Leon Hotel LES

Canal Street was a cool, interesting base for Chinatown and Little Italy, with the WTC, the Liberty ferry and other attractions accessible from there. The subway is about a seven-minute walk, and Kore coffee is under five minutes away. Breakfast options are at least a seven-minute walk. We had a nice view of Manhattan Bridge from the sixth floor, the top of this small hotel. The room had the basics, including tea and coffee, and there’s water and a vending machine in the basement. Staff were helpful. The shower was excellent and the bed comfortable, though a glass shower panel and the tap leaked a little, and one USB socket didn’t work. There’s a $150 deposit in case of damage, such as to the TV.

I left feeling disappointed and belittled. On our last night, we came back from sightseeing to find that small boxes of gifts from a close friend, packed in a paper bag on the floor, were missing from the room. These weren’t valuable just for their price, around $100; they meant a lot because I only see this friend every couple of years. I told Anwar, but he was overly talkative, deflected the issue, and said he wasn’t responsible. He said the main manager was “asleep,” and when he heard the value, he seemed relieved and did little to help. He said he’d contact the manager when they woke up and follow up about compensation. The next morning, he just handed me a business card and told me to contact them myself. Earlier, about half an hour after check-in, he came into our room without knocking while my family was out and I’d stayed behind because I felt unwell. When I said “hello,” he slammed the door and left without explanation or apology. That felt inappropriate and unsettling. He’d already struggled to count the cash payment we had to make, despite knowing we’d just arrived. The property is old and somewhat dated, but our first impression was positive: it was clean and we had a nice view. The nearby Subway was convenient, though the streets around it were very dirty, with trash everywhere. The high ratings don’t reflect our experience at all.

The rooms were a strong point: spacious, clean, modern, with comfortable beds, a nice bathroom and good views, including some of the bridge and city. They felt fresh for the price and were quiet enough despite the lively neighborhood. Staff were friendly, check-in went smoothly, and they helped with tips and requests. The location is great for exploring downtown NYC, right on Canal St at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge, with Little Italy, LES, SoHo, the Canal St station, the Financial District and Brooklyn easy to reach on foot or quickly by subway. There’s food everywhere around this vibrant spot. Great boutique value. I’d stay again.

The staff were kind and very accommodating, especially the general manager, Hafeez Rehman. My three daughters and I had an amazing time at the Leon Hotel. The rooms were clean and exactly what we’d paid for, and we’ll stay here again.