Flatotel New York

It’s a great hotel in a really good spot in the heart of NYC, near all the main tourist attractions. I’d recommend it and stay again. My only complaints were the lack of a kettle or anything for making drinks in the room, and that some staff could have been more helpful.

I usually avoid negative reviews, but I have to share what happened. I was visiting for business with Time Inc and stayed nine weeks in Apr/may 2011. They upgraded me to a suite on the 36th floor, and everything was great until the end. My card had an issue and the payment for a huge amount, 18K, wasn’t going through. I think I got tricked by the upgrade and being charged different amounts each night. I had a prepaid travellers card from icici, which I don’t recommend. A few days before checkout, they called me to the lobby and locked me out of my room. It was humiliating. I had to call my office in Bangalore and get someone else’s Amex card to pay. I wouldn’t recommend this place.

The room change was the best part of my stay. My first room was about 85-degrees despite the AC being on full blast, and it had no wifi signal, even though the company advertises “free wifi throughout the hotel.” When I called down, they said someone would bring me a cable. I have a Macbook Air without ethernet, so I asked if they could make the wifi work as promised. They moved me to a cooler accessible room, which was fine, if a bit odd with everything low and the doors very wide. Tiffany, I believe, authorized the swap and was VERY nice. The concierge and about half the front desk staff were nice too. The others weren’t bad, just had typical NY and/or gay attitude. The hotel wasn’t horrible, but I wouldn’t choose it again with so many options in NYC. It’s a decent-sized boutique-ish place run more like a small chain hotel, with contemporary furniture and not much frou-frou. I don’t know how Travelocity and Orbitz give it four stars. The hotel could desperately use updates, and things felt gray and worn down. It’s not a bad price, but it wasn’t the cheapest, and I could have found something better nearby, even if less boutique. Maybe three stars. Breakfast was disappointing. Both mornings I tried, the fruit bowl was almost gone, with just two pieces left, and there were only a few tiny pastries and bagels. There were no plates, and another customer went into the kitchen to get a stack. The self-serve coffee pots were empty for more than 20 minutes. On the third day there was nowhere to sit, and although no one was at the lobby bar, staff didn’t want me to sit there with coffee and a bagel. They also don’t offer 24-hour room service, gave me no nearby restaurant suggestions or menus, and my minibar was empty and switched off. The tiny lobby store closed early. I’d go with another brand next time.

They’ve got funky decor and excellent service at this great little-known boutique hotel. It’s a nice spot to meet in mid-town near time square, and the restaurant in the lobby has a great wine selection.