When it comes to the lobby of the CIVILIAN Hotel, I use the word “lobby” loosely. It’s basically a glorified corridor, albeit one fitted with theatrical flourishes—an homage to the surrounding Theater District—from the rows of lightbulbs embedded in the ceiling to evoke a marquee, to the dramatic red curtain that drapes the spiral staircase leading upstairs, to the bank of salvaged theater seats that line the brick walls. A series of mobile kiosks allows for a quick check-in, though there is a human at the reception desk across the way in case you have technological difficulties.
Altogether, that lobby area sums up the CIVILIAN as a whole: it will no doubt charm Broadway lovers with its stage-show trappings, but its squeezed square footage and overreliance on “convenience” cramps any real sense of razzle dazzle.
Opened in November 2021 by Sixty Collective hotelier Jason Pomeranc, with architectural work by theater designer David Rockwell, the 27-story hotel features 203 guest rooms in a choice of color scheme (midnight blue or maroon red) and configuration (“cozy,” with room for two, or “spacious,” for up to four guests). When they say cozy, they mean it—after a four-poster bed, the for-two option leaves little room for anything else, though a handy compartment built beneath the bed helpfully corrals your carry-on luggage.
Even the larger abodes, which come with a single king or pair of double beds, are spare on storage: there’s an “open closet” (read: clothing rack) for your wardrobe and the glazed porcelain sinks in the bathroom are similarly economic, with exposed brass shelving already filled with towels and toiletries. Refills are pre-packed in a basket within the room, along with items like hair dryers and personal steamers. The steamer was missing from mine, but the friendly receptionist was quick to have one brought up.
What the rooms lack in space, though, they make up for in style. Rather than go for play-to-the-back-row brazenness, Rockwell’s design sophisticatedly incorporates the theater theme: Walls are decorated with framed archival photos from Broadway shows, tasseled velvet curtains bookend each bed and floor-to-ceiling windows open to cityscape views, including those very playhouses within walking distance. (Speaking of, theater geeks can also find cool memorabilia in the library and lounge of the Rosevale Cocktail Room on the second floor, including a crown from Hamilton and the titular red kicks from Kinky Boots.)
Despite the proximity to one of the city’s busiest areas, street noise isn’t a problem at the CIVILIAN—the volume coming from inside the hotel is. Along with $24 lychee Cosmos and $16 pizza bagels, the clubby rooftop bar Starchild features rotating DJs spinning house, funk, disco and hip-hop until 2am all of which I could very clearly hear a dozen floors down in my guest room. As with the steamer, the hotel staff was ready to fulfill a late request for earplugs. After all, the show must go on.
Neighborhood
The CIVILIAN is centrally located between Hell’s Kitchen and the lights of Broadway, meaning that you can easily stroll to big-name attractions like Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and the shops that line Fifth Avenue. And in a neighborhood that can be a bit of a desert where quality food is concerned, the hotel’s restaurant options—including the ground-level eatery Rosevale Kitchen, which has a convenient $52 Broadway prix fixe, and the next-door Emmy Squared outpost—are much-welcome pre-show additions.
Nearby
- Museum of Broadway: For feasting your eyes on costumes and props from more than 500 famous stage productions
- Din Tai Fung: For stellar xiao long bao at the first NYC location from the world-famous Taiwanese restaurant chain
- Birdland: For brass-heavy live shows at what Charlie Parker once called “the Jazz Corner of the World”
Time Out tip
Guests can customize their CIVILIAN stay with various add-ons—at an extra cost, of course—so if you want daily housekeeping, late check-out, included breakfast and an access pass to the TMPL Health Club down the block, make sure to go for the all-inclusive package.