Location and restaurants/ bars at hotel. My room was also FAB!

Cons:

The public spaces are a tad tired and dirty but it’s a very fun, hip hotel!

2026-03-11 • via Nuitee
L
Laurent • couple • de
8
2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
M
Michel Meniere • solo_traveller • ma
8
Confort et prix attractif
Pros:

Le prix est très attractif

Cons:

Relatif au prix il s’agit de chambres équipées confortablement mais logiquement aucun service n est disponible. Le petit déjeuner se fait dans le petit self qui est bon.

2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
T
Thien Ngan • couple • de
10
2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
Z
Zeiler • couple • us
10
2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
S
S • extended_group • gb
3
Tired hotel, no heating, spotlessly clean
Pros:

The rooms were very clean and nicely decorated.

Cons:

The hotel is very old, which can make it beautiful, but it's also very tired and in need of refurbishment.
The foyer, communal areas and cafe were freezing cold with no heating at all. Even the staff were wearing coats and beanies. I felt very sorry for them.
There is nowhere to work during the day, so if you are there for work and need to take calls or hold meetings, you can only do this in your room. There was a communal space on the second floor, but it was so cold nobody could work in there.
There is also no cold water in the rooms, which, if you want a glass of water, can be a problem. The front desks do provide bottled water free of charge, but by the time you realise you have to go down to reception, it's a real hassle. It would have been much better if they had put a couple of bottles in the room each day when the room was serviced.

bar staff in Calico were excellent, warm and friendly. Hostess and reception staff - not the case.

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
S
Sally • family_with_children • au
8
Would definitely recommend for tourists. Rooms aren’t big or fancy, but clean and comfortable.
Pros:

Great location for seeing NY on foot. The bar is a nice touch. Adjoining cafe makes great coffee and yummy breakfasts to get set for the day. We walked one day right down to southern tip of Manhattan, and often to Times Square and Broadway. Very easy subway access.

Cons:

Rooms are very small, but not an issue if you plan to be sightseeing all day. Comfy and cosy to sleep. Clean bathrooms with hot water. We stayed during long NY freeze. Electric space heater made room a comfortable temp.

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
A
Adrian • couple • us
10
2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
S
S • solo_traveller • gb
5
Ok. But freezing
Pros:

Beautiful building, but in need of refurbishment

Staff behind the bar Calico were very professional and friendly

Cons:

Really cold, no heating in any of the communal areas or café.

Staff need some training around service and welcome

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
S
S • solo_traveller • gb
6
Freezing cold. In need of refurbishment.
Pros:

The rooms were nicely appointed and it was relatively quiet for New York City.

Cons:

The Hotel is a bit tired and in need of refurbishment. The whole hotel was absolutely freezing however even the staff at Reception and in the café were wearing puffer coats and beanies all day.

There is a large bar/lobby area where people staying at the hotel were generally working and taking calls. This was Arctic in temperature and people were saying they just couldn’t work there and were leaving.

Also, Reception staff were pretty unfriendly on arrival and check-in. Mostly unbothered for the duration of our stay.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
S
S • solo_traveller • gb
5
Clean, but tired
Pros:

Nice rooms. Spotless clean.

Cons:

Cold. Tired in need of refurbishment.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
S
S • solo_traveller • gb
5
Not a good Hotel for work
Pros:

Spotlessly clean rooms and the cleaning stuff were wonderfully friendly and professional

Cons:

Really cold communal areas nowhere to work except in the room. Unfriendly staff.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
M
MWSeixas • extended_group • br
10
2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
F
Fabienne • couple • gb
8
2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
M
MWSeixas • extended_group • br
10
2026-03-05 • via Nuitee