Yes, NYC is expensive and maybe a little dirty, but where else can you find food, people, and endless things to do all in one place? Even with its chaos, I still find myself coming back. Normally, my boyfriend and I stay at his sister’s apartment in Queens, but this time we were in town for her wedding, so we found a hotel for ourselves.
The hotel search, though… wow, it was tough.
Once you factor in taxes, fees, and the ridiculous pricing, most places came to around $320+ CAD per night. Yeah, that was NOT happening—imagine all the experiences you could have for that kind of money! But after digging through reviews and comparing endless options, we stumbled upon this gem in the Lower East Side, and honestly, I was blown away by how great it was.
Meet: Untitled At 3 Freeman Alley
Location
The hotel is tucked away in the Lower East Side, and imho, it’s the perfect spot—especially if you’re into the cool and relaxed vibe (I’m a woman in her mid-20s for reference). My personal fave area to wander around is SoHo, which is close by. It’s got this charming mix of restaurants, shops, and cafes that are impossible not to love, especially when you’re from a city like Vancouver, Canada.
A few places I couldn’t get enough of:
✹ Prince St. Pizza – Iconic, cheesy, and worth the wait.
✹ Thai Diner – I might have dreamt about their Thai tea pancakes.
✹ Van Leeuwen – Because a sweet treat should always be on the list, obviously.
Everything I like was within walking distance, which was such a bonus!
Aesthetic
Let’s talk about the vibe. Imagine a Muji store turned into a hotel—minimalist, clean, and calming.
I’ve always found hotel rooms to feel too busy with their heavy carpets and bulky furniture, but this place nailed simplicity. It had all the walnut-colored wood, private bath and shower, and enough space to feel functional without being cramped.
It kind of reminded me of the Never Too Small series on YouTube, where every inch of space is designed intentionally to make it feel bigger than it actually is.
Price
Okay, so here’s the crazy part. For all this, we were only paying around $250 CAD per night. Compared to most of the other options we saw, it was a steal. They also had this cool “Eco” option, where you can skip the daily cleaning service and save about $70 CAD per night. Honestly, we didn’t need fresh sheets or towels every day, so opting for that made the stay even more affordable. Plus, it felt good knowing we were being a little more environmentally conscious during our trip.
Workspace
While the room had a small desk, the Wi-Fi in the room wasn’t the best, and honestly, I didn’t work this trip. I was way too focused on wedding prep for my boyfriend’s sister.
But the cafe downstairs was perfect for that. During the day, it was packed with remote workers—people were taking calls, working on laptops, the whole scene. And even better, I never had a problem finding a table. They also open up the space in the evenings after cafe hours, so if you’re a night owl, it’s a great spot to hang out and get work done.
Also, complimentary baked goods and espresso-based drinks before 11 am?
Yes, please. I pretty much woke up early because of their croissants during our stay.
Other Features
Oh, and I have to mention some of the other cool features:
✹ A rooftop bar
✹ A tattoo parlor
✹ A mini convenience store
Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay in NYC. Between the location, aesthetic, and reasonable pricing (at least for NYC), it’s the kind of spot I’d go back to in a heartbeat.
If you’re heading to the city and want a hotel that’s cozy, clean, and doesn’t totally wreck your budget, this one’s worth a look. Check out Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley’s website.
