Freehand Los Angeles

United States , Los Angeles - CA
Los Angeles, 416 W 8Th St
Show on Google | Website | Map

100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Karen

Stayed here a night as we had tickets for a concert at the Orpheum theatre. I was most impressed by the staff and found the hotel to be a very good value.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

David

Shakti

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2026

Comex

It was looking fine

Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

Adrian

Excellent

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

02 May 2026

Rebecca

The staff was very unfriendly as we arrived and also not helpful. A coffee bar on the second and third floor is non existent. The coffee shop in the lobby was closed every morning cuz she had to step away. The rooftop bar staff is unfriendly and has the audacity to add a tip to the tap even though you get no service at the table and when you order your drinks right at the bar you get looked at with annoyance. The tables and floors were not cleaned off and sticky from spilled drinks.

Family

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2026

marc

Clean

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2026

marc

Clean room

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

Gisselle

The valet attendants will all work together to make sure they get your car in and out as fast as possible. They greeted us with a welcome and started our stay off great. The Photo Booth inside was a nice feature. The beds are low so you get a better view of the city and the bathroom has an old Hollywood feel in a good way. We are planning on returning

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2026

Marty

Good location for me.

6/10

Pleasant

30 Apr 2026

Guan

The rooftop deck was the best part about the hotel. I am a female and stayed in a dorm with three other males. The bed creaked very loudly, the window doesn't really open, but you get what you pay for so I can't really complain. They don't do room service everyday you'd have to ask, they change the towels about every 3-4 days. The shampoo and body wash bottles, for some reason, are always gone or empty, so you should bring your own. Location is good though.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

29 Apr 2026

Pernille Thisted

Cons/
-overpriced when compared to other hotels (this when booking a suite, didn't try the bunk/dorm rooms).
-minimal amenities in suites, especially the two plastic cups provided (cheap motel), and the tiny fridge. No water, coffee, or any option for having even better plastic glasses in room for wine or drinks. Front desk unwilling to provide any glasses other than water from the gym.
- Only restaurant in building on a Sunday is the roof terrace which opens at noon (maybe the same for the other days). No coffee on roof terrace, only place to have food.
- no way to call lobby/front desk/ valet from room (a phone was in my suite but call buttons inactive.
Pros/
-the downstairs restaurant in the hotel is lovely and beautifully designed, as is the decor in the hotel (minimal 60/70's retro).
-Staff is overall nice and especially the late night staff (weekend valet and front desk. Shoutout to Tony ) were professional and accommodating as much as they could be with the limitations of hotel policy.

Overall, I wish there was more focus on small details of service and care. Small but elevated gestures from the hotel. Not happening atm. If it was 20 % cheaper it would fit the bill.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2026

BRENDA

Everything is going well

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2026

Lessley

Clean room, restrooms, and friendly staff. Excellent first experience with shared rooms!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2026

Natasha

Love the decor of the room we had a corner studio booked .Absolutely lovely . Only down side is the noise . Throughout the night the noise from the street is intense . All night cars and bikes doing doughnuts on the intersection of the hotel . Ironic not hot water kettle in private rooms . One needs to go to the basement to get hot water . Room is equipped with a mini fridge , iron / ironing board , safe deposit .

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Apr 2026

Jeffrey

Our room was on the 10th floor. The view was great. The room was FREEZING! Despite turning up the temperature. The windows seem to be the original ones from the building bc, insulation? Who is she? Never met her. We could hear EVERY noise from the streets AND the rooftop. The bed was lumpy, and not very comfortable. The bathroom was tidy, and the shower?! I’d stay there again JUST for the shower. That water pressure felt like a massage on my skin. Staff was friendly and attentive. The bar downstairs wasn’t our vibe but it is beautiful. The bar upstairs lacks identity. The views are stunning though.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2026

Jeffrey

The property was clean, staff friendly, and we enjoyed our stay.

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

27 Apr 2026

Halima

had an incredibly disappointing experience at I this hotel. I arrived at 8:00 AM and was made to wait four hours until 12:00 PM to check into a shared 4-girl dorm( I totaly understandbecause I arrived early ) . When I finally received my key and entered the room, it was completely dirty and unmaintained. Even the bed was not clean .

When I brought this to the staff's attention, the response was completely illogical and

unprofessional. Instead of prioritizing a cleaning or offering an immediate solution, I was told to \"bring my stuff back down\" and sit in the lobby for another three hours until 3:00 PM.

It is unacceptable to expect a guest who has already waited half the day to vacate a room they have already checked into because the hotel failed to meet basic cleanliness standards. The lack of empathy and the \"solution\" provided were insulting. I would not recommend staying here if you value your time or expect a clean,

professional environmt .

Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2026

Adrian

excellent

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2026

Jacqueline

Rooftop was amazing 💗

Friends

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2026

abraham

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2026

marc

This place rocks has everything a visitor needs location a great staff and very clean. I totally recommend this place😁👍

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2026

Adrian

Excellent

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2026

Mehboob

Good hostel option in LA. Breakfast menu and staff are great.

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2026

Mehboob

Good hostel option, affordable and comfortable.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2026

Andrewlee

Room phone didn’t work, upgraded my room to a corner suite. Only to be placed in a different room. Kitchen closes too soon

Self

6/10

Pleasant

23 Apr 2026

Laura

I stayed at the Freehand Los Angeles in December and found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. On the positive side, the price is very reasonable for the area. However, I didn't feel particularly safe in the surrounding neighborhood, and it felt quite far from the main attractions. It was also very noisy throughout the stay. If you are on a tight budget, it is a fair option, but it wasn't the most comfortable or convenient experience.

Family

8/10

Excellent

21 Apr 2026

Emily

This hotel is cute, but the area that it is in is extremely loud. Also, it’s on the border of Skid Row and the Fashion district. If you’re not familiar with LA, these parts can sometimes be a bit rough. The staff was never really available via phone from the room so we had to walk down to the lobby often when we needed things. Also, when you call the hotel, no one picks up. Keep in mind that this is an older building that has been renovated, so it has quirks.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Robert

Beautiful rooms and decor. Truly a unique place to stay and rather centrally located to 7th and Metro and the Theatre District. Tip: 25 all night parking at the lot across from Wholefoods.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Hee Seung

A good location to visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Broad. Close to the Whole Foods.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Bonita Lynne

I love this place! You can see the entire city from the rooftop diner which also has a pool! Staff was super friendly and helpful! I also love Expedia for showing me hotel choices!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Anita

The rooftop pool and bar was nice, not overly elegant but comfortable and relaxed, excellent food, and drink prices.
Not the quietest place to stay, of course, being downtown, but the nostalgia is something that I enjoy.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2026

Jordan

great space, well priced and well taken care of. Central location and great staff

Business

8/10

Excellent

18 Apr 2026

Garam

An amazing option if you want to save a ton of money but stay near the downtown area. Amazing pool, nice lobby, and really great to have two bathrooms + shower in each room. It is a bummer that you can't eat or drink outside food in the lobby or at the rooftop, but there is a common area in the basement where you can heat up your food, etc. However, with this low rate, you can't really complain about anything.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

18 Apr 2026

Anike Olufunke

Room was very clean , had nice roommates till the last night. Overall not bad at all. Would book again.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2026

Robert

Plenty of food and drink in the immediate vicinity. Large study bunk beds in each room with two toilet/shower in each dorm. Large lockers (bring your own lock). Close enough to the rail line.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2026

Adrian

excellent

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2026

Adelle

Amazing hotel so affordable and the pool rooftop was incredible!

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2026

Alexis

Place was cool

8/10

Excellent

16 Apr 2026

Tamara clements

Clean

Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Apr 2026

Carrie

An affordable and central location that has a wonderful rooftop pool! I stayed in a female quad on the top bunk for 4 nights, and while I was able to have an extra pillow and change out my towel, I will say that experience is better suited to a more flexible and forgiving guest. The staff was wonderful and the cleaning was thorough, so it's a great budget option!

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2026

Juliet

Excellent stay in a charming hotel in the heart of DTLA. Good restaurant, cafe and bar. Comfortable room and very affordable.

Self

8/10

Excellent

15 Apr 2026

Gregory

No breakfast

Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2026

Adrian

Excellent

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

13 Apr 2026

Moldiamond

There is property fee of $28 USD + Tax per day. It doesn’t mention on their Expedia page. Room has no coffee/tea and no room service. Restaurants onsite rarely open! Compared to other Freehand locations, this LA location is BAD! Staff was very friendly thou!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2026

Arisandy

Will be back!

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2026

julie

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2026

Maria

Hotel was beautiful & clean. We loved our corner deluxe king room. Beautiful restrooms. The rooftop bar and swimming pool was fantastic . Food & drinks were excellent. Hotel in a great area to walk.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2026

Butrus

Good location.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2026

Fay

Quiel the valet was AMAZING!! He was so personable as I waited for my shuttle. He truly cares about the guests and providing a high quality experience. I highly recommend. Thank you.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2026

JOSE

Extremely nice!!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2026

Cadisha

Excellent experience.. I even extended!

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2026

Cadisha

Excellent rooms! Definitely an amazing hostel. I had a chance to see the shared quads and wow. Great to see the washrooms in the room itself. I stayed in a private room with g a great layout. Amazing experience overall. There was one lady at the front desk who was a little sour but everyone else was 10/10. Excellent security and bar across the street!

Self

8/10

Excellent

08 Apr 2026

Cristina

Super friendly staff and immaculate cleaning services. Stayed there with my son for 4 nights. Rooftop bar and pool a bonus. Yummy cocktails. Rooms was on the small side, but bed super comfy and we didn’t spend much time in the room. Would happily come back!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2026

Keith

Great place!!

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2026

David

When I was unexpectedly put in hospital the hotel had their security go to my room, pack up all my stuff and hold it for me so I wouldn't have to keep paying for the room.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2026

Tous

Super nice! Downtown LA is busy but that’s the beauty in it. Everything is walking distance. Public transit and light rail aren’t too far away. Lively club scene too.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2026

Adrian

Great

Business Family

2/10

Poor

07 Apr 2026

Misty

I had a gold necklace and ring taken from my room. I had requested a late check out, and upon returning to my room, at the time of check out the hotel agreed to, my room had already been cleaned and my jewelry that was left on the bedside table.

The manger at the desk wasn’t super helpful or that concerned, and I had to press to write a statement that it was stolen, and request to speak to head of the security. The head of security was much more helpful and wanted to go to the room and look around to make sure it wasn’t there.

It wasn’t. And then I was told to wait in the lobby to talk with the head of security and manager. Who after I waited almost 40 minutes conveniently disappeared and I was never contacted by the hotel after. I wanted to file a police report, but after inquiring and speaking to a lawyer… the chance of me recovering my items would be next to impossible as how could it proven by the next day that it was taken by staff. My retreat night turned into my deepest regret of my time in LA. These items are custom made and impossible to replace.

As well the rooms are incredibly loud, the door doesnt touch the ground so you hear everything from the hallway.

So sad as I used to love staying here in years past.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2026

Anthony

The Freehand Hotel in Los Angeles offers a mixed experience that left me with both positive impressions and a few frustrations. On the bright side, the staff was genuinely friendly and calm throughout my stay — a real highlight. However, while their demeanor was warm, I did feel they could stand to be more proactive and helpful when guests needed assistance.

The room itself was clean and well-maintained, which is always appreciated. However, the air conditioning left something to be desired — it simply wasn't powerful enough to keep the room as cool as I would have liked. We actually had to go out and purchase our own oscillating fan and a portable ice maker just to stay comfortable, which is not something a guest should ever have to do.

The pool looked very appealing online, but getting up there was a disappointment — it felt more like an apartment pool with a few plants around it than a hotel amenity worth getting excited about. To make matters worse, many non-guests attending pool events were obnoxious and detracted from the overall experience.

The valet parking situation was also frustrating. Waiting for your car took far too long, and when I called down to the front desk, the concierge was not helpful in getting my car retrieved.

Overall, the Freehand Hotel feels more like a glorified hostel than a proper hotel. It has some potential with its friendly staff and clean rooms, but several operational areas need serious improvement before it can truly shine.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2026

Janette V.

Location is convenient, walking distance to so many bars and restaurants. The rooftop bar was one of my favorites; very beautiful views and yummy drinks! Definitely an older hotel, not modern; but I’m okay with that. Would stay again for a weekend

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2026

Feonie

I didn’t bring pet and laundry

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2026

Philip

Clean

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2026

Katharine

This place is great! I booked a quad room for me & my family; we were all comfortable and cozy :) The front desk staff was SO friendly! The room itself was clean, the hotel was safe, lots of things to do there & in the surrounding area. I'll always stay here when visiting DTLA!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2026

Elena

Stayed in a female quad, staff was lovely as super helpful. Rooms were clean and mostly well designed.

Self

8/10

Excellent

04 Apr 2026

Alejandra

Average. Good spot to stay. Nothing too luxurious but enough to sleep and stay and feel comfortable. Nice small gym. Pool is pretty

Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Apr 2026

Letitia

I enjoyed my stay at the Freehand. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the location is perfect. The prices can't be beat, so this will be my only choice when visiting DTLA.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Apr 2026

Jason

Great old hotel/hostel. Cold pool on the roof :). Everything was fine until the morning. There was a movie set construction crew building scenes in the parking lot right outside our window, so loud, couldn't sleep. I mentioned it to the staff at check out. His reply - laughs and says we were on the quiet side. We only needed one night, good enough for that.

6/10

Pleasant

02 Apr 2026

Ivan

Room was not the cleanest ..staff was friendly but my keys were deactivated twice.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2026

Christiana

Great room, next time I’ll request a bittom bunk though!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2026

Judith

The property is like a hotel from the 40’s. The wood is scuffed in places and it’s not slick and bright. It’s moody but cool. The staff is so welcoming.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2026

Dominique

Rooms were clean, staff gave me a complimentary upgrade, rooftop pool area was absolutely perfect. Restaurant on roof charges mandatory 18% gratuity for tip.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2026

Torrey

The stay at this property was immaculate. I would recommend this facilty for anyone looking to acquire overnight stay.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2026

Justin

Second time staying at this hotel and have had nothing but a great experience. Staff is super friendly. Room is always clean and the shower head pressure is great. The only issue was that the button on the bedside phone to call down to the front desk did not work, but other than that, everything was great. I will be staying there again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2026

Noe

everything was amazing, I will return

Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Mar 2026

Julie

Make sure to pack ear plugs! I've stayed there before but forgot how loud the it is there. It sounds like the windows are wide open! They should provide ear plugs, but they don't, so make sure you do! Its in a location that is close to a lot of great places, but it is the city, so its a but sketch at night. The staff is great, the place is clean, and its great price.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2026

Alyssa

affordable, convenient stay in the heart of downtown LA. i was there for about a month and would recommend this place to anyone visiting or needing a place to stay in LA. kind staff and the rooftop pool/restaurant/bar takes it to the next level. don’t miss happy hour/ sunsets at the broken shaker!

Self

8/10

Excellent

29 Mar 2026

Jaclyn

Great place. Not the greatest location. Bed matress was kind of low quality and needs updating.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Mar 2026

Jorge

Great location!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Mar 2026

Janet

REFRIGERATOR DID NOT WORK, they replaced with another one. It did not cool down enough!!!
ALL PERISHABLES HAD TO BE THROWN OUT!!! Reported to staff, they did nothing to compensate, only a nice \"i'm sorry\"!!!!!!!
The room was small. Just enough to shower and sleep.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2026

Jose

Good location and nice vibe

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2026

Adrian

Excellent

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2026

Adrian

Pleasant

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2026

NICHOLAS

I stayed in a low price four person room on the 10th floor. Overall, I think it was great for the price, so a good value. There is AC and a thermostat to control the temp, which helped a lot, even in Feb! I try to be very quiet when other people are sleeping so it was complicated to be on the top bunk. Any time I needed something from my suitcase I needed to unlock the locker, take the suitcase out, put the suitcase on the top bunk, and climb up to do anything. There wasn't enough floor space to put the suitcase on the floor, except maybe in the entry area.

My one main complaint would be that the shower water never got hot and the water flow was pretty low.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2026

Juana

Everything was amazing!

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2026

MARK

• Clean shared rooms, beds and bath.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2026

Maritza

i woke up early and walked

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2026

Adrian

Excellent

Business Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2026

Alon

Very nice hostel with a rooftop poo.
The check in process can be better though
No one explained me about the cafe or the pool
In addition i extend my stay and needed to check out and check in again and it took so long to get me a clean bed.
Otherwise the staff was nice and willing to help with anything you need and they also offer luggage keeping for case you arriving early or departing late

8/10

Excellent

19 Mar 2026

Elizabeth

Linens need a refresh.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2026

Antonio

Location, amenities things to do

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2026

Andre

Excellent property. Budget friendly.

6/10

Pleasant

19 Mar 2026

Rory

Rooms were below average. Lobby was very dated and not clean. Electrical outlets in the lobby benches did not work.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2026

Benjamin

This is my go to hostel in DTLA. Stayed here a couple times and its always a good experience. Clean facilities, comfy beds and best staff!

Self

4/10

Poor

18 Mar 2026

Abraham

It is a beautiful property, right in the heart of downtown LA, ver well preserved building, however, upon our check in they charged us a fee that we were not notified beforehand, it was a 65dlls fee for the use of the property, they couldnt tell us exactly what was it for and was non refundable, the people at expedia was very helpful with this matter, anda they helped us because the hotel refused to give any explanation

Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2026

JAMES

nice location the hotel has.

Family

8/10

Excellent

18 Mar 2026

Ken

My roommates are very loud and obnoxious and they wake me up every time I use the restroom