Freehand Los Angeles

A hostel-hotel hybrid done right in Downtown LA — design-forward and social, with budget-friendly private rooms (and dorms), and the excellent Broken Shaker on the roof. Private rooms for comfort or dorms for budget; the rooftop Broken Shaker has proper cocktail credentials, the lobby coffee is solid, and the social spaces encourage mingling. Summer for rooftop pool season, year-round for the social vibe, with private rooms for quiet. It is a smart hybrid — genuine design and a serious rooftop bar at prices that undercut the boutiques, in a central location near everything. For social, stylish, affordable downtown lodging with a destination rooftop attached, it punches well above its rate.