"How did it strike you on arrival?Stylish hostels are nothing new these days—but this Roman & Williams-designed space, which opened in summer 2017, takes the lowly genre to new levels. From the street, you can see through the expansive windows into the high-ceilinged lobby, with its stunning original 1930s tiled bar, an earthy and wood palette, and custom American craftsmen-inspired furniture. What’s the crowd like?In-the-know millennials, laptops aglow, who favor communal-style living to privacy. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.Freehand LA—located in Downtown's historic Commercial Exchange building—offers 167 private rooms (from studios to suites) and 59 shared. They're simple yet stylish, with vibrant hand-woven textiles, painted tiles, custom lights and furniture, and works by local artists. The shared rooms are better and more thoughtful than some private ones out there, thanks to custom cedar bunk beds that have privacy screens, outlets, and reading lights. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.As long as your expectations are calibrated. Tiled bathrooms have toiletries by Argan and have an elevated dorm-style feel, with built-in showers that have curtains. What should we be on the lookout for to eat and drink?Communal seating and lots of greenery set the stage for The Exchange's Israeli-influenced menu of shared plates. On the floor, you'll see original mosaic tile owls (from the Owl Drug Store that was located in the building). In the lobby, Rudolph’s Bar & Tea has loungey vintage furniture and creative tea-infused cocktails, while on the rooftop, the James Beard Award-nominated Broken Shaker serves up tropical drinks and killer views. There's also a rooftop pool. Bottom line: Why are we choosing the Freehand?For the Downtown location, affordable rates, designer interiors, and rooftop bar/pool." - Brooke Porter Katz
