WTF, An Affordable Luxury Hotel Controlled By An iPad - A Look Inside CitizenM

Welcome to the CitizenM Seattle South Lake Union, where they don’t need you to be a winter caretaker at a hotel that gives you cabin fever so you end up going full lumberjack on your family.

Many points to you, if you understood that reference.

It’s getting close to spooky season; the season when my overnight bag wants to come out and reside at a hotel where I can actually sit down in peace and write…

Not at The Overlook (hard pass), but at the CitizenM Seattle.

What is the CitizenM?

An astronaut to greet you as you step in and out of CitizenM

Ditch the ordinary and step into the extraordinary at CitizenM, a hotel chain that shines their spotlight on affordable luxury. Sounds like a paradox right?

Turns out, it doesn’t have to be. All the rooms at CitizenM are standardized at 14-square-meter rooms (150 square-foot), which are then stacked like Vancouver’s container homes to form the hotel. Think capsule hotel vibes without the claustrophobic coffin size.

Creatives will appreciate the lack of all beige, eggshell, ecru, and whatever paint name falls under the umbrella of bland. Every space in the CitizenM SLU is a bold statement of vibrant colours, tastefully fun design, and curated art. It’s a recharging station for tired minds looking for inspiration.

For the rest of us who recharge the ol’ fashion way, every room at the CitizenM is furnished with a king size bed that is king-sized on comfort too. The bed is situated against the wall-to-wall window, so you can get up close and personal with the view.

The view from our room

CitizenM is perfect for the wannabe minimalists, such as myself. The room designs have been pared down to the essentials: plush, oversized beds, compact storage areas, a desk, shower essentials, and a mini fridge. Whatever hotel frills that CitizenM managed to send out the window, comes back as a lower price tag for you.

Checking In?

This colour-changing tree will be the first thing you see when those automatic doors open at CitizenM Seattle South Lake Union. You’ll be taken aback at the complete lack of sterility, before you remember that you still need to check in.

Even the books are arranged by spine colour - OMG and there are reading lights!

A close up of one of many art pieces in the hotel

Which you can do as your eyes fervently dart back and forth to the books and multiple cozy seatings in the lounge area. It’s part art gallery, part living room, and 100% inviting.

The speedy, check-in process takes place in front of multiple kiosks. It’s similar to those kiosks at the airport, except a CitizenM ambassador is floating between them, checking identification and suggesting which side of the hotel you want to be on for the best view.

You’ll find blank keycards with optional straps to make your own keycard. The kiosk’s prompts are easy to follow, and it will ask whether you want to make a second card for your travelling companion.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry at The CanteenM

Black and white tiles contrasting with modern lighting and design at the CanteenM Bar

I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me hungrier than writing!

Lucky for me and anyone who finds themselves hungry and looking bleakly outside as a thunderstorm with heavy rain beats down on Seattle, the CanteenM Bar inside the hotel is open 24/7!

Nothing has a pizza my heart like… well pizza. Choose from 4 kinds: margherita renata, quattro formaggi funghi, bianco verde, or a plant-based pepperoni pizza. Then treat yourself to draught beer, cider, wine, a cocktail, or a refreshing, alcohol-free option.

A buffet breakfast runs from 6:00 - 11:00 AM, with free breakfast for children age 10 or under with an adult breakfast purchase. If your idea of breakfast is an americano, mocha, or latte - hello, are we caffeinated kindred spirits?

Your Room Awaits!

Step into this row of elevators… and you’ll find more digital art waiting within. The CitizenM is an art gallery wherever you go, and your room’s iPad is able to give you more information about each piece!

Inside the CitizenM's elevator

The atmosphere shift from basking in the lobby’s brightness is noticeable as you step out of the elevator into this moody, red-carpet lined hallway… and back into a light-filled room. Just so you know, every sleep at the CitizenM is an eco-conscious one. The hotel is certified LEED Gold and is non-smoking!

A room at the CitizenM

Sink and vanity area with shelving and mini fridge

Finessing the art of packing over the years

Lying down to The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift for the hundredth time...

Forgot a book? There are a few already available in your room

As you can see, CitizenM’s rooms are small but sleek and features plush, oversized beds that make you want to hit snooze indefinitely. If vibrant art and quirky furniture ignite your wanderlust, CitizenM has you covered—control everything from the temperature, mood lighting, to the TV with just a tap on your phone or in-room iPad!

Your in-room iPad is charged and ready to go. 

Your room is your high-tech retreat of clever design. Under your bed are spacious drawers to keep your travel essentials neatly tucked away, so no one has to trip over your socks.

A small desk and chair offer a prime setup for any last-minute work—or a quick getaway scroll through social media. The bathroom, concealed behind a curved glazed screen, gives you just enough privacy while showcasing a modern flair.

Sink into those fluffy pillows adorning your king-size bed as you turn on the TV mounted above the bed. It awaits your binge-watching desires and is proudly brought to life by the in-room iPad. The iPad will also work to roll in the blackout blinds. Just remember, the only optimal viewing angle is from the bed, but how theatrically impressive will it be that you didn’t have to get up from your cozy nest to do any setup?

You can also transform your room into a meditative space with the iPad-controlled mood lights and other features from your iPad!

Have fun playing!

All work and no play might have made Jack Torrance a dull boy, but maybe that could’ve been avoided if showers, fun AM & PM shower gels, and tech were a thing back then. I say that, but the hot mess that was The Overlook’s Room 237’s bathroom is iconic; where do you even go to get rid of something like that from your bathtub?

You’re better off at the CitizenM. It’s the perfect writer’s retreat without the spookiness of spooky season. The power shower and shower gel combo works to blast whatever negativity out of your headspace and ground you to the here and now.

collectionM shop and Lobby

CitizenM’s collectionM shop is where you can purchase your hotel favourites. Bring them back as gifts or as inspiration for your home.

Elevate your creative struggles from writer's block to writer's bliss at CitizenM’s lobby.

If you've been holed up and stressing over the perfect plot twist, take a quick elevator ride down to the lobby’s haven of inspiration. You’ll find comfy seating nooks that are just as stylish as they are inviting, perfect for typing away on that novel or brainstorming your next big idea.

With fast and free wi-fi, you'll be powered up and connected, making it easy to share your brilliance—or simply scroll through cat memes as a well-deserved break. Bathed in natural light and bustling with energy, the lobby isn’t just a workspace; it’s a vibrant social hub. Curl up with a good book, indulge in some tasty bites, or strike up a conversation with fellow creatives. Need a bit more privacy? Rent one of the office rooms for a focused writing session without distractions.

CitizenM’s lobby is where inspiration meets relaxation, so your creativity can stretch its legs.

Perfect for the savvy traveler craving a touch of luxury without the price tag, CitizenM is your passport to a world where comfort and cool collide.

citizenM Seattle South Lake Union hotel
201 Westlake Ave North
Seattle WA 98109
United States
https://www.citizenm.com

• check-in after 2:00 PM, check-out by 11:00 AM