citizenM New York Times Square

citizenM New York Times Square Overview

You know what hit me first walking into citizenM Times Square? The lobby doesn’t feel like a hotel lobby at all – it’s more like some impossibly cool friend’s living room, if your friend happened to be a minimalist design genius with serious style. The whole place sits right on West 50th, literally a two-minute stumble from the heart of Times Square chaos, but somehow they’ve managed to create this zen bubble that actually makes sense.

I’ll be honest, I was skeptical about the room size at first – they’re compact, sure, but it’s that smart European compact where every single inch works. The bed dominates the space (in the best way), and it’s genuinely one of those beds where you sink in and immediately understand why people rave about Dutch hospitality. The real genius is in the details though – that wall-to-wall window situation gives you this incredible urban theater view, and the tech setup actually works without needing a PhD to operate the lights. The bathroom’s this sleek glass box that somehow doesn’t feel cramped, though I mean, you’re definitely not lingering in there for hours.

What really sets this place apart is how it handles the Times Square location. Most hotels here either embrace the tourist madness completely or try to pretend they’re somewhere else entirely. CitizenM does something smarter – they acknowledge you’re in the thick of it but give you this sophisticated refuge to retreat to. The street noise? Practically nonexistent once you’re upstairs, which honestly surprised me given how close you are to the action. And speaking of location, you’re literally around the corner from some serious food options – not just the tourist traps, but actual good spots that locals hit up. The staff genuinely knows the neighborhood too, not just the obvious recommendations everyone gives.

The whole vibe skews younger and design-conscious, which works perfectly if you’re here to actually experience the city rather than hide from it. Check-in happens at these sleek kiosks that somehow make the process feel futuristic rather than impersonal, and there’s usually this great energy in the common areas – people actually hang out there, working on laptops or having drinks, instead of just rushing through. It’s the kind of place where you end up chatting with other travelers without it feeling forced.

Honestly, for Times Square, this is about as good as it gets. You’re paying for the location and the design, obviously, but you’re also getting this perfectly calibrated urban experience that doesn’t make you feel like you’re staying in some generic business hotel or tourist factory. The 8.6 rating makes total sense – it’s not trying to be everything to everyone, but what it does, it does really well.

citizenM New York Times Square Accommodations

Reviews of citizenM New York Times Square

• Dan from Netherlands (9/10)

  I simply cannot imagine a better location to stay in Manhattan than the CitizenM Times Square. Just a few steps away, and you'll see all the massive billboards (and the constant waves of people that will never end). Not only that, you are so close to literally everything, from great local restaurants to your fast-food chains, subway stations, bus stops, taxi drops, you name it, everything is around your block or closer. The staff was super friendly as well. Hotel manager helped us check in even faster than using the self-service computers. The rooms , albeit small, were really comfy, and just love that you can request it to be cleaned or they just come every third day to save on water and help other sustainable practices they have at the hotel. Breakfast was also pretty decent, with a lot of variety. And the best of all: NO CARPETS IN THE ROOMS!!!! I can't tell you enough how glad we were to find this good of a hotel where the building is new and there's no carpets in the room. Totally recommend!

• Gonzalo from Mexico (8/10)

  Very nice

• Amy from United States (9/10)

  We were greeted by Josh (I think that’s his name) and he checked us in. He was super helpful and welcoming !

• Donna from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The decor was clean and fun, staff were really helpful and friendly and the location was great

• Pauline from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Location, facilities, staff, bed

• Erica from United States (9/10)

  Everything was great! They allowed us to check in early, the room was small but worked for what we needed. The technology is great with everything controlled on a tablet and the shower is really cool! Would definitely stay here again!

• Jennifer from United States (9/10)

  Location was perfect for the Thanksgiving parade! Loved the decor!

• Véronique from France (8/10)

  Situation roof top

• Darryl from Canada (8/10)

  Location, staff, amenities

• Nicola from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Room was great on 10th Floor. Lifts were fine fairly quick bar one day but to be expected. Breakfast was good, plenty of choice although healthy food does not really appear on the menu except for fruit salad.

Surroundings

Facilities