Freehand Los Angeles

416 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014-3002
Traveler (288)
Room & Suite (114)
Pool & Beach (74)

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About

#124 of 420 hotels in Los Angeles
Location
4.1
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
3.9
Value
3.7
Housed in the historic Commercial Exchange building in Downtown Los Angeles, Freehand LA is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring suites, premium hotel rooms and shared accommodations with interiors designed by Roman & Williams. Home to the award-winning Broken Shaker Rooftop Pool & Bar, Freehand LA offers exceptional food & beverage with a strong sense of comfort and community. Conveniently located with close proximity to the Staples Center, Fashion, Finance and Arts Districts, Downtown Los Angles is home to world class attractions, unique restaurants and a thriving nightlife scene. Come see us here in LA!
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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Evening entertainment
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Rooftop terrace
Parking garage
Wifi
Rooftop pool
Outdoor pool
Yoga classes
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Snack bar
Rooftop bar
Concierge
Gift shop
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Shops
Sun terrace
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Private check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish

Location

100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
231Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
48Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
634Reviews41Q+A58Room tips
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Rachel O wrote a review Aug 12
1 contribution
Bedroom was very clean and tidy but it lacked several things. No water upon arrival or even a coffee machine. The television was not a smart tv which left us with very little options at night. Considering the price of the room and being a 4 start hotel I thought this would be expected. The rooftop pool is nice but only open 12-7pm and once it is 4pm there is no sun so it is freezing up there. Also crowded with people coming in off the street. Disappointed with the experience, spent the extra cash for the pool but it is not open early enough.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded today
Thank you for your feedback. We do have cold filtered water available complimentary in our Guest Louge. No coffee in the room but we have Cafe Integral in our main lobby. Apologies regarding lack of a Smart TV. Our pool is open 11am to sundown. The pool then turns into our bar for the rest of the evening but still stays open (just not for swimming). Sincere apologies you were not fully satisfied with your visit.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew L wrote a review Aug 7
New York City, New York8 contributions
Stayed there couple of months ago. Really liked the interior of the place and the feel of it. Staff were chilled and friendly and liked the restaurant down stairs too. Area is ok, can have some homeless here and there but good overall. Thanks!
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded 5 days ago
Thank you for the nice review, Andrew. We are very pleased to see you enjoyed the hotel and our restaurant. We truly appreciate you staying with us and do hope you choose to return! Thanks again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christopher E wrote a review Aug 7
New York City, New York36 contributions41 helpful votes
The Freehand is a unique hotel. It’s located in a marginal area, so plan to valet the car, and choose a different hotel if you prefer to walk to dinner and shopping. The hotel is a historic office building built in the 1920s and has been remodeled to retain its original layout and appearance (e.g. my room, one of the -00 units by the elevators, had a steel-framed glass door with large, plate glass sidelights, frosted over for privacy, and clearly was once a large office). This setup will appeal to history buffs but lacks the bright, fresh-and-clean feel we’re accustomed to in modern hotels: the rooms and hallways are dark, there are a lot of stale, musty, or “earthy” smells, and the elevators groan and rattle. This was most apparent in the bathroom, which had a wall-mounted sink and zero counter space. The windows also are poorly sealed and have no insulation, so you hear everything from the street below as though the windows were wide open. The lobby has a nice breakfast setup where you can order coffee, egg sandwiches, etc., which were quite good. All my interactions with the front desk and valet staff were pleasant. In sum, the Freehand is not “premium” in a modern sense, and feels more like an experience purposely designed to feel vintage (like an escape-the-room game). I would only stay for an overnight, to have that experience, but the hotel may appeal to others for longer stays if they know what they’re in for.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: Plan to valet your car.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded 6 days ago
Thank you very much for your detailed and candid review! We do appreciate it. Yes, the hotel is designed in a more of an historic/bohemian nature. The building was completely gutted and renovated into a hotel in 2017. So, the building and rooms are in great shape. Apologies for any exterior noise issues you experienced. We do hope you had the chance to visit our beautiful rooftop pool/bar/restaurant Broken Shaker. Thank you once again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeff H wrote a review Aug 3
1 contribution
Stayed in their hostel-style room. Comfy wooden bed, clean room and bathroom, and overall nice hotel. The room was stuffy at night, even with the windows open, but fortunately i brought a tiny USB fan, which i recommend for hostels. And bring earplugs, since the street is noisy at night, even from the 12th floor. Would be nice if the bed's curtain extended completely around the bed for privacy, like some other hostels. Note that you'll pay a "facility fee" of $8.13 per night on check in.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you for the review, Jeff! We are glad that, overall, you had a nice visit. We might suggest you try one of our Private King rooms on your next visit. Might be a bit more comfortable for you. Regardless, thank you once again and we do hope you return soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura G wrote a review Jul 2023
Treasure Beach, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica13 contributions7 helpful votes
The hotel was offering a special prepaid rate for their standard king rooms and after a week of traveling with our teens 14 & 16 (which in part was spent sharing accommodations) we knew we would want to give them their space and have ours - so we booked two rooms. The public spaces are very artsy/trendy/boutique hotel inspired - with its many seating areas and sofas, cool looking bar - dim lighting, wifi included etc - it definitely got teenage approval. There is a nice little coffee shop window - which used when we missed breakfast for coffee to go - and a store and restaurant (besides the lobby) and The Broken Shaker bar (on the roof beside the pool) that we did not go to because we ran out of time. The lobby reflects the mix of clientele - and as a family, despite some of the comments I read on Tripadvisor prior to booking - we certainly did not feel out of place- although the minority, there were other families there with much younger kids than ours, even babies, there were also young professionals working on laptops, couples, international guests, a few older couples etc. It's a good, broad, mix which I'm sure at times can be a lot for the hotel to manage (the expectations of) - but we had no issue with internal noise or rowdy guests, and we never felt unsafe in the hotel - our teens while on the same floor were down the hall etc. Our room was as expected for a city hotel (smallish) but fine for two people - same with the bathroom nowhere to put cosmetics (the shower had great water pressure though) - was also nicely designed and clean. We spent most of our days out - I say this because the location is definitely not one where I would walk around any distance (beyond our block - there is a shake shack at the corner) at night or in the day really, there isn't much there. We did walk one day to Grand Central Market - an incredible food hall - which is definitely worth visiting - it's about 15 minutes away - but we passed at least a handful of homeless people along the way - which in itself doesn't make me feel threatened - but some were screaming, some were peeing, some were smoking up - very sad to see for sure but not intimidating - in the day. The kids felt a little uncomfortable plus it was hot so we got a friend to drop us back in their car. My main complaint, however, would be that the noise from the street is very loud. I am not sure if it was from the cars of people coming/leaving the hotel bar (there is a valet downstairs) and/or the bar across the street, or just traffic moving around at that particular time, but there was everything from sirens, motorbikes revving, loud mufflers, music, and singing/street chatter/shouting happening - particularly on Friday and Saturday night. I get that that's city sounds at night - but even on the 5th floor it was loud, like waking up from a deep sleep loud - and I think it warrants the management considering double glazing the windows. We slept okayish but if you are a light sleeper it'll be a problem. There is also a $50 + valet charge (which we knew and deliberated) to keep your car overnight as a guest - again mixed feelings about this - yes it is expensive but the city is huge, Uber in LA is also expensive/adds up, and we were coming from a road trip so we had it already - I saw some comments again on Tripadvisor about finding (self) parking in the area for cheaper but I don't know how safe that would be for the car or the people leaving it there and personally I wouldn't have taken that chance. All in all the hotel worked for our short four-night stay with its clean rooms and convenience to where we wanted to go in the city (this is key in booking your accommodation in LA because traffic can be dread), plus the teens were impressed as it's certainly more appealing looking than your average chain hotel, but would I go back or recommend it? Am not sure .. it would depend on the person, their reason for travel, and if they double-glaze (at a min) the windows.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: There is a nice bakery next door for pastries, sandwiches and coffee if you miss breakfast at the...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for your detailed review. We are very happy that, overall, you had a nice stay with us recently. In addition to the Shake Shack on the corner we have a Sweet Greens next to the hotel and a Paris Baguette next to that. Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and Whole Foods are all immediately across the street. DTLA can be a bit intimidating, and it is reflective of most downtown areas in major cities these days. Our apologies for the exterior noise you experienced as well. All in all, we are happy you were happy and do hope you choose to venture to see us again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Артём wrote a review Jul 2023
New York City, New York138 contributions49 helpful votes
I had never seen this type of racism in the world. That’s an absolute disaster I paid for the room, but they refused to check me in, because of my nationality. Do we leave in Middle Ages? One of the manages has said, that none of the local hotels will accept me. They threatened me by asking security guard to force me to leave, because I am Russian
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded 3 weeks ago
Of course, the hotel is not racist. We have hundreds of persons of all nationalities checking in and patronizing the hotel weekly. We love the diverse nature of our guests. Unfortunately, we could not check you in as you did not have a proper credit card. Nothing "racial" about this. We have hotel requirements, and you could not comply. We asked you to leave as you were verbally threatening our team and making a scene in the lobby. Nothing racial about that.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ann M wrote a review Jul 2023
Holyoke, Massachusetts2 contributions
+1
5 start hotel, hostel,very nice! Comfy beds,nice atmosphere central location. On site coffee shop, restaurant and bar. Staff friendly, helpful. Place is clean and nice. Very inexpensive, withing walking distance of parks, shops, metro
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded Jul 6, 2023
What a wonderful review. Thank you so very much and please join us again very soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
pinyinok wrote a review Jun 2023
Hong Kong, China254 contributions134 helpful votes
This place is a hostel, so if you are paying $50 then you can skip this review. But if you are paying $250 per night for a hotel room, then you may not be satisfied. If you buy tacos across the street at Tacos Rodriguez taco truck (fantastic) the hotel will tell you cant eat that in the lounge lobby area and need instead to go to a dungeon room in the basement. If you go to the roof deck with your bags from Whole Foods (where the music is so loud you cant hear anyone) you will be shouted away and told you also cant come with outside food (even you are a hotel guest). The mattresses in the room are old and collapsed, the carpets showing threads, and the neighborhood is ghetto. If you say something to Cesar the assistant manager, he literally starts arguing with you. Dont have much good to say about the place. Would have given one star, except the tacos across the street were sooooo good!
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Pool music so loud you cant think. Dont buy a hotel room, not a good value. Stay in the hostel...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded Jun 26, 2023
Thank you for the feedback. Our apologies you did not enjoy. We are actually a hotel with a small, shared room component within. Just like most other hotels, outside food and beverage is not allowed in the hotel venues. Unlike most other hotels, we crested a guest lounge where our guests are welcome to take their outside food/drinks to enjoy them. We do apologize if any issue with the room. DTLA is DTLA. Though we are in the best area of DTLA we understand it is not for everyone.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J M wrote a review May 2023
1 contribution2 helpful votes
I thought I'd leave a bit of time between my stay here to think things over so here goes... I stayed here from the 1st-3rd March 2023, initially having booked to stay here until the 9th. There were several reasons as to why I chose to move to a different hotel after 2 nights. 1. The room/personal storage space. I stayed in room 306. Given that I was staying here for over a week and as part of a longer trip (three and a half weeks in total), I was sorely disappointed by the inadequate space to store my belongings securely. While I never want to assume the worst of fellow guests in a hostel, it would have given me peace of mind to know that all of my belongings were secure in behind a pad-locked locker in a shared room with 6 different people. Sadly this was not the case and much of my belongings had to be left in my locked suitcase outside of my locker. The locker space allocated is really not suitable for long-haul travellers or people travelling/staying for extended periods of time. The space, even in a 6 person room was more than adequate to fit larger lockers. This also meant that other guest took to using the communal furniture in the room to hang their clothes on which prevented the use of the chairs and table for myself and other guests. 2. the advertised 'privacy curtains' only work to offer some privacy between adjacent beds, meaning you are still almost fully visible to the rest of the guests in each room, offering basically no privacy in the room whatsoever. 3. The air conditioning unit did not work and so the windows had to be left open all day and night (which, even in March in LA meant that the room was still swelteringly hot) which made getting sleep at night between the heat and the noise of downtown LA very difficult. To say I slept poorly on both nights is an understatement. 4. When I decided to enquire about the cost of upgrading to a private room for the last 5 nights of my stay, I was quoted an upgrade fee hundreds dollars more expensive than if I had just booked said room online in the lobby and checked in there and then. I quite literally could have booked a stay at the Biltmore for the remainder of my stay twice over and have change left compared to the rate that I was charged. 5. Despite offering female-only dorm rooms, I saw at least two occasions of men stood outside the guest keycard-access entrance repeatedly cat calling both hotel guests and women who were walking past the hotel, the valet staff, who were well within earshot and view of this did nothing to attempt to move these men on. 6. The staff on reception were unpleasant to deal with. One member of staff I found to be particularly condescending when I made an enquiry about a refund (which was sadly not available to me). 7. The overall cleanliness of the room. There was a large brown stain in the carpet in the centre of the room (what it was I dread to think). The bathroom facilities and provided bedding were also quite dirty and unpleasant to use. Having worked for several years in the hotel industry myself, the aforementioned issues are extremely sub-par and reflective of an establishment that is not leaning it's best foot forwards in both upkeep and customer service. This hotel clearly has some great potential and it's proximity to 7th street/metro central station and restaurants gives it good connectivity to most of LA and Hollywood's tourist spots. With some improvements, most crucially larger lockers, proper privacy curtains for the beds, drastic improvement to cleanliness and friendlier attitude of the staff, this hotel could be good. Sadly, in it's current state, this is far from the case.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip: If you travel solo, look elsewhere. Not suitable for those with a lot of luggage or for...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded May 18, 2023
Hello Josh M. We sincerely apologize you did not have a great stay recently. Most of all we are very regarding your comments regarding staff and will follow-up internally. Regarding the other issues. We have a bell storage area in which we would have been happy to store any additional suitcases or items. Just need to simply let us know. The dorms can be a bit tight, especially if fully occupied. Sorry we could not get you upgraded to a Private King Room. The upgrade cost is whatever the current selling rate online is. No more. Apologies for any issues outside of the hotel on the public sidewalks. We can do best to move people along, but this is a city area. Not enforceable by the hotel. We will definitely check the "stain" on the carpet as not acceptable. Sheets and linens are clean and sent out to a third-party laundry. The bathrooms are cleaned daily. Apologies if your roommates were not respectful of this area. Hope this helps. Thanks for your feedback.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
yaron d wrote a review Apr 2023
1 contribution1 helpful vote
Sadly, this beautiful place is being ran with strict staff that does not listen to any of their costumers problems. No bear foot walking is allowed, no lying down on sofas while waiting, no moving chairs from their place. Felt over strict and not nice attitude of the staff.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Rich Oken, General Manager at Freehand Los Angeles
Responded Apr 17, 2023
Thank you for your feedback. Our Guest Lobby is not a guest room and there are hygiene and decorum considerations to be considered enforced. Be reminded that out lobby also serves as an area for our cafe. Not having shoes on is not acceptable and not allowed by law. Apologies if this was not advised to you in a gracious way, but we do have guidelines in place to ensure the comfort of all of our guests and patrons.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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PRICE RANGE
€101 - €212 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaLos AngelesCentral L.A / Downtown
NUMBER OF ROOMS
227
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FREEHAND LOS ANGELES - Updated 2023 Prices & Hotel Reviews (CA)

Frequently Asked Questions about Freehand Los Angeles
Which popular attractions are close to Freehand Los Angeles?
Nearby attractions include Orpheum Theater (0.2 miles), Escape Room LA (0.3 miles), and The Theatre at Ace Hotel (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Freehand Los Angeles?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a rooftop bar, free wifi, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Freehand Los Angeles?
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Freehand Los Angeles?
Yes, a parking garage and paid private parking on-site are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Freehand Los Angeles?
Conveniently located restaurants include Bottega Louie, SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa, and Karl Strauss Brewing Company.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Freehand Los Angeles?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and yoga classes during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Freehand Los Angeles?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Freehand Los Angeles?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Freehand Los Angeles?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Are there any historical sites close to Freehand Los Angeles?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Angels Flight Railway (0.5 miles), El Pueblo de Los Angeles (1.2 miles), and Hollyhock House (4.4 miles).
Is Freehand Los Angeles accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.