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First Look: Inside The Lobby At The Flatiron Hotel

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1141 Broadway [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010
August 23, 2011 at 9:16 AM | by | Comments (7)

Last night, we got the chance to poke around inside the lobby of the Flatiron Hotel, which as we mentioned two weeks ago, is finally open for business. Though, since our visit took place around 10:30pm, the deserted lobby gives it kind of a ghost hotel feel. Which actually sat pretty well with us!

The receptionist on duty basically gave us free reign to roam through the lobby's first and mezzanine levels, photographing everything from the marble floors to the fish tank to the weird sink area by the front door (there's still some work to be done, obviously). No lobby bar, but we did find out that a rooftop bar—always a great addition to any neighborhood—is on its way. Our two cents: give the nearby Ace a run for its money and keep drink prices low. #JustSayin

For a midtown property, the lobby space is quite large, and when it's as empty as it was last night, feels quite old-timey and grand—a piano wouldn't be out of place here. Maybe the effect is also due partly to the shiny marble floors, silver mosaic tiles and miniature sconces mounted on the walls.

The open-plan mezzanine level, a clean, quiet upstairs retreat with simple tables and chairs, hangs overhead dramatically. Up here, it is possible to gaze down at the lobby below, as well as out onto Broadway. Again, we were there at night, but the abundant windows and wide, bright surfaces here would ensure plenty of natural light.

Only at the end did we notice signs posted all around the outside of the building, advertising a public hearing tomorrow. That's when the Flatiron's liquor license and rooftop bar fates will be decided. Stay tuned!

[Photos: HotelChatter]

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Return to » First Look: Inside The Lobby At The Flatiron Hotel


Super classy...

Grand Opening sign there on the wall. Design by Microsoft.

Hope the rooms are more intriguing than the weirdly devoid lobby area. I'll take wall-to-wall hipsters at the Ace over echoey blankness any day. Please tell us there's more to come?

chriswooster on August 23, 2011 at 11:54 AM #Permalink

two things

that Grand Opening sign is surely from The Print Shop, you know that printing software that let us make cards and banners on our computers in the 80s.

second, what is that sink area all about?

third, forgive me, i just thought of another thing, those little lights in the ceiling are very stretch limousine.

lastly, is this place called Flatiron Toshi or just Flatiron?

juliana on August 23, 2011 at 12:36 PM #Permalink

It's a work in progress?

The sink area is a mystery. When you walk in from the Broadway entrance, it's immediately on your right. There's an empty alcove with a small sink. Weird.

The website calls it the Flatiron Toshi, but there's no mention of Toshi inside the actual hotel.

And yeah, the lights are kinda "eh," but I actually liked how empty and sleek everything was. Reminded me of the apple store :)

ASchechter on August 23, 2011 at 3:07 PM #Permalink

weird

That is some SERIOUSLY unfortunate lobby furniture. The leather couch and chairs are horrid, and those basic chairs are FROM IKEA.
JetSetCD on August 23, 2011 at 11:03 PM #Permalink

Lots of people joke

About hotels using IKEA furniture as a way of saying the place is cheap but are those chairs really from there? Oh noes! That said I forgot to address the part I liked the most---fishes!!
juliana on August 23, 2011 at 11:23 PM #Permalink

Kind of a Shame...

Aren't these owners famous for hostel chic? I think the people at the Ace wouldn't be too happy to be compared to this hotel which will barely be a 3-star.
Great location and a cool architectural building however without the fish tank no one would ever talk about it.
Also after a quick Google search it looks like Toshi money could be tied in court due to defaulting on an $8M loan.

This 'grand opening' may barely get off the ground...

CBBerg on August 24, 2011 at 9:28 AM #Permalink

Seriously flawed

It's a crime to compare this place* (*not calling it a hotel) to the Ace. It's like comparing some deformed mushroom to a sleek and healthy birch tree, just on account of their proximity. Absurd lighting and incredulously tacky decor (1970s Macau casino style) are really the least of this property's troubles. The investors who brushed off Toshi's Brooklyn hotel project had it right, sadly someone else bought-in into Toshi's hospitality dreams. And therein lies the problem. Toshi can't run a hotel (I know the man). He's an awesome and slick salesman but operationally utterly clueless and I doubt the 'talent' he brought in on this project is going to save it, from him. As the bills start coming in and investors start looking for a return look for some horrendous TripAdvisor reviews. Toshi earned a reputation in the past as (to say it kindly) someone who collects payment/unloads a product, but never really stands behind it... and that simply will not do in hospitality (or more aptly here, super short-term furnished rentals). Finally, I'll just say that there most likely is a very good reason there are no pictures of the rooms on the website.
Purpose on September 8, 2011 at 6:26 PM #Permalink

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