The L Hotel

We hosted a very small, exclusive corporate dinner in the event space, and the catering team took care of every detail. One guest had a severe dairy allergy that hadn’t been mentioned in advance. The chef quickly adjusted two courses so she could feel safe and included in a spectacular meal. That kind of professional, flexible service says a lot about the quality L'Hôtel maintains.

The location didn’t feel safe to us, especially coming back around 6pm when it was already dark. I stayed two nights with my sister. Service was awful: most of the staff didn’t speak English and weren’t helpful. When we left our bags at checkout, no one checked who was dropping them off or picking them up. A stranger could have taken them without anyone noticing. They also said they’d hold $50 for possible damage and release it after checkout. Instead, the money was charged to my account. When I called for a reimbursement, they blamed the bank, didn’t even ask for my name or room number to look into it, and left me talking by myself on the phone. I’d never recommend this hotel. Breakfast was awful, just a waffle maker, and the area was very dirty. The microwave had dried porridge all over it when I tried to heat milk. The room was okay, but the towels smelled weird from the first day. I don’t know how this is a three-star hotel when I’ve stayed in others with better conditions and service.

The European design and luxury bedding made the rest of our stay blissful. We did have some street noise late on Friday, but the front desk moved us right away to an identical, quieter room on a higher floor. There was no debate or delay, and we didn’t lose any sleep. We really appreciated how quickly and proactively the staff handled it.

I’d forgotten my prescription pillows, which I need to sleep comfortably. Within an hour, guest services found hypoallergenic alternatives and had them brought to the room. That turned what could’ve been an uncomfortable trip into a very restful one. The room also felt airy and spacious despite being in Manhattan, with a minimalist, high-end design.