Sitting at the edge of New York’s Theatre District is CIVILIAN, one of Manhattan’s newer hotels and a nice balance between designer charm, premium accommodation and – what is perhaps most important in New York right now – affordability.
New York always so desperately needs more hotels to accommodate the constant influx of visitors that just about any new property is going to be embraced enthusiastically by the city. But CIVILIAN wouldn’t be half as good as it is if it was only content with filling Hell’s Kitchen with more rooms.
There’s also a strong sense of community. The hotel ticks all the necessary boxes for a newbie in Hell’s Kitchen. There’s the trendy rooftop bar, Starchild, a ritzy cocktail lounge, as well as a classic grill restaurant. There’s even an Emmy Squared Pizza attached to the hotel, dishing up Detroit-style square pies. From what I’ve read about the hotel, locals already love the offering just as much as guests.
Location
The hotel straddles the ever-vague boundaries of Hell’s Kitchen and the Theatre District. That means it’s a short walk to the heart of Midtown, Time’s Square, and all the Broadway theatres without being in the thick of Manhattan. Come nighttime, the place feels rather deserted, save for a strip full of popular bars. There’s a nice disconnection here, but whether you prefer that or not is entirely on how much of New York’s chaos you can handle.
Design
There’s a satisfying designer edge to the 203-room hotel, which stands tall with 27 floors and comes from the same brothers who founded the luxury Thompson Hotels brand in 2001. You’d hope so too. It was handled by the legendary David Rockwell who has carved his name across Manhattan since the 1980s, building up an impressive portfolio that most recently includes the transformative Shed at Hudson Yards as well as a great deal of Nobu restaurants and Edition hotels.
He’s clearly no stranger to designer-led luxury, nor is he one to take the hotel’s theatrical bent lately given he has designed sets for the Oscars and numerous Broadway musicals.
But Rockwell isn’t as whimsical with his design for CIVILIAN. There are interesting, small details if you look hard enough, but there’s nothing overly showy. The property is mature, sleek and well-composed, from the slim, barely-there lobby to the comfortable rooms peering over Manhattan.
Rooms
Mine is a standard double room on one of the upper floors, getting most of its shine from enormous views towards downtown Manhattan.
It’s trim, boutique-minded with a lot of leather accents and, interestingly enough, a seat between the two beds. Even the do-not-disturb sign does things a bit differently, fashioned more as a vintage carousel.
Rockwell wanted to deconstruct the idea of a typical theatre dressing room, so there’s trunk-like open closets and mismatched colours. The heads of each bed are velvety blue with draping gold curtains above them. It seems perfect for influencer-bait while the bathroom is similarly primped up designer fixtures and gold trimmings.
Rooms are energetic but lighting is minimal. Even the windows don’t pull in enough natural light despite few interruptions, but of course this depends on which side of the hotel you’re staying on.
Food & Drink
Most of the drama has been put into the Starchild rooftop bar, where Rockwell’s thespian references spring to life with an all-glass atrium-like design. 27 floors above New York City, it’s now one of the best bars in Hell’s Kitchen with cocktails that don’t just sip like sugar syrups.
And then there’s the hidden Broadway Blue room, tucked behind a velvet curtain with more premium cocktails surrounded by Broadway memorabilia. I didn’t have near enough to get in more than a peek but the slick, provocative design looks perfect for a few pre-Theatre tipples.
Rosevale Kitchen is that expected all-day diner thumbing through new American staples with a strong grip on seasonality. And while on paper that sounds like a dime-a-dozen, the menu has a few interesting bits and bops that are worth checking out. I’d imagine the US$52 Prix-Fixie is particular popular for pre-matinee feasts sprouting familiar classics like sauteed branzino and burrata.
Amenities
CIVILIAN trims a bit of the fat of your typical hotel, preferring the boutique and minimal approach. There’s no traditional spa or even a fitness centre. Although there is a lively series of offers enticed to bring in guests that may be struggling to budget for a trip to New York.
Free Sundays, for example, is a neat offering that gets you 4 nights for the price of 3, as long as the fourth night is a Sunday. It’s a nice little cost-of-living hack if you want to stay longer at a luxury hotel for less.
Service
Dapper hotel staff greet you at the entrance, sending you on up to your room. But aside from that, unless you’re dining around CIVILIAN you’ll barely hear a peep for anyone else. And that’s great. Privacy is a big factor for visitors to such a loud city as New York, so the subtle presence is appreciated. There, but only when you need them.
Value
According to Google, you’ll pay around US$310 for a night at CIVILIAN. And for the location, that’s shockingly affordable. I’ve stayed at some hotels in lesser loved spots around Manhattan that were slightly more expensive, so most of the value rests on where the hotel actually is.
For that price, you get a genuinely premium boutique with several interesting public areas. Plus, anyone on a budget can easily walk to Empanada Mama, which is 24-hours, delicious, and only a 7-minute walk from the hotel.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
CIVILIAN New York
Address: 305 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
Contact: +1 646-692-8012
The author flew to New York City on Delta Air Lines and explored the city as a guest of NYC Tourism.
