Canal Loft Hostel & Hotel

The room was 311, facing a busy street, so there was some noise. We stayed three nights before taking a cruise in New Jersey on 10/16/2025. The hotel is basic, but our experience was very good and we had no complaints. For the price, the location and service are hard to beat. Our room was large, tidy, very clean, and had no smell. The bed was comfortable and clean too. Bathrooms are spacious and clean, with a very good shower. Towels are provided on request and were clean and fresh. They don't do daily room service, but supply essentials like soap and towels. There's no breakfast, though there's an area where you can buy food and sit down. Plenty of restaurants and food shops are nearby. The building has both stairs and an elevator, and they'll hold luggage if you arrive early or leave late. WiFi is free and fast throughout. The lobby could use an update. Its old furniture isn't attractive, and staff should wear uniforms or something to help guests tell who's working. We couldn't tell who was who when we arrived or during our stay. I'd return to this basic hotel next time I'm in New York.

The area felt filthy, though the metro station is only 400m away, a short walk with luggage. The lounge smelled like cigarette smoke and was horrible. My room was very dark, with just one pathetic lamp in the corner, and there was no body wash or bottled water. When we arrived, reception was unattended for about 40 minutes, despite a note saying someone would be back in 10. Several guests got frustrated and left. We were told to leave our luggage in the hallway, which felt unsafe since nobody had been at the desk for so long. We chose to check in early at 11 a.m. and paid an extra USD 50. I still had USD 45 to pay, but the receptionist tried to charge USD 90-plus and couldn't explain the taxes and service charges. Since our room faced the street, it was extremely noisy when we tried to nap after checking in. Please avoid this hotel at all costs.

The location was the one good point: right in the heart of Chinatown and Little Italy, near the Brooklyn Bridge. We stayed five nights, but I'd look for another budget hotel in lower Manhattan. There was a moldy odor in our room as soon as we entered, and it got stronger when the AC was switched on, so the filter clearly hadn't been changed recently. The bathroom had no toilet paper, and the body wash and hand soap dispensers were broken and took a lot of force to use. The website and front desk advertise 24-hour service, but help was hard to find in the mornings and sometimes in the evenings. With an early flight, we couldn't get our deposit back, which was frustrating. Some staff who were there were unnecessarily rude too. The service overall was far from satisfactory.

The bathroom had an awful, high pitched noise coming from the ceiling or light fixture area. I had to keep the door closed to muffle it, and wore earplugs while in the room and both nights to sleep. I also found the chain lock broken off the door. That didn't feel reassuring, since the front doors were left open when desk staff weren't physically there around the clock. Anyone could walk in. I've never had a stay like this, and the price was nowhere near justified. I was very disappointed and can't recommend the hotel. I arrived to find the city view room I'd been assigned apparently occupied. There was a physical key in the door and someone singing loud Spanish music inside. I knocked, waited a few minutes thinking staff might still be cleaning, then knocked again. A shirtless man opened the door and said it was his room. The hotel uses key cards, so I don't know how he had access with that actual key in the door. They gave me a “new” room facing the back of the hotel and other back apartments, rather than Canal street. It had only a sliver of a bridge view, which I guess was my new “city view.” The room looked rough, with stains and dings everywhere, and clearly needed TLC. I had to rush to an appointment, but noticed the noise when I came back that night. I have a video of it, though I don't think I can post it.