Staycation with citizenM: Best Boutique Hotel in New York City

(top to bottom: lobby, bedroom, and rooftop bar)
photos courtesy of Citizen M hotels

Hi, friends!

It’s finally warming up so that means you’re probably staring wistfully at that Pinterest travel board of yours. Are you looking to plan your next getaway? Maybe you’re just looking for a place to escape for a while? Or really you’re just curious as to what the heck a boutique hotel is?! You’ve come to the right place! I’m talking all about my wonderful experience at the New York City boutique hotel, citizenM. This post is a long one, but I promise it’s worth it guys!

First of all, what exactly are boutique hotels?

I had never heard of the concept before I stayed in one either! There are a few factors that go into the categorization. Boutique hotels are usually small but possess a lot of character. They also typically have a unique theme mixed with a prime location in major cities. Like many boutique hotels, citizenM does a wonderful job of mixing luxury with its undeniable charm. Right as you walk in, you can tell that this is a whole new ballgame. With touch screens and pre-placed room keys, check-in took me less than 60-seconds. Seriously. I kept thinking someone was going to come run after me like I forgot something but thankfully no one did! After taking in the quirky decor of the lobby, I made my way to my room.

Yep. That’s my name on the tablet!

It’s called boutique for a reason.

I shouldn’t have been shocked by the size of the room, but I was! However, it almost reminded me of an episode of tiny house hunters. Every single space was multi-functional and there was plenty of room for storage! While I wasn’t able to get a photo of the bathroom (my lens was too small) it did have a rain shower that was larger than the average hotel size. The unique feature of this hotel is that everyone is designated a “citizen”- I was citizen Tomi. *Insert hair flip emoji here* They also place puns and jokes throughout their hotel, so you can already imagine that it’s a guaranteed hit with dads.

After walking around, I sat on the fluffiest of king xl beds and played with a tablet that controlled the entire room! From lights to temperature to mood (it had smooth r&b, energetic, and sleepy playlists) this remote could really do it all. Even though I wanted to stay in and play on it for the rest of the afternoon, I figured I should check out the amenities!

They have a full gym and with a patio that allows you to do some outdoor yoga while taking in the exciting streets of New York down below. The only thing more impressive than their fast (and free, holla) wifi was the views from their rooftop! Just think. You could view the iconic buildings that decorate Manhattan’s skyline while sipping a cocktail from the bar. How Sex & The City of you.

A post shared by NYC Blogger | Tomi Obebe (@goodtomicha) on Feb 26, 2017 at 10:29am PST

I’ve mentioned the importance of self-care before, and I think a staycation is a great way to put that into practice! What’s a lazy day of relaxation without breakfast in bed? My perfectly crisped bacon was the best way I could’ve ended my stay with citizenM.  I share my love of brunch all the time on Instagram, so it’s very important to me. Between this and their freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, they made sure I was well fed!

This was my first time staying in one of New York’s boutique hotels.

After recently being named a top 25 hotel in the city, I think I made a good choice with citizenM!  My favorite thing about my experience had to be the location! You seriously can’t get a better place in Manhattan as a tourist. You’re less than a 10-minute walk from Central Park, while Broadway and Times Square a literally steps from your bedroom. The great thing is that they’ve found a way to stay tucked away and avoid all the usual noise that comes with tourist spots. The weather didn’t allow me to really take advantage of being outside too long, so that’s my only regret!

If you’re ready to take a break from the average hotel, you might want to give boutique hotels a try. It’s ideal for couples or the solo traveler because of the room size/tech features, however, I could see it being beneficial for families too. citizenM has 6 worldwide locations (and counting) so don’t let geography stop you from experiencing this place for yourself! If you’ve stayed here or at another boutique hotel, I’d love to know your thoughts! If you have any questions I didn’t mention in the post, feel free to ask below. :)

Thank you citizenM for collaborating with me on this post.

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