The room, described as a "deluxe king" was small by most standards but charming, tastefully decorated (no art, just a full-length mirror and attractive patterned wallpaper) and spotlessly clean. Strangely, the closet was accessible only from the tiny bathroom. By tiny, I mean that the toilet was sandwiched between wall and shower, and the sink could be used only by stepping back and closing the door behind me. But again, everything was lovely. A towel hook on the wall near the shower would be a useful addition. A large tray containing Room Service instructions had been left on the very comfortable bed. There was really nowhere to place it except on the desk, which rendered the desk overcrowded. These are minor quibbles. Another was the annoyance that despite the existence of double-paned sliding windows, they could not be opened. More serious but not deal-breaking were the odd smell in the lobby entrance (gas? brass polish?) and the matter-of-factness of the front desk staff when one expected cheerfulness. Helpful, yes, warm and friendly, not so much. The friendliest staffer was the fellow on duty at 5:00 am.
A great extra at the Lancaster is the free shuttle service, in a leather-seated Suburban, within a 3-mile radius of the hotel. Errands, a ride to a restaurant, or a lift to the ballpark - all free (well, you should tip, of course) and the driver and doormen are very nice.
All in all a pleasant stay in a hotel that is much preferred to the cookie-cutter sameness (and, most often, terrible decorating sense) of chain hotels.