Los Angeles
Design-forward, socially electric, historically grounded. Think hostel energy with boutique hotel polish — bunk rooms with privacy screens exist on the same floors as king suites with panoramic DTLA views. Roman & Williams did the whole thing, and it shows.
Non-hotel guests can access the Broken Shaker rooftop pool with a $65 minimum spend — so if locals are there, they're paying to be
Why It Matters
The largest vintage blade sign in Los Angeles — a 12-story neon 'Commercial Exchange' — marks the entrance. The Broken Shaker is a James Beard Award finalist and winner of Tales of the Cocktail's Best American Hotel Bar award. The Exchange restaurant is the first California project from design firm Roman & Williams. Four years running on Condé Nast Traveler's Top 15 Hotels in Los Angeles list.
Freehand LA lives inside the historic 12-story Commercial Exchange Building in downtown LA — the same building once home to Edgar Rice Burroughs's publishing company. Designed throughout by Roman & Williams, it runs the full spectrum from custom cedar bunk-bed dorms to sweeping top-floor loft suites, all sharing the same dark woods, cream walls, and locally commissioned artwork. The rooftop Broken Shaker bar and award-winning restaurant The Exchange pull real foot traffic from locals, which tells you something.
Where You'll Stay
8 room types available
Deluxe King – Corner Studio
A large private room with a studio apartment layout. Corner position means large windows on two sides and solid natural light. Good pick for a longer DTLA stay — roomier than a standard hotel room.
1 King · 45 sqm
King
The entry-level private room. At 225 sq ft it's small, but the Roman & Williams design keeps it from feeling like a shoebox. Comfortable bedding, en-suite bathroom, the same artwork program as pricier rooms. Works if you just need a private space and plan to spend most time in the common areas.
1 King · 21 sqm
Premium King – City View
Same footprint as the Skyline View king, with city-facing windows. Roman & Williams design with hand-woven textiles and locally commissioned artwork. Solid mid-tier private room option.
1 King · 29 sqm
Premium King – Skyline View
A well-designed standard king room with views of the LA skyline. Hand-woven textiles and artwork from local LA artists throughout. Compact but properly appointed — not a closet.
1 King · 29 sqm
Private 6-Bed Room
Six custom cedar bunk beds with privacy screens, personal outlets, and reading lights. One private en-suite bathroom. Often available in a female-only configuration. A step up from a typical hostel dorm — the privacy screens make a real difference.
6 Twins (bunk beds) · 31 sqm
Private 8-Bed Room
Eight custom cedar bunk beds with built-in privacy screens, personal outlets, and reading lights. Two private en-suite bathrooms. Storage lockers included. This is the social option — great for groups booking the whole room, or solo travelers comfortable with shared accommodations that are a genuine step above a hostel.
8 Twins (bunk beds) · 53 sqm
The Burroughs Suite
Named after Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose publishing company once occupied this building. Top-floor suite with unbeatable panoramic DTLA views and open apartment-style layout. The most storied room in the house.
1 King · 70 sqm
Two Bedroom Loft Suite
The top-floor flagship. Open-plan apartment-style layout with sweeping panoramic views of downtown LA. Fits a small group or family. Two separate sleeping areas — one king bedroom and one quad room — so there's actual privacy.
1 King + 1 Quad · 88 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Bikes available for guest use to explore downtown LA.
Regular programming at the hotel and Broken Shaker — DJ pool parties, Pride events, seasonal gatherings. Past events include 'Boots The House Down' Pride Pool Party. Check the hotel's events calendar for current programming.
Broken Shaker's themed happy hour — Monday through Thursday, 4pm to 7pm. Special cocktails at $12 plus bar snacks. A reliably fun, affordable way to experience the rooftop without paying full prices.
On-site curated retail shop — Paper8 — stocking a selection of goods in keeping with the hotel's design-forward sensibility.
The hotel offers private event spaces and packages for groups of 15 or more, covering intimate dinners, celebrations, and corporate gatherings across its various venues including Broken Shaker and Rudolph's Bar & Tea.
Open-air rooftop pool on the Broken Shaker deck. Open daily 11am to sundown. Hotel guests get up to two hours on pool lounge chairs with no minimum spend. Non-guests can access with a $65 per person minimum spend.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Off-street self-service parking available. Charges apply.
On-site valet parking described as convenient and affordable. Charges apply.
Pets allowed with a non-refundable cleaning fee.
Outdoor rooftop pool on the Broken Shaker deck. Open daily 11am to sundown.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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