citizenM Seattle South Lake Union

The rooms are tiny, some of the smallest I’ve stayed in, but this is still one of the best hotels I’ve visited. I slept really well every night because the beds are super comfortable and the rooms are quiet. Everything was clean and worked properly. There’s plenty of lobby space if you need a “living room,” and public transit is very convenient. The staff are fantastic, and I’d happily stay again.

The design and location are amazing, and the WiFi was good enough for Zoom meetings. I didn’t try breakfast because there are lots of options nearby, but the coffee was good. The common areas worked well for remote work, and the room size was just right for one person. Check-in and checkout were easy. Some staff were really helpful, while others seemed to avoid guests. The two problems I ran into were both sorted promptly: I stepped in someone’s urine in the elevator first thing in the morning, and the shower leaked all night and needed fixing so I could sleep better the next night.

I’m African American, and I didn’t feel respected or welcome here. Across two stays, I experienced multiple micro-aggressions from three employees. My partner and I were repeatedly questioned about whether we were guests, and the front desk left us feeling humiliated. In September 2025, I accidentally left my key card and phone in our room. I asked the front desk to let me back up to my partner, but the employees laughed at me, questioned how that could happen, and refused, saying it was against policy. I had to wait in the lobby for my partner to come down. Later, I saw them let a White guest do the same thing. The reason I’m writing is what happened in April 2026. I left a garage key at the desk for my partner. The employee abruptly took it from my hand and responded dismissively, as if she hadn’t listened. When my partner came for it, that same employee, a chubby lady with highlighted bob hair and glasses, said no key had been left. He was questioned a lot about whether he was staying there and asked for ID to prove it. After being treated this way by multiple employees, it no longer felt like a coincidence. The housekeeping staff were kind, but the front desk needs better training in professionalism, inclusivity, and treating all guests respectfully and equally.

The location is fantastic. We walked to Pike Place and to Dukes for dinner, then toured the farmers market. The rooms have a cool factor and are newly updated in an IKEA style, but they’re so small that comfort took a back seat for me. The bed is turned sideways, so there’s only one side to get in and out. If you’re on the outside, you have to climb over your partner. I should have looked into the room more before booking. I’ll avoid another Citizen M unless I’m traveling alone.