This is a hard hotel to review because it's an excellent value and in a way, is what it is. The lobby area and staff are great. Definitely hip vibes. And it's surrounded in DTLA by nice quick service options like Sweetgreen, Calif Chicken Cafe, Starbucks, a nice french pastry shop, Whole Foods, etc.
BUT it is still DTLA, which means it's gritty and colorful and a bit stinky. Just how that part of the city is.
And in the Freehand itself, you can't escape that it's an upscale hostel, with people walking through the hallway with dop kits and semi-prison vibes in the upstairs hallways.
My corner king room was huge and an EXCELLENT value. But it's definitely has an urban hostel vibe and more like an Ace Hotel than anywhere else I've stay in its military minimalism.
I'd stay there in a pinch on a budget again, for sure. But would not bring my family.