11 Howard, New York, a Member of Design Hotels

The rooms were nicely decorated and fine, though a little small, and the fixtures were nice. But I wouldn't call this a five-star hotel, whatever some booking sites say. There's no doorman, and the hallways feel depressingly dark. Their floors are worn and creaky, and the carpets are old and sagging. The internet would cut out at random, and service at the front desk didn't impress me. I'd give it 3/5, but it's overpriced.

We had a night here for a friend's birthday and really enjoyed it. The room was clean, the bed was super comfortable, and we were excited when we saw the view from our big terrace. The rates seemed reasonable for what we got and for the location. The bathrooms have actual doors instead of barn doors, which we appreciated, though they could use more counter space. The guys downstairs and everyone else we interacted with were very nice. We'll definitely be back.

The staff were great and helped pull through what was a mixed stay. The rooms were fine, well kept, and basic, but we could hear everything, from neighbors chatting to club music downstairs. We were billed over $100 for room service we hadn't ordered, and it took a week to get the money back. On top of that, a drunk clubgoer nearly knocked over my partner while trying to get into the hotel.

My wife and I stayed here for three nights recently and would gladly return. The location is fantastic, and the hotel and service staff were great. They were very helpful, offered us water whenever we came into the building, and lent us an umbrella on a rainy afternoon.