citizenM: A Smarter Way to Stay in the City

By Nos.3 Editorial Team

New York doesn’t need another hotel. It needs places that understand how people actually move through the city. citizenM figured that out early.

citizenM Bowery Rooftop Bar View of the city | Photo courtesy

The Brand, founded in 2008 by Rattan Chadha, arrived with a clear point of view: central locations, serious beds, sound art, fast Wi-Fi, and no unnecessary fluff. Rooms are compact but efficient, XL king beds, wall-to-wall windows, power showers, everything controlled from a tablet. You’re not here to hang out in your room all day anyway.

Everything is controlled via tablet | Photo courtesy

What sets citizenM apart is what happens outside the room. Instead of traditional lobbies, you get living-room-style spaces that feel closer to a downtown coworking spot than a hotel. People actually work here, meet friends here, and end up staying longer than planned. Art is everywhere, and it’s conceptual, often local, and sometimes weird in a good way.

Where New Yorkers Actually Recommend Staying

citizenM Times Square Lobby | Photo courtesy

citizenM Times Square. If you want Midtown convenience without Midtown hotel energy, this works. You’re steps from Times Square, but far enough removed to sleep well. Subway access is immediate, and everything north or downtown is walkable or a short ride away.

citizenM Bowery. This is the one locals point people toward. Bowery sits between SoHo, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and Nolita — close to everything, not stuck in tourist traffic. The cloudM rooftop has some of the better skyline views downtown, and the building itself feels plugged into the neighborhood, not dropped onto it.

citizenM Bowery Lobby | Photo courtesy

And while it feels very New York, citizenM was never meant to be just a New York thing. The brand has quietly built a strong presence across major U.S. and European cities, from Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, and Copenhagen, with a footprint that favors cultural centers over resort destinations. The logic is consistent everywhere: walkable neighborhoods, good public transport, and cities where people actually live, work, and create.

citizenM Times Square King Size Bedroom | Photo courtesy

Now part of Marriott International (as of July 2025), citizenM keeps its identity while gaining access to the Marriott Bonvoy® ecosystem. That means points, status perks, and easier booking — without suddenly feeling corporate.

The Bottom Line

citizenM it’s about efficiency, design, and knowing the city. It’s not for luxury yet for travelers who don’t need room service twice a day, but do want a great bed, a strong drink, fast Wi-Fi, and a place that feels like New York when they walk back in at night.

citizenM Times Square lobby details | Photo courtesy

Which, frankly, is most of us.