Sohotel

As others have said, this hotel is in a pretty good location, right on the border of Soho and Chinatown. That makes the entirety of downtown accessible on foot, and plenty of trains close by. The décor is cute and funky, if a bit cheap/​IKEA. And the staff were excellent – super nice and helpful.
But, this hotel needs work. When I arrived at the hotel (which has no elevator and reception on the 2^nd floor), it was prior to check in and they courteously agreed to store my bags. But when I returned later, problems began. First, it took a really long time for my bag to come up from storage. No worries – the desk attendant offered to escort me to my room, where I could wait for my bag. But then, the room I was escorted to was under construction. So we had to return back downstairs and get a new room – and then, when we went to the new room, the key didn’t work. So they had to bring me my key later.
All of this would be excusable if little things like this didn’t keep happening. Like when my key didn’t work again when I came back to the room later. Or when my smoke alarm went off while I was showering due to the steam. Also, because this is a revamped, old hotel, it is not very soundproof — you can hear every conversation in the rooms next door as well as the hallway. Loud loud loud! Midweek in February, this wasn’t too problematic since it was relatively empty. But I can’t imagine a busy summer weekend.
I probably would not stay here again. Though it’s very affordable, the missing amenities (such as an ironing board, closet, or phone to contact the front desk) combined with the other issues make this not such a good deal after all. And my room was one of the tiny ones. There are plenty of other hotels in this price range, so next time I’m in the city I’ll try another one.

Loud. Very, very loud hotel. From the paper thin walls to the heat that ticks and hisses all night long this hotel regardless of location and how cheap it is is simply not worth it… Probably the absolute worst sleep I have gotten in a hotel in a very long time.
If your in your 20’s and don’t mind doors slamming, people basically partying in the hallway, hearing all the traffic outside, a room so tiny that you can barely pass someone else walking around if you turn side ways and walking up flights of steps because there is no elevator then this is the place for you.
Otherwise, steer clear of this place. I would rather pay much more money for real peace and quite rather than having to be black out drunk to not notice all the noise and be woken up every 30 minutes.

Ok. I’d like to start off by saying how completely off base the recent reviews of this establishment read compared to my experience. I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Booked on Friday 12÷4÷15 for a stay 12÷5÷15. Price was reasonable for NYC (2-​Queen bed room). Checked in at 3:00pm on the dot with no problems. Staff was incredibly friendly. Room was a solid ⁹⁄₁₀ on cleanliness. Due to the «bed bugs» posts we had read, we did a search of the sheets and bedding and found no evidence of such claims. We got luck and had a corner room on the front desk level, so noise was a non-​factor. I’d certainly stay here again, and recommend others to stay at the Sohotel.
*4-​stars, because the lobby does have an overpowering scent of air freshener.
This is my first Unilocal post, I felt it necessary to give my «two cents» since it seems like there could be some severely biased posts on this joint.

This hotel is awful. Avoid like the plague. Seriously, avoid. The décor looks swank on the internet but in reality is cheap garbage but that’s neither here nor there. My story, I checked in last Friday eve around 7pm. Upon entering my room I decided to relax a little, started the shower and undressed to get in when I heard a knock at my door. This is 15 minutes after I checked in. I asked who’s there and no answer. They knocked again, this time I yell who’s there? Some man mutters something in Spanish then just opens the door wide and walks in as I’m standing there completely nude. I tell him get the hell out of my room, he slithers back out of the room. Twenty minutes later he’s knocking again. This time I told him to get the fuck away from my door. The «highspeed» internet doesn’t work at all, I mean can even download an email. The cell phone signal doesn’t work in the rooms for some reason and no phones in the room either so you’re basically stranded with no phone, Internet or even the ability to call the front desk.
Additionally when I checked in I asked for an extended check out which they obliged until 12pm instead of 11am. However in the morning their housekeeper started knocking on my door and woke me up at 10:30am with the do not disturb sign displayed in clear site. I explained to her I had late check out. Half hour later another woman started I kicking again, I explained again, for the next hour this happened three more times.
I wish that was where the story ended but it’s not. Upon checking out I noticed bites on my legs, yep BEDBUGS 100% for sure. I saw my family doctor on Saturday afternoon and he said 100% sure fresh bites from bed bugs. This hotel tried to be a swank boutique place but it’s a shit hole that you are paying $$$$ to stay at. Management needs to be fired across the board and replaced. Cleaning service and guest relations that speak clear English and can properly communicate with guests.

3.5−4 Star SoHo landmark. Very cool & cozy spaces. Friendly staff. Large rooms w nice bathrooms. Moderately comfortable beds. No in room movies or mini bar. No room service or Hotel Resteraunt (several in same Bldg next door). Free Wifi. In room climate control. A very nice, reasonably priced downtown Gem. Will definitely be back.

Do not stay here.
The staff is friendly, they try their best, but that is where it ends.
Yea the rooms are small, but in NYC that is common. The rooms are not well appointed, kind of grungy. The walls are paper thin so if you have someone next to you that watches tv late, or likes to talk on their phone or there are more then one person in the next room that stay up late, you are up with them as well. The walls are so thin in fact it’s like they are in your room.
Construction. Yep they have a lot of construction going on and it’s loud. So loud I had to move my room three times in the three days I was there. Again the staff did there best, my problem was more about the less then 10% they offered me off my bill after three poor nights sleep. I spent 1300.00 for three nights of bad sleep and they offered me 100.00 back on my card. Normally I would have been more insistent that they at least half my bill, but I was dealing with a dying father at the time so my focus was on that. I gave them the chance to make it right and they did not, so here I am doing my best to steer possible customers away to one of the several better places to stay in the west or east village. In that price range you have much better choices.
Reading about the bed bugs in one of the other reviews just now, I’m about to go through my luggage one more time just in case something followed me home.
Chris

A cute, boutique hotel in heart of the SoHo/​Little Italy/​Chinatown area. Our room was very small, but immaculate. The standout attribute was the staff — incredibly friendly and attentive.
From my perspective, the negative comments are unfair and many are perhaps untrue. Virtually any habitable hotel in Manhattan is expensive, but this one is just fine.

4 words «FILTHY LINENS BED BUGS» During a getaway midweek girls stay we chose the Shotel because of it’s boutique feel and location. At first blush it was everything we had hoped. However, after night one 2 of the 4 girls woke up with approximately 7 bites down her arm. We did not think too much, until morinng 2 when another girl in the next bed, had bites along her neck and hairline. Upon returing to our unmade room on that day at 4:00 PM, we looked at the linens and almost got sick. Black specks, filthy stains and many long black hairs on one of the beds (we all have blond hair) and black specks on the other bed (we have photos to prove this. The day manager was very apologetic and after a bit of convincing, issued a full refund for the 2 nights we stayed and and one that we were not staying. She gave us garbage bags and told us what we needed to do with our clothing. She explained to us that the room would be fumigated and inspected before selling it to another patron. What a surprize when one of the girls had to run back to the room to get a forgotten item and housekeeping was remaking to room to be turned right over. Upon returning home, it was determened that they issued the credit and then when I left the office must have ripped up the refund!!! My credit card shows a cancelled refund for the 3 nights and a new credit for 2!!! The Genderal manager, Donnett, has been unprofessional to deal with, and will not answer calls from me or any other members in our party. DO NOT STAY HERE. The problems will follow you home.

I came by myself from California and booked this last minute not knowing what to expect. It was affordable, yes the room was on the smaller side but this is NYC. Apparently its NYC’s oldest running hotel from 1805, which definitely adds to its charm. The location is wonderful, cute surrounding area with restaurants, (I LOVED Baz Bagels down the street). It is also a fairly short walk to Broadway. The staff was friendly and accommodating as well. Had absolutely no complaints. Will definitely come back!

Clean, friendly staff, good location. No elevators but only 3 floors so not so bad — and they carried by bag up for me.

We are here on vacation from California for a week. We decided to stay here since the location seem fabulous! We are in love! The staff is so friendly and great! They are very informative and polite. We also were able to check in early. I’d definitely recommend this shabby chic hotel!!!

Very adequate rooms, lobby décor is cute, staff is friendly, location was good for my purposes and close to the subway. Would stay again.

Friends: «Where are you staying?»
Me: «The SoHotel.»
Friends: «Where??»
Me: «The SO-​Hotel.»
The hotel is «so-​so», or a decent place to sleep and leave your stuff while exploring the city. It’s located close to Little Italy, Chinatown, SoHo and many subway stations, which was pretty awesome. A subway station was always about five minutes away. There’s a lot of eateries in the area too. I’d definitely recommend Egg Shop and Katz!
My friend and I stayed in a room with one bed… the bed took up 95% of the room. It was a struggle to move my suitcase from one side of the room to the other. There was about two feet of room between the bed and the wall. I would not recommend this room if you’re claustrophobic!
Since it’s a small hotel, the staff’s face looked familiar after awhile and they were very friendly. They helped us move our luggage up and down the stairs as well as answering our questions about the city. And yes, I did say up and down the stairs. The hotel does not have an elevator, so I’d recommend you get a room on the first floor if possible.
If you’re looking for a place to sleep, leave your belongings, and do not really care about a fancy place, I’d recommend the SoHotel.

This place has great character and industrial chic design (exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood furniture, bright colors, interesting art). The staff, top to bottom, is attentive and friendly.
We were told we had one of the larger rooms (2 beds), which was very nice, but seeing a glimpse of a normal size room it looked a little small; can’t say for sure.
The price was great for any decent big city hotel, much less central to all of lower Manhattan, so for a place with this much character this affordable there’s really nothing bad to say. Wanted to stay longer.

The bellhop was nowhere in sight so we had to carry our own stuff. Normally not a big deal, but there’s no elevator. You have to go up 2 flights of stairs to get up to the reception desk.
First, they couldn’t find my reservation.
They sent us to the wrong room. We walked in on strangers, which was awkward to say the least, and were forced to walk down 2 flights of stairs with luggage to get them to check and eventually give us the right room key.
That’s 4 flights of stairs to get to our room.
There was pubic hair in the bathroom when we got there.
The lamp didn’t work.
The beds are sunken in. The sheets were stained.
There was nowhere to plug in our cell phones. They covered the only outlets in the room with furniture.
The room was arctic and the space heater they provided didn’t work.
The walls are paper thin and you can literally hear EVERYTHING. I could hear everything happening in the bathroom of the room next door, everything in the room on the other side, everything in the hallway.
I left a key card at the desk for my friend and they lost it. When they made her a new key card, mine no longer worked.
Despite a «do not disturb» sign, they still tried to come into my room.
The water from the showerhead literally came out as a trickle. One sad stream, like a leaky faucet. In no way enough to wash your hair.
The hair dryer stopped working after 30 seconds.
Checkout was a NIGHTMARE. Despite having 2 people at the front desk, I was ignored for upwards of 10 minutes. I went and stood directly in front of the person so they knew I wasn’t with the giant party of insanely annoying college kids, blocking every exit and taking up a ton of space, at the other side of the desk. She stared at the desk, ignoring me, for a full 60 seconds before I asked to speak to a manger. Turns out that Dennette, the woman ignoring me, IS a manager. She was supposed to contact me in regards to my stay. Shockingly, she did nothing.
As others stated, this is a hostel fraudulently marketing itself as a «boutique» hotel. The rooms look nothing like the photos on the site and are a HUGE ripoff for the price. Absolutely NOT WORTH THE MONEY. Try the Solita– it’s nearby and a bajillion times better.

We got in very early… way before check-​in time and they allowed us to check our bags. Once we got back later they promptly returned our bags and bellman brought them to our room. We had 5 people so we stayed in the family style room. The ambiance of the hotel is very cool. The décor and furniture is old and antique looking but it makes a funky vibe with the rest of décor. This is the oldest hotel in nyc. The room is small and compact just like the city itself. Most importantly… it was clean and comfortable. I don’t come to nyc to spend much time sitting in my hotel room so those two factors are what is most important to me.

Couldn’t imagine a nicer staff. Everyone was all over it trying to make our trip perfect. Definitely one of the cheaper hotels in Manhattan so don’t set your expectations sky high and you will be fine.

Excellent hotel in Soho! Rooms are small but if you request a family room you get a bit more space. Staff is very helpful and facilities a definitely up to speed. Beds are good and shower ok. The neighborhood is in development but you are very close to the subway. Would definitely co e back here
.

Dieses Hotel habe ich mir vor allem wegen der Lage ausgesucht, zwischen Chinatown und Little Italy — das ist optimal, schon wegen der guten Cafés und Restaurants in der Nähe. Die Zimmer sind arg klein, man fühlt sich wie in einer Raumstation! Dafür ist der Empfang wirklich nett und persönlich, und die Kaffee-​Ecke hat eine schöné Atmosphäre, nicht so kühl wie in den meisten Hotels von NY. Man merkt, dass das Haus eine Geschichte hat. Alles ist blitzsauber, die Zimmerservice-​Frauen geben sich da viel Mühe.
Als störend habe ich den Lärm empfunden. Man kann zur Straße wohnen, da wird man von Polizeisirenen geweckt, oder nach hinten zum Hof, da rumpelt eine altmodische Warmwasser — Anlage. Ohrenstöpsel empfehlen sich auf jeden Fall! Allerdings ist das in weit teureren Häusern in NY kaum besser.

Rénové avec goût. Chambres calmes et literie confortable, mais espace restreint. Wifi rapide et performant. Personnel accueillant. Quartier soho sympathique. Avons passé deux nuits, la première a été très calme, mais un peu de bruit lors de la seconde. Climatisation un peu bruyante. Prix inférieur à la moyenne pour Manahttan.

I was really disappointed in my stay at Sohotel. My aunt and I were in NYC for one night while we were seeing a concert at the Bowery Ballroom. The location was convenient, but that’s about where that stopped.
I had read reviews, so I somewhat knew what to expect when I arrived, but frankly it was worse that I had thought.
The good:
— Location if you are attending something in the Bowery
The bad:
— 4^th floor walk up with all your luggage
— Room was $ 250 for basically a closet (I read that some people found cheaper rooms. I looked high and low and with tax this was the cheapest that we could find)
— Room was old and not updated. Old dresser that looked like it came from off the street. Cracks in the walls and paint. Cracks in the bathroom floor.
— Smallest bathroom I’ve ever seen in my life
— NO WINDOWS. There was a «skylight» in our room which was basically a small hole in the ceiling with a dirty window covered by a grate.
— the fan in our room was one of those $ 50 chinsy apartment fans and squeaked all night
— AC was so high up that we couldn’t reach to turn on/​off/​adjust. Our room was about 100 degrees all night. We both slept with no covers on and left at 5:30am the next day because we slept so poorly.
No thanks.

I stayed here one, somewhat over a year ago, and I would never stay here again. I was torn between giving this joint 2 stars or 3, and it really deserves about a 2.4 star rating.
The hotel, including the lobby, hallway and rooms, is basically functional and adequate in terms of the basic facilities. It is totally acceptable in those realms. And the front desk staffers, while often a bit quirky, are pretty good at what they do, with the sole exception of the BIZARRE matter which I will mention below. Incidentally, a lot of the clientele are somewhat «trendy» Europeans and South Americans, so, if you are loking for a hotel with an artsy or trendy clientele, this will likely fit the bill.
What is NOT acceptable is that this hotel bills itself as a non-​smoking hotel, and the room that I booked, and was given, was, of course, a non-​smoking room. However, the stark fact is that, both day and night, there are a great number of «illegal smokers» (the term used by the hotel front desk staff in repeatedly and casually dismissing the problem, and in refusing to address the issue) in a great many of the rooms, and thus I found that the hallways always smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, and my «non-​smoking» room, due to smoke-​laden air coming in under the door, and through the cracks in the brick room walls, and via the ventilation system, always stank of cigarette smoke! Always. It was pretty nasty!
I complained numerous times about the smoke problem to the front desk staff and even to front desk managers, but each time they smiled, gave me excuses and did nothing about the issue. This hotel relies heavily upon the European and South American tourists, and it is primarily many hof these tourists who insist upon «smoking illegally» (the hotel’s term) in their rooms, and it is PAINFULLY OBVIOUS that the hotel managment has made a conscious decision not to risk alienating these many «illegally smoking» foreign guests by asking them to stop smoking in their rooms. The net reult is that the hotel stinks of smoke worse than many hotels where smoking is allowed everywhere. Because of this fact alone, and the complete complacency of management in response to my complaints, I would NEVER stay in this hotel again!
Some more notes:
This hotel has no elevators, and thus I needed to climb two flights of stairs (I was starting from the second floor, which is where the lobby and front desk are located) to reach my room. This did not bother me at all, for I love any chance to get a bit of exercise in our modern over-​pampered world, but I was a bit shocked, after having checked in, when a bellhop offered to escort me to my room, and also offered to carry my luggage. I accepted his offer to show me the way to the room (else I would never have found it in the very old but well-​cared-​for and well-​appointed building), but I insisted on carrying my own luggage, simply because my body needed the exercise.
My room had two queen beds, and the room size was just about identical to that of the rooms in most Manhattan hotels in the $ 180 to $ 440 price range, which means that it was a bit small (but totally comfortable and workable), simply due to the realities of real estate prices and property taxes in Manhattan.
I found the hotel interior, including the room, to be very well-​maintained and well-​restored, given that the SoHotel is located in a quaint old building with a lot of history behind it. The hallways are rather narrow (which is fine, no complaints there. …) and the stairwells seem to be the original narrow stairwells from the original interior architecture, but I have no complaints at all about the narrowness of the old stairwells and the hallways, and, in fact, each added to the charm and quaintness of the hotel.
Again, however, I would never return to this hotel, simply due to the problem of the many guests who smoke behind locked doors in their «nonsmoking» rooms and thus stink up the hallways and the other rooms, and due to the total lack of interest and sincerity on the part of staffers and management in managing the behavior of the many «illegal smokers». Overall, quite disgusting!