Eric Razavi
Jul 2026
★★★★★
Disappointing Fourth of July Experience at a Hotel We Previously Loved
My wife and I stayed at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge a few years ago and had a wonderful experience, which is why we chose to return for the Fourth of July weekend. Unfortunately, this stay was very different from our previous visit and fell far short of what we expected from a five-star hotel.
We spent approximately $7,500 for a three-night stay and the July 4 rooftop fireworks event, so our expectations were understandably high. The hotel itself is beautiful, our room was very nice, and the fireworks were spectacular. However, the service, communication, and organization throughout the weekend did not match the luxury experience or pricing.
Some of the issues we experienced:
• We stayed on a high floor, yet a DJ played extremely loud music with heavy bass well past midnight on two of our three nights. Even with earplugs, we could still hear the thumping, making it difficult to sleep.
• There was confusion regarding the rooftop pool hours on July 4. We were told it would be open until 8 p.m., so we went up around 1:30 p.m. Only at 3 p.m. were we told we had to leave because the pool was closing for the event.
• Poolside food service was disappointing. Our food arrived without utensils or napkins. After asking, we waited, then had to ask again ten minutes later. By the time we received them, our food was cold.
• Throughout our pool experience and the July 4 event, dirty plates and empty glasses were left around the seating areas for long periods. When we asked for the area to be cleaned, we were told they would get to it, but it was never addressed.
• At the fireworks event, which cost $1,500 for two tickets, we waited about 20 minutes in the buffet line only to find there were no utensils available. We waited another ten minutes, resulting in cold food.
• Our bathroom sink was clogged and our toilet ran continuously during our stay. We reported both issues and were told an engineer would come to the room, but no one ever arrived and the problems were never fixed.
• Café service was also disappointing. Staff were not particularly welcoming, and basic breakfast items such as yogurt were already unavailable early in the morning.
The biggest disappointment was the handling of the July 4 rooftop event. After paying for premium tickets, we went from our room to the rooftop and were told we needed wristbands. No one could clearly explain where to get them. We were eventually directed outside to wait in line with the general public.
Despite being hotel guests who had already paid for the event, we waited approximately 45 minutes outside in nearly 100-degree heat. When we reached the front, we were told we needed identification that no one had previously informed us we needed. Ultimately, we were allowed in, but by then we were sweaty, frustrated, and had to return to our room to change before enjoying the event.
The rooftop itself was also extremely overcrowded, and closed umbrellas around the edge blocked views of the fireworks for some guests. When we asked if they could be moved, we were told they could not.
We contacted the hotel after our stay to share our concerns. We appreciated the $200 incidental credit they offered, but given the number of issues during such an expensive stay, we did not feel it reflected the overall experience. As of this review, we have not received any further response from management.
This review is difficult to write because we genuinely enjoyed our previous stay at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and wanted to return for another special occasion. Unfortunately, this Fourth of July experience felt poorly organized and did not reflect the level of service expected from a luxury property.
We hope management takes this feedback seriously, because the hotel has a beautiful location and tremendous potential. However, a five-star hotel experience requires not only a beautiful property, but also consistent service, communication, and attention to detail.
