The Harlem Flophouse

Location: 242 West 123rd Street Private residence, New York, us

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 09:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Amenities & Facilities

• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Non-smoking throughout
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Fire extinguishers
• Smoke alarms
• Key access
• Free wired internet
• Internet access
• Concerts/live shows

Rooms Available

• Double Room

  This double room has a shared bathroom and heating. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Radio
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Shared toilet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed

• Double Room

  This double room has a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and heating. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Radio
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Shared toilet
  • Interconnected room(s) available
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed

• Double Room

  This double room has a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and garden views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Radio
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Shared toilet
  • Interconnected room(s) available
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed

• Double Room

  This double room features a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Radio
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Shared toilet
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Socket near the bed

Guest Reviews

• Arran (10/5): - The harlem flophouse was exactly as advertised, authentic rustic and beautiful, arrived to a beautiful set up room, greeted by the radio playing and the sound of bluejays in the back garden, it was an amazing experience and so well situated for travel throughout the city, a 5 minute walk to 125th street subway station and a 10 minute ride to times square and beyond. 10/10 experience and would happily stay here again.
• Thuy-Duong (9/5): Amazing affordable accommodation in Harlem with an old time vibe - - René ist ein exzellenter, unglaublich sympathischer Gastgeber: Die Kommunikation verlief einwandfrei und als wir ein Problem im Zimmer hatten (defekte Jalousien), hat er das Problem zügig behoben - Unserer Zimmer war sehr großräumig und so liebevoll mit allen möglichen interessanten Erinnerungsstücken dekoriert, sodass man sich richtig wohl gefühlt hat. - gute Lage: Es sind nur 7 min bis zur U-Bahn und mit dem A-Train ist man in ca. 20min am Times Square - Das Gebäude und somit auch die Dielen sind recht alt und knarren bei jedem Schritten. Leider waren die Gäste über unserem Zimmer abends manchmal sehr aktiv/ haben sehr auf den Boden gestampft, sodass sogar der Kronleuchter in unserem Zimmer recht laut vibriert hat. Der Lärm war teilweise etwas störend.
• Daphne (10/5): Experience time travel into the best of the Harlem Renaisannce! - I loved the whole sultry jazz vibe: ambient music plus period woodwork, porcelain, wallpaper, and decor. It felt so much like time travel that I opened the window the first night instead of looking for the air conditioner control. The room was huge and still has all of the boarding room amenities, prompting me to imagine myself as a very comfortable long term guest back in the day. The water temperature controls were finicky but the water pressure was awesome.
• Andrea (10/5): - Das Haus hat genau den Charme, den es auf den ersten Bildern ausstrahlt! René ist ein äußerst liebenswürdiger Gastgeber!
• Chakravarthy (9/5): -
• Catherine (9/5): A wonderful unique experience. Hope to return. - It is a unique place - with art/furniture/fixtures to evoke a specific era. It is inviting. I also loved that Rene hosts jazz nights downstairs. We saw an incredible singer and pianist duo. It was such a treat. Well worth the ticket. I did not dislike anything.
• Szymon (9/5): The best place in the world, recommend everyone! - Amazing host! Beautiful place, nothing to complaint about! I was only missing a kettle to drink a cup of tea :)
• Guillaume (9/5): Très bon séjour dans un hôtel chaleureux et confortable. - Rue agréable et tranquille près du métro 125th. Hôtel très bien tenu. Chambre spacieuse, confortable, au calme. La salle de bain ne se partage qu'avec l'autre chambre de l'étage, ça ne pose aucun problème. Le lieu a vraiment du cachet, on sent qu'il est habité, ça n'a rien à voir avec un hôtel froid et standardisé. Le salon du RDC accueille parfois des concerts de jazz (mais jamais après 22h), l'hôte propose un tarif réduit pour les résidents. Merci à René pour son accueil ! Tout est vraiment très bien, mais la baignoire de la salle de bain du 2e étage devrait être équipée d'un pommeau de douche et d'un rideau (il n'est pas facile de se doucher avec le robinet seul...).
• Lenneke (8/5): Heerlijke uitvalsbasis voor bezoek aan New York - Het is heel fijn om in een gewone woonwijk en straat in New York te verblijven. De metro is maar een paar minuten lopen en rijdt heel erg vaak. De nachten waren heerlijk rustig Badkamer heel erg stijlvol maar eerlijk gezegd is een gewone douche fijner dan ene bad met douche er in. Boven was alleen een wc met bad, maar ik zou zelf het bad weghalen en daar een douche plaatsen. Geen last gehad van andere gasten of Zo, maar is gewoon net iets fijner.
• Manon (8/5): Nous avons passé un super séjour au Harlemflophouse. Cet établissement nous transporte dans les années 30 du Harlem, et - Nous avons beaucoup apprécié la déco rétro de cet établissement qui lui donne un charme fou ! Le lit était un petit peu petit pour deux, mais c’est ok.
• evitina (8/5): Ευχαριστη διαμονη με αισθηση ασφαλειας και ωραιο κλιμα τοσο εσωτερικα στο σπιτι οσο και στη γειτονια - η τοποθεσια αριστη, φιλοξενο κλιμα, μονο παντοφλες, καθαρο σπιτι, ωραια αισθητική σπιτιου η μπανιερα στον οροφο μας δεν ειχε τηλεφωνο για να πλυθουμε και ειχε μια κανάτα. Το φως στον διάδρομο δεν λειτουργούσε έξω απο το δωματιο μας
• Luca (9/5): - I had an amazing stay at this beautiful, authentic Harlem townhouse. On weekends, the ground floor transforms into a cozy jazz club, which makes the experience truly unique. The rooms are spacious, spotless, and very comfortable, and the owner is extremely kind and welcoming. Honestly, I hope to come back soon and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting New York. Best value for money in the city!
• Erik (9/5): Åkte till New York för att uppleva musik. Detta boende kändes helt rätt i och med det. - Fanns möjlighet att äta sittande frukost på åtminstone en restaurang i kvarteret men jag valde att köpa frukost på Dunkin Doughnuts som också låg i kvarteret. Jag har inget att klaga på.
• Katsuhiro (2/5): -
• Monika (9/5): Pełen uroku i charakteru stary dom w Harlemie - Wyjątkowy design, kameralny klimat. Każdy detal przypomina, że jesteś w Nowym Jorku. Zaledwie cztery pokoje w kamienicy zabierającej w podróż w czasie. Blisko do metra. Przyjazny właściciel z sympatycznym kotem. Rewelacyjny stosunek jakości do ceny. Oczywiście łazienka w korytarzu nie jest idealnym rozwiązaniem, ale w przypadku starej kamienicy i małej liczby pokoi nie było to problemem. Można się szybko przyzwyczaić, bo klimat jest domowy.
• Joel (9/5): Not a flophouse at all, this 4 bedroom, shared bathroom space is a lower cost alternative! - I understand this establishment has been a hotel since 1917. Rene, the current proprietor, was gracious. The place is filled with deep connection to the neighborhood and a jazzy vibe that is soulful and real. It seems that there are jazz concerts in the living room from time to time. Sorry I missed this! I'm coming back.
• Patrick (10/5): A timeless stay in a piece if Harlem history. - The authenticity of the property, the quiet and relaxed atmosphere, and the gorgeous time period rooms. Check in was easy and access to the property was smooth.
• Martin (8/5): A unique and enjoyable stay, thanks! - Wonderful character, and chance to experience old world Harlem. Live Jazz is very special. Perhaps the bed and bedding, although in keeping with old styles, could have been modernised for comfort.
• Stefanie (10/5): Very authentic stay in Harlem with great staff - I didn’t really like the bedsheets, they were a bit smelly but for the price I won’t complain
• Lauren (10/5): Exceptional -
• Amanda (9/5): Charming and convenient - Beautiful and charming hotel in Harlem, very conveniently located near the La Guardia airport bus and two subway stations. The neighborhood is safe and has multiple convenience stores, theatres and restaurants. The room is large and has storage space, and a small basin. The room was a bit too cold to be fully comfortable and one would expect that the shared bathroom is cleaned everyday (although we were lucky we were alone for the first two days). The owner came to say hi on the second or third day (would have been nicer to see a face earlier).
• Joseph (9/5): Superb -
• Erwin (8/5): Very good - A truly wonderful and unique hotel in Harlem New York for a very reasonable price. The famous Apollo theatre is just around the corner. The subway takes you straight to Downtown NY and JFK Airport.
• Laura (8/5): The price it financially possible to travel to NYC, better than expected. Would go back. - Two blocks away from the subway, a 15 min ride from central manhatten or a 15 min walk from central park. Nice big room with a sink. Quiet and peaceful. Little closetspace but very specious room. Very good for the price, would recommend. /
• David (9/5): Superb - The Harlem Flophouse is beautiful. Truly a worthwhile stay. I loved the living room area, with all its books and art. When I first entered the room there was jazz playing on the radio in the room. It all felt like being transported back in time. Unfortunately the room I stayed in was dusty, had some cob webs, and seemed as though it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned.
• Alessandro (6/5): Pleasant - Charming, vintage and cozy atmosphere. Smelly dirty old pillows, mattress covers and carpet in the room. Staff couldn’t / wouldn’t resolve the issue. Musty towels, even after changing them on request. Old stained toilet seats. Work in progress in the ceiling of one room and toilet for the air conditioning conducts. Vintage is nice, old and dirty not.
• Matt (10/5): A wonderful, memorable stay in NY with caring hosts. Could not ask for more. - The Harlem Flophouse is a true treasure trove, a time capsule to a beautiful past. I absolutely adored staying there. The rooms are so evocative of the speakeasy era it harkens to. Even in the heatwave that had New York City - and New Yorkers - sweltering when I stayed there, the beds were comfortable and the room maintained at the perfect temperature. As I said to my wonderful hosts upon my departure, I will be back!
• Jan (10/5): Exceptional - A cuddling cat (Phoebe) in the lobby.
• Natalie (8/5): An excellent house and location that instantly transports into the rhythms and romance of Harlem. - Harlem Flophouse is the perfect location from which to explore the life and history of this unique New York neighbourhood. The building has been intelligently and sensitively restored by Rene Calvo, our helpful and friendly host. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable with fittings and decor that helped to create a rich ambience.
• Milena (8/5): Very good -
• Rosie (8/5): Very good - This was a magical place to stay. It has been beautifully renovated, the rooms are huge and have their own sinks which is fantastic when sharing a bathroom. There is a bathroom on both floors so you only have to share with one or two other rooms, and the bathroom itself is old fashioned but beautiful, the shower has great pressure. It's a bare bones service and when you're spending all day out and only really sleeping here it's perfect. There's a subway station a very short walk away so great access to the rest of Manhattan and doesn't take long. Walking distance to Central Park too!
• Jana (10/5): Staying here is a full experience! - It was like a time capsule and felt very homey! Everything was clean, comfortable and I felt very safe throughout my stay.
• Zaki (10/5): Exceptional - A beautifully preserved property with lots of character and a friendly host. Really well located for travelling around NYC and exploring the city. Nothing.
• Sibille (10/5): Best hotel I’ve ever stayed at !!! - It was so clean, quiet, it felt like being home ! Super nice bathrooms, beautiful rooms and lobby.
• Marta (10/5): Exceptional - We had a very pleasant stay here, the house is one of a kind and the vibes were just perfect. René was very nice and accessible! would definitely stay here again and recommend it to my friends
• Samantha (10/5): Clean, comfortable and full of character - We really enjoyed our stay at the Harlem Flophouse. It had so much character, and was also incredibly comfortable and clean. It was very conveniently located (only a short walk from Central Park, and also close to some nice coffee shops and restaurants). The room was beautifully decorated and we loved arriving to some soft jazz being played on the radio as the afternoon sun poured through the windows. We attended one of the bi-weekly live music sessions, which was brilliant, and overall had a great stay. Would very much recommend it as a base for any trip to NYC.
• Krzysztof (8/5): Good choice for the price - Design, atmosphere of the old house, proximity to the metro station, good neighborhood Smell of the towels and bed linen, lack of kettle, doors were not sound proof - you could really hear every step on the corridor
• Irma (10/5): Beautiful house in a cool and upcoming neighbourhood giving you the local and not tourist vibe feeling. - I absolutely loved the interior of the house. René did an amazing job with renovating it. I also loved that some bathrooms had a bathtub and others shower, so you can choose how you want to decompress after all day of walking in the NYC.
• Francesco (9/5): Superb -
• Blanca (10/5): Exceptional -
• Andrea (9/5): Superb - I loved the historic touches -- antiques, music, high ceilings, location. It exceeded my expectations. The mattress was too hard for my preference.
• Tomcolo (10/5): Exceptional -
• Eglings (10/5): A home from home in the Big apple…. - In the heart of Harlem this ‘Flophouse’ conjures up visions of the past, it’s hard not to be lost in the history of the place. If only the walls could talk. Rene couldn’t have done more for my stay, organising my accommodation after multiple changes in my itinerary. A proper gent! That I had to leave.
• Eglings (10/5): Exceptional -
• Eglings (10/5): Exceptional -
• Julia (10/5): Exceptional - We‘ve had a really nice stay at The Harlem Flophouse. Our room was faced to the backyard and it was really quiet. We loved the design of our room, the bathrooms and the whole house. The size of the room was great. It‘s near the Metro and easy to find.
• Aiym (10/5): Exceptional -
• Pieter (10/5): Harlem Flophouse is a unique, comfortable, clean and safe stay for travellers. - We stayed in Harlem Flophouse for 3 nights (following a previous slightly longer stay). We got the same room (Thelonius Monk). Check in was super easy and our host was super responsive and informative. When we first booked, he told us about construction next door which was no problem at all during our stay since they only work on the neighbouring property during the day when you should be out and about anyway. The room was super clean and likewise the bathrooms. Honestly, if people claim otherwise, they must have brought their own bugs with them. Harlem Flophouse is so authentic: Think dark wood bannisters, the smell of wood polish, quirky and intriguing decor; "Thank you" notes forgotten in the desk in our room. There's something so unique about this place - it's like living in album artwork for a while. I stayed here with a child and we never felt unsafe either in Harlem Flophouse or the surrounding neighbourhood and I can contrast this with the experience of a friend who stayed in a modern hotel near Times Square at the same time. It was sweltering hot in New York, but the room has ample windows, bug screens, a strong fan - who needs aircon? Express subway (e.g. A-line) and busses (M3 etc.) that travel along central park are so nearby and makes The Big Apple your Oyster so to speak. The local amenities are also so much better than tourist hotspots: Lincoln Market (open until late) has everything you could possibly need grocery wise (Going to write them a review too!), with the friendliest staff; there's even a nearby Lidl if you're on a budget and some really amazing restaurants. I teased the host that I did not want to share this place with too many other people by writing a good review, but I just could not keep this with myself. I really won't be staying anywhere else when I next visit New York. This place is honestly a gem and should have a cult following, especially at the price. There was nothing I did not like. My initial longing for things like a nespresso maker or kettle in the room soon vanished with all the great coffee in easy reach in the neighbourhood (I'd recommend coffee and pastries from Lincoln Market) if you're in need of a quick breakfast. This place does not pretend to be anything it is not and the descriptions etc. are accurate. Go ahead and get legionnaire's disease in some air-conditioned hell-hole if you like. This place was just perfect as it is. Thank God it doesn't have all the nonsense offered by chain hotels which lack such authenticity. It's like staying in a friend's home. It's the place for you if you're a traveller and not a tourist; a mensch and not a schmuck.
• Rachael (7/5): Fun for a short stay - Good for ambiance and location to subways. RIDICULOUS amount of space. Scaremongering warning language when the door locks perfectly fine.
• Thomas (9/5): A really lovely place to stay - Beautiful interior, very clean, and clear communication with our host.
• Liss (5/5): I loved the Harlem Flophouse and would recommend to people who are good with steep stairs - I loved the atmosphere and the old skool charm of the place! I loved the location and the vibe of the neighborhood. I was sent the wrong code for the door which was a bit disconcerting after 22 hour flight. Thankfully I tried the earlier code sent and it worked!
• Mamdouh (7/5): Good -
• Amy (10/5): Great place with an exceptional host for low maintenance folks! - The host was exceptional. Amenities are lacking, but for the price still an exceptional value.
• Martin (9/5): Inspirational - The lovingly restored early 20th century vibe was a unique experience. The rooms were huge. Saw a great acoustic jazz performance. Super helpful host. Express subway means only 10 minutes to midtown. Good food in the neighborhood. The antique shower took some skill to operate. But I dig that kind of stuff. The wifi was all 21st century though.
• Adam (9/5): Superb -
• Alex (10/5): Beautiful, memorable, welcoming - with the occasional intimate jazz concert downstairs. - You’re staying inside a perfectly preserved work of art. An extraordinary experience.
• Flora (8/5): Very good -
• Anna (8/5): Very good - the building and interior, location. very quiet great atmosphere! the only thing missing for me was facilities to make a coffe in the morning
• Dorita (9/5): Fantastic - Loved our room, location and some really lovely touches prior to and when we arrived. I’d recommend this place. Despite sharing the bathroom facilities, we didn’t have to wait. Almost felt that we had it to ourselves. Really comfortable bed and gorgeous room. What was there not to like? Nothing
• Luke (10/5): Harlem Flophouse Top Marks - The house was beautiful and in a perfect location just 2 blocks away from the subway. We felt at home in the house and loved the decor and atmosphere. The bed was very comfy and the neighbourhood so peaceful Nothing of note however a nice idea could be to have hot drink facilities either in the room or the lobby - a kettle for hot water, milk and some tea/coffee. It would be a nice way to start the day!
• Elmer (9/5): Superb -
• Leidiane (5/5): Passable - price. cold room
• Yimeng (10/5): Exceptional -
• Lodi (6/5): Pleasant - Nice, authentic house, with large rooms, in a rather quiet area My room was not very dark at night, and there is no comfortable place to sit and work in the room. Bathroom is shared - no problem (and this is clearly described in the information) but unfortunately this bathroom has only a bath and no shower
• K (10/5): I felt I was home! the flop house is a special place! highly recommended ❤️❤️ - We had an amazing stay. The property was super clean. It had everything! Perfect for couples . Full of cute touches, loved and photographed every corner. loved the detailing and the art pieces. it’s a house from the movies! Rene is the super host, he helped us finding good cafes around! this house made my stay in nyc special! if you are booking Harlem flop house, I suggest you take some Victorian costume for a photoshoot you wouldn’t wana miss that :D just an electric kettle could be a good addition, I wanted to have coffee or tea sometimes in the room.
• Heidi (8/5): something special - in the entrance area and in my room the radio was playing subtle jazz music; the owner gave a blues concert on one of the nights in the reception area which I enjoyed
• Nadine (8/5): Very good -
• Mira (10/5): We stayed for a week and could happily stay for another week! - The Harlem Flophouse is like staying in a magical museum. It was fantastic! The best part was sitting in the clawfoot bath at the end of a long day walking around New York, soaking and relaxing in the super cute bathroom. We loved staying here and will definitely come again!
• Niang (8/5): Very good - The Harlem Flophouse is really charming, and very well decorated, and it is also very well located within Harlem! The room was quite loud as it overlooked a really busy street.
• Dai (10/5): It is very 19th century America. I like it！ - These room are very beautiful！
• Sam (9/5): Great vibe in an authentic Harlem home. - very authentic atmosphere, beautiful room, friendly host and easy access to various metro lines out of which an express line to Manhattan. Everything was according to the expectations.
• Edita (9/5): This ho tell is a very good choise for money - A very good communication from ownerside. Authentic room design.
• Denise (10/5): It was a great place for a solo traveler. I felt comfortable and safe. - The location is very accessible to the subway and buses. I also walked a lot and used the CityBikes for getting around. My room was spacious, quiet and clean. It was a very unique space which I liked. And a funky neighbourhood. It is far but then New York is a big city... everything is far! That's why the easy access to transit is a big help!
• Martin (7/5): The host was very helpful and home was really atmospheric. Beautiful home. - The home was charming as well as rooms. Our bed could have been more comfortable.
• Fiona (9/5): Stylish and atmospheric accommodation filled with character. Great for a memorable stay. - Stylish and atmospheric accommodation filled with character. Good value for those travelling on a mid range budget but looking to stay somewhere memorable. Lived up to the photos with large rooms. Lots to do in the neighbourhood. The facilities were good, with wifi and no tv. It's not for everyone as the building is quite old with squeaking floorboards and old furniture. On the more basic side of NYC hotels.
• Josh (10/5): Exceptional - A beautiful room in a beautiful house. Everything was exactly as described, and the room and bathroom were clean, comfortable and surprisingly cool on a hot summer's night. The host was friendly and welcoming and there is plenty to discover in the neighbourhood.
• Matthew (10/5): Exceptional - This was the perfect mix of charming character at the right budget price with a great location for subway transit travel. Loved the attention to details and how quiet and chill the place was. There was no AC which was really a first workd problem that was fine with window fans etc
• Chris (8/5): Very good -
• Megan (8/5): a beautiful place with a great host - I loved all of the beautiful antiques and small touches with I was a bit further from things on my itinerary
• Ulrike (9/5): charming, nice and individual! - very charming, nostalgic, well-maintained brownstone. very simple chrck-in and check-out. a lovely experience. there is no a/c, which was a little tough in the midst of a serious heat wave - but there are plenty of fans and in normal weather it wouldn‘t be a problem.

Photos