We checked in at citizenM New York Bowery the same day the snowstorm hit the city. I was the one who chose the hotel, primarily because of the location. Bowery sits right where SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side merge into one another, and you can walk everywhere. Restaurants, coffee shops, small specialty stores, and galleries are all just minutes away, and it is difficult to find a better place to stay downtown.
I had seen that the rooms were very small, but the plan was that we would only sleep there and otherwise spend most of the day out. What I had not fully taken into account was that, because of the snowstorm, we ended up spending significantly more time in the room than planned.
The room is designed the way you know it from citizenM hotels around the world. One of the brand’s signatures is the wall to wall bed placed directly against the window, stretching across the entire width of the room. The bed is large, and comfortable, and without question the most important piece of furniture in the room, because once it has claimed its share of square footage, there is not much left.
There is a small desk along the wall where I had no problem sitting with my MacBook and working. It is simple and functional, and even though space is limited, it does not feel claustrophobic as long as you keep things tidy. The entire room is controlled via a small iPad, where you can adjust the brightness and color of the lights, close the curtains and blackout blinds, control the TV with Chromecast, and choose how much housekeeping you want. When the system works, it feels intuitive and elegant, but a couple of times during our stay the technology froze, and in those moments you suddenly realize how comforting a regular light switch can be.
The bathroom is separated from the rest of the room by a glass wall, and the door did not close completely tight. I know that glass walls and bathrooms are a solution many newer hotels use, but I prefer a bathroom with a proper wall and a bit of privacy. It may not matter much if you are traveling alone, but it is something you definitely notice when you are two people sharing a room.
There was a hair dryer that we never managed to get working, but since we did not actually need it, it was not a major issue. The small refrigerator, on the other hand, turned out to be practical. Before the snow really started coming down, we had stopped by Whole Foods to pick up a small emergency stash in the form of a baguette, prosciutto, and a good cheese, which we enjoyed as an improvised lunch Monday while the snow still covered the streets outside.
In the bathroom, there were two kinds of shampoo, AM and PM. The AM version had a fresh, citrus scent that I really liked. There was also conditioner, hand soap, and large, soft towels. I was less impressed with the body lotion which had a weird smell but overall the products felt well considered and of good quality.
One stair down from the entrance is the hotel’s large communal area, which functions as lobby, workspace, and lounge all in one. The clientele is generally younger, and many guests travel alone, which creates a relaxed and informal atmosphere. There are sofas, long tables, smaller cafe tables, and a bar where you can order food and drinks. There is also a tap with filtered water, both still and sparkling, so you can fill a bottle and bring it upstairs to your room, which was a small detail we really appreciated.
By Sunday evening, the snowstorm had fully set in. We went down to Chinatown to see if we could find an open restaurant, but everything was closed, so we returned to the hotel and ordered chicken nachos at the bar. They were not the best nachos in the world, but perfectly fine for a snowed-in meal.
The hotel also has a rooftop bar, cloudM, with fantastic views over Manhattan. There is a small outdoor area up there, which was closed because of the weather, but the staff had built two snowmen that stood there adding a bit of winter cheer. It was fairly quiet when we visited, but I can imagine it being a lovely bar in the summer.
citizenM New York Bowery is not a hotel you choose for spacious rooms or classic luxury. You choose it for the great location, the really good bed, and the informal, modern atmosphere. For solo travelers, it is close to the perfect hotel in New York City, and for two people it can work as well, as long as you are prepared to live compactly and prioritize location over square footage.
citizenM New York Bowery, 189 Bowery, New York, NY 10002, United States
If you’re looking for a smart, well located base in downtown Manhattan, citizenM Bowery is a solid choice. The rooms are compact but thoughtfully designed, the beds are excellent, and you’re within walking distance of some of the best neighborhoods in New York.
