Review: Freehand Miami

How did it strike you on arrival?
One would have had a nearly impossible task convincing my 18-year-old self that I’d ever want to spend a night at a hostel. So imagine my surprise when the Freehand Miami utterly charmed my [redacted]-year-old self. To be clear: the Freehand is a “luxury” hostel, and it rents a range of private rooms, so you won’t have to share a bunk bed with a stranger—at least if you don’t want to (shared rooms that sleep four or eight, and are either co-ed or all female, are available at about a quarter of the price). But if you’re looking for a chic spot for a quick night or two in town, Freehand’s coziness make for an enjoyable evening—especially if you’re traveling solo.

What’s the crowd like?
With most hostels, you’d probably think that what links the guests on any given day is the desire to save their hard-earned cash. But the Freehand is different in that the decision to stay here seems to go beyond budget; there’s a deep feeling of kinship among the (largely younger) guests, and it’s that sense of community that seems to be the Freehand's greatest ally.

Importantly: Tell us about your room.
Though I was staying for just a night, and knew that I probably wouldn’t spend more than a couple of hours in the room (including sleeping), I still opted for a standard king—if only to save myself from the possibility of a snoring stranger sleeping nearby. I was more than a little impressed: The room was plenty spacious for my solo jaunt, and really no different than a standard hotel room. Though the furniture reminded me slightly of IKEA furniture—without actually being IKEA furniture—the overall effect was fun.

We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?
This isn't a place where you remember the thread count of your sheets, but I can confirm that everything was comfortable enough to lull me right to sleep (a cocktail or two at Broken Shaker may have helped induce that slumber).

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?
Other hostels might leave the little things like toiletries up to you, but the Freehand—at least as far as its private rooms are concerned—does that for you, making it virtually indistinguishable from the kind of service you’d get at a proper hotel. A retro-looking mini-fridge was a fun touch, and the artwork, all done by Miami-based artists, was a cut above some of the stuff I’ve seen in much pricier digs.

Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
The bathroom and its many accouterments—including the towels—was a pretty standard affair, but the fact that the bathroom was private at all is worth something.

We can all use some good Wi-Fi. What’s the word on that?
Wi-Fi is password-less and free for all at the Freehand, which is good news for those locals sipping cocktails at the Broken Shaker bar, but not as great a development for guests forking over their cold, hard cash to stay here, as the number of people on their iPhones at any given time could create a slow-down for everyone around them.

Room service: Worth it?
While there’s no room service to speak of, there are two standout places to grab a bite: 27 Restaurant and the Broken Shaker bar. There’s also a guest kitchen, which is open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Just make sure you remembered to bring your own food and don’t try to steal someone else’s.

Did anyone on the staff make an impression?
It may not be fair to hand the trophy over to team Broken Shaker for mixing up some of the most innovative libations around, but have you tasted their cocktails?

Anything stand out about other services and features?
Like the general public, guests at the Freehand have access to the Broken Shaker and 27 Restaurant. But being so near to both of them can almost guarantee that you and the bartender will be on a first-name basis by the end of your stay.

What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
In addition to generous pricing, the outgoing attitude of everyone here, including the guests, created a genuine sense of community that I’ve yet to see replicated elsewhere.

Bottom line: Is it worth it?
If you’re traveling on a budget and don’t want to do the Airbnb thing or, heaven forbid, get stuck staying at some motel near the airport, the Freehand isn’t your only choice of an inexpensive place to stay in South Beach—but it’s absolutely the best.