Harlem Flophouse

Set in a gorgeous brownstone in the heart of Harlem, the Harlem Flophouse is a real gem. It's an exquisitely furnished inn that offers beautiful rooms with retro and antique furnishings, and rates that are very affordable for New York.

Each of the guest rooms at the Harlem Flophouse is named for a different personality (you can stay in the spirit of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Chester Himes, Corky Hale or Nat King Cole), and their décor is adjusted accordingly. Many of the beautiful furnishings on display have been brought back from different corners of the world: huge classroom wall maps, oil paintings, tin Thai-language signs, Finnish candy packaging and so on.

In keeping with the building’s historic nature (it was originally a single family home, built in the 1890s), rooms are happily old-fashioned in the amenities department. That means no television, radio or AC.

Bathrooms are all shared at the Harlem Flophouse, except for in the Ellington room, which has a private bath. There is one bathroom on each floor, and both are spacious and sparkling. Each of the four rooms has its own beautiful antique sink.

Hotel

Those looking for a personal, “local” experience will appreciate the simplicity and eclectic feel of the Harlem Flophouse. The Flophouse publishes its own guide to the neighborhood, a pithy and knowledgeable little pamphlet that we'd bet most guests hold onto long after they've returned home.

Note that the Harlem Flophouse does not serve breakfast, and does not have an elevator.

Location

The Harlem Flophouse may not be in the thick of things, but its location offers something special for those seeking a quiet and more local experience. The quaint, brownstone-lined street feels quintessentially “New York,” and Morningside Park, just a stroll away, offers a pleasant respite, while Grant’s Tomb and lovely Riverside Park are both just a few blocks farther west.

While the more mainstream New York sights (from Central Park to attraction-packed Midtown) are a short subway ride away, the area surrounding the Flophouse has plenty of its own sights. The gorgeous Columbia University campus and impressive Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine are both within easy walking distance, and the famed Apollo Theater and cool Studio Museum of Harlem are both located on 125th Street, just north of the hotel.

Transportation

Subways: The Harlem Flophouse has two subway stops, each about a five-minute walk away. The A/C and B/D lines stop at 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, while a few blocks away you can catch the 2/3 lines at 125th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

JFK: To get to the Harlem Flophouse from JFK, take the AirTrain to Howard Beach and transfer to an Uptown/Inwood-bound A train. Get off at 125th Street, a few short blocks from the hotel.

LaGuardia: From LaGuardia, take the M60 bus which picks up outside the terminal and stops at 125th Street/Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, two blocks from the Harlem Flophouse.

Newark: From Newark, take the AirTrain to the NJ Transit station, and then any NJ Transit train into Pennsylvania Station. Then take an uptown A or C train to 125th Street and walk to the hotel.

Read more about transportation into New York.