CIVILIAN Hotel, New York Review
Nonstop Dan rating
The Civilian Hotel
A small hotel with lots of character
What to Expect at The CIVILIAN Hotel in New York?
I'm pretty excited for this hotel stay because we've already booked a handful of clients at this hotel, but I have never had a chance to experience it myself until today! Join us for a 24-hour stay at New York's The CIVILIAN Hotel, located on West 48th Street near 8th Avenue, with some of the lowest rates of any hotel in New York. Does this property offer good value for money? Let's see.
The CIVILIAN Hotel exterior
The CIVILIAN Hotel exterior
Today, we're staying in a spacious king-bed accessible room at The CIVILIAN, which is their largest king-bed room category. Even so, during our night in August, we paid just $253 for one night here. The base room, in other words, the cheapest room available at the hotel during our stay, was around $200, which seems to be the approximate price floor for their Cozy Queen rooms.
In general, though, you can expect The CIVILIAN to be among the cheaper hotel options in New York City, with rates that can be significantly lower than comparable hotels like the InterContinental New York Times Square and Kimpton Theta. However, expect smaller rooms as a consequence.
What's cool is that this hotel offers perks when you book it through a travel advisor. Namely:
• Waived guest experience fee valued at $43 per day
• Complimentary continental breakfast for up to 2 guests daily
• $50 food and beverage credit per stay
• Complimentary welcome note and amenity
• Complimentary room upgrade based on availability
• Complimentary early check-in or late check-out based on availability
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
The CIVILIAN Hotel Lobby and Check-In Experience
When I arrived at the hotel, I was surprised by the reception area, which looked more like the entrance to a nightclub! There are two tiny desks with staff, plus two self-check-in screens. There is also a wall with various merch and some other "necessities."
The CIVILIAN Hotel entrance
The CIVILIAN Hotel reception
The CIVILIAN Hotel self check-in screens
The CIVILIAN Hotel self check-in screens
The CIVILIAN Hotel self check-in screens
The CIVILIAN Hotel reception
This is a pretty cramped space, so I understand that the staff may be under a bit of stress and not exactly in the mood to chat. That's fine. Within no time, we're heading up to our room on the seventh floor.
The CIVILIAN Hotel elevator
The CIVILIAN Hotel elevator
The CIVILIAN Hotel hallways
The CIVILIAN Hotel Room Features and Amenities
The CIVILIAN Hotel hallways
The hotel has 27 floors in total, with each hallway offering a different color theme. We were assigned room 706 today, and as you'll see, this might not be the room you want to choose if staying here.
The CIVILIAN Hotel hallways
The positive of our spacious king-bed room is that it really is quite spacious, especially by New York standards and at this price point. We've got our king bed in the middle of the room, with velvet couches on either side. An interesting choice!
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room pillows
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room bed
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room velvet couch
Underneath the couches, as well as underneath the bed, we've got storage space, which is much appreciated.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room bed storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room velvet couches storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room remote control
To the right of the entry door, we've got a fold-down desk of sorts that houses our Illy coffee machine and some welcome treats.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room desk
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room illy coffee machine
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room welcome amenities
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room welcome amenities
There's also a large mirror on the wall and some pretty nice art.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room mirror
Want to call down to the lobby? Better know how to use one of these retro phones. Pretty fun, huh?
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room retro phones
The room layout for this specific unit is a little strange, since there's an empty space that leads to our window. That makes the room quite dark, and this area can really only be used to store your luggage.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room window
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room window view
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room window view
On the other side of the entry door, we've got a rack to hang some clothes, as well as an ice container, a few glasses, television and our hair dryer.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room rack
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room rack
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room ice container
The room does not come with an iron, but you do get a steamer, which I actually prefer.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room clothes steamer
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room TV
There are a few quirks at this hotel that I'd like to point out. First, there's the communication dial built into the door, which you can turn to show whether you want privacy or housekeeping. That's nice!
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room communication dial
All the curtains and blinds are also electronically controlled, which is quite rare at this price point.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king room switch controls
Then we've got the bathroom. Again, keep in mind that all the spacious king-bed rooms are accessible, which I didn't think would be much of an issue. But to be honest, this bathroom was not very enjoyable.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king bathroom
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king bathroom
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king toiletries
When you shower, water gets all over the floor, and the toilet didn't have a toilet lid.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king shower
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king toilet
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king toilet
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king toilet
On the bright side, the water pressure was great, the toiletries smelled lovely, and everything was in impeccable condition. I also love the aesthetics of the bathroom!
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious king toiletries
The hallway outside every room has a so-called hydration station where you can fill your water bottles with what I assume is filtered water. Pretty nice!
The CIVILIAN Hotel hydration station
On our day of departure, we got a tour of the property to see what the other room types looked like. I figure this is some pretty valuable intel if you're looking to book this hotel, so let's have a look at what's on offer.
Their most common rooms, and also the most affordable, are the Cozy Queen rooms. This is definitely not somewhere I would book for two people, but for a solo guest, I think this is a lovely space. If you book through us, I'll make sure to request your preferred color scheme, red or blue. As you'll see shortly, I think the blue color scheme is a lot nicer. I far prefer this to the similarly sized rooms at the Kimpton Era New York.
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen bedroom
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room telephone
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room velvet couch
These rooms have spacious and clean bathrooms, a little bit of storage under the couch and the bed, as well as some hooks on the wall. It's bare bones, but bright and comfortable.
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room bed storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room wall
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room closet
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen bathroom
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen bathroom
The CIVILIAN Hotel cozy queen room shower
The next room category is the Spacious Queen. This is where I've booked most of my clients, and I'm glad to see that this room does indeed offer pretty good value for money.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room
The room is large enough to comfortably fit two people and their luggage, assuming you're fine sleeping in a queen bed.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room
Once again, there’s storage underneath the bed. You’ve got a functional and modern bathroom, but note that, just like the Cozy Queen, there’s no desk or chair in here, so you’ll really only be sleeping and showering.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room bed
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room bed storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen bathroom
Compared to a standard room at the InterContinental Times Square, this feels noticeably more compact, with considerably less space to work or move around. For work, there are some pretty cool social spaces that I’ll show you shortly.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room window
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious queen room view
Finally, the most expensive room at the hotel is the Spacious Double Double. Unsurprisingly, this is also by far my favorite room on offer.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room
This is fantastic for traveling with a family member, or for parents with kids, since you've got two large, comfortable beds, a bright room with sweeping views outside, and actual nightstands rather than upholstered couches next to the beds.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room bed storage
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room minibar
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room beds
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room clothes rack
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room clothes rack
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double room view
The bathroom here is pretty much the same as in the other rooms, but all in all, this is a nice place to sleep.
The CIVILIAN Hotel spacious double double bathroom
Which room would I go with? Probably the Spacious Queen or the Spacious Double Double next time.
The CIVILIAN Hotel Gym
Probably my favorite thing about The CIVILIAN Hotel is the gym arrangement. Since the hotel itself doesn't have its own gym, they've partnered with a gym one block away on 49th Street: TEMPL gym.
The CIVILIAN Hotel TMPL fitness gym
The CIVILIAN Hotel TMPL fitness pass
This is a real commercial gym with all the equipment you'd ever need, including saunas, hot tubs, swimming pools, and more. What a fantastic amenity! It's something you can use every day if you'd like, and it's a great way to stay healthy while you're traveling.
The CIVILIAN Hotel TMPL fitness gym front desk
The CIVILIAN Hotel TMPL fitness gym front desk
The CIVILIAN Hotel Dining Experience
In terms of dining and other facilities, The CIVILIAN Hotel is pretty bare bones. They've got a steakhouse on the bottom floor, which is beautifully decorated, but maybe not my and Oskar's preferred type of cuisine.
The CIVILIAN Hotel Carversteak
The CIVILIAN Hotel Carversteak
The CIVILIAN Hotel Carversteak
The CIVILIAN Hotel Carversteak
The CIVILIAN Hotel Carversteak
The CIVILIAN Hotel staircase
You've also got the rooftop bar, which is famous for its views and occasional parties.
The CIVILIAN Hotel Starchild Rooftop lounge
The CIVILIAN Hotel Starchild Rooftop lounge
I've got a picture of the menu from the rooftop bar below.
The CIVILIAN Hotel Starchild Rooftop lounge menu
When it comes to breakfast, they charge $19.99, which is practically free by New York hotel standards. But you get what you pay for, so to speak. There's not much to get excited about here, so we took one look and then went to the market a few blocks away instead.
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast signage
The CIVILIAN Hotel breakfast setting
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast coffee station
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast buffet
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast tea station
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast milks
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast pastries
The CIVILIAN Hotel continental breakfast yogurts
Who is The CIVILIAN Hotel for?
Well, this is really a property for people who are looking to sleep in their room and spend all day out in the city, either exploring, working in cafes, or enjoying the hotel's gorgeous public spaces.
If you're a Broadway fan, the location is excellent, and the hotel was designed by one of Broadway's most famous stage designers. You've got all types of Broadway memorabilia and art all over the property, which is really cool!
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
The CIVILIAN Hotel Broadway memorabilia
Where is The CIVILIAN Hotel Located?
In terms of location, it doesn't get much better. You're far enough away from Times Square to not be bothered by the madness, but still close enough to get to almost all shows in less than a 10-minute walk. Not to mention Times Square itself. You're one block from a subway stop, and you're right on the border of Hell's Kitchen, which has endless great restaurants and bars.
The CIVILIAN Hotel street view
The CIVILIAN Hotel street view
The CIVILIAN Hotel Of detailed scoring breakdown
Room: 5/10
Bathroom: 6/10
Night’s Sleep:7/10
Value for Money: 7/10
Breakfast: 3/10
Condition: 9/10
Service:2/5
Dining: 2/5
Location:5/5
Amenities: 2/5
Wellness: 5/5
Pools: 3/5
Overall Feeling: 5/10
Final Score: 62/100. See how it compares to other properties in our full luxury hotel rankings.
Positives of The CIVILIAN Hotel
Excellent value for money — some of the lowest rates in New York, with a spacious king accessible room going for just $253/night in this case
Strong travel advisor perks: waived $43/day guest experience fee, complimentary continental breakfast for 2, $50 F&B credit, welcome amenity, upgrade and early/late check-in/out based on availability
Genuinely spacious rooms for the price point, with smart under-bed and under-couch storage
Fun, quirky touches: Illy coffee machine, retro in-room phones, electronically controlled curtains/blinds, a privacy/housekeeping door dial
Great water pressure, nice-smelling toiletries, and impeccable condition throughout the bathroom
In-room steamer instead of an iron (a plus in the reviewer's view)
Hallway hydration stations with filtered water on every floor
Standout gym arrangement — partnered with TEMPL gym one block away, a full commercial facility with saunas, hot tubs, and a pool, usable daily
Rooftop bar with notable views
Unbeatable Broadway-fan appeal — designed by a noted Broadway stage designer, with memorabilia and art throughout
Location is a strong compromise: far enough from Times Square chaos but under a 10-minute walk to most shows, one block from a subway stop, and on the edge of Hell's Kitchen's restaurant/bar scene
Room variety offers real choice: Cozy Queen for solo travelers, Spacious Queen for good couple value, and Spacious Double Double (with proper nightstands and better views) for families
Areas of Improvement of The CIVILIAN Hotel
Reception feels cramped and impersonal ("more like a nightclub entrance"), with understandably stressed, less chatty staff
Accessible king room's layout has an awkward dead space by the window that blocks light and is only useful for luggage storage
Bathroom shortcomings in the accessible room: water pools on the floor when showering, and no toilet lid
No desk or chair in the Cozy Queen or Spacious Queen bathrooms/rooms — fine for sleeping, but not for in-room work
Dining is limited on property — just a steakhouse (not to the reviewer's taste) and a rooftop bar; no standout food and beverage program
Breakfast, while cheap at $19.99, isn't worth it quality-wise — the reviewer opted for a nearby market instead
No in-house gym (mitigated by the TEMPL partnership, but still a facility gap on-site)
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
