Only a single room type, no in-room mini-bars, no restaurants, no concierge and gulp, not even a lobby. But if you’ve ever stayed in a citizenM property in Europe (the only region you can find a citizenM establishment besides New York, and now, Taipei), you’ll know that this no-frills approach is what makes this hotel brand such a charm.
This doesn’t mean the hotel is not well-equipped. On the contrary, citizenM is known to offer its guests creature comforts like free wifi, king sized beds and the 24/7 operational canteenM that offers meals, snacks and alcohol, manned by a barista/mixologist who doubles (triples?) up as a local guide. The cost savings from this is then passed on to guests, who get to enjoy a luxury boutique stay at affordable prices.
Newly opened citizenM Taipei North Gate, located near Ximending, is no exception. What greets you when you enter the premises isn’t a lobby, but a living room space decked with designer furnishings. You then self-check-in at a kiosk and be issued a RFID card. Entering your room (all 267 rooms are the same), you’ll find a tablet device called a moodpad that is basically your master control for the television, themed alarm, lights, blinds and room temperature.
And like other citizenM properties around the world, local artists get to use the hotel as their canvas. The one in Taipei features graffiti art on the exterior entrance wall, courtesy of up-and-comer ANO. Meanwhile, the interiors are dotted with works from renowned Taiwanese photographer Chou Ching Hui’s “Animal Farm” collection as well as an interactive installation by contemporary artist Hung Tung-Lu, titled “Lightbox”.
Not heading to Taipei anytime soon? The uber cool hotel chain is prevalent in Europe, having first started in Amsterdam in 2008 and expanding from there. citizenM is also opening in more Asian destinations such as Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur in 2018.
