Vibrant, young NYC hotel with retro styling and a lot of attitude
Freehand Hotel / NYC / NY / USA
I first came across one of the Freehand hotels in downtown L.A. We were staying at Ace and walked past the Freehand and went in for a peak in the lobby. I totally feel for the eclectic, unusual design. So when I some time later was looking for a hotel for an upcoming trip to New York, I was so happy to see there was a Freehand hotel in NYC.
There are four Freehand hotels, all in the US. One in Miami, one in LA, one in Chicago and this one, in the Flatiron District on Manhattan. The idea behind the Freehand hotels is that they want to combine the social culture of a hostel with innovative design and a community driven atmosphere.
This used to be the George Washington hotel that went through a total transformation by the forward thinking hands of Roman & Williams. I really like how they mix elements that if you would see them separately I am sure I would think that they never would make sense together. But somehow they do. It all ends up with a design that feels exciting, unique and rebellious.
The massive building where Freehand Hotel is situated. This used to be the George Washington hotel, located in the Flatiron District in NYC.
Old and new comes together in the design. I love the wood features in the lobby, framing the elevators.
There is something of a “The Shining” element in the hotel corridors. Luckily I never met Jack Nicholson when turning a corner.
Interesting design features in the room, with heavy wooden furniture and muted colors. I really like the color blocking on the walls.
Some books and a lamp made my room feel homey and welcoming..
The hotel shop had so many cool things to offer. Always a hit in my book.
A photo taken at the High Line Park, early in the morning while the sun was slowly rising.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to feel like you are part of the creative class for a while and get to play with the cool kids. This is a hotel where the local, creative community invades the hotel (in a good way) and it leads to a really vibrant atmosphere.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the really unique design which really is one of a kind. I also really like that you get a lot of design for your buck, especially considering this is NYC where hotel prices are high, really high. When staying here you will still have some money left to spend.
What not to miss when staying here…
…this is New York after all. There is almost too much to do and to chose from. But if I would pick one thing, I would say one of my favorites, High Line Park. It is an old elevated train track that has been transformed into a beautiful, urban park, high above the streets below. The best thing to do is to get up early in the morning (use that jet lag for something good) before all the other tourists have found their way to the park when you’ll have it more or less to yourself.
If you like this place you might also like…
Ace Hotel, Downtown LA, CA, USA
Michelberger, Berlin, Germany
The Hoxton, Amsterdam, Netherlands
