Refinery Hotel New York

Whatever meaning the word “refinery” calls to mind, New York’s Refinery Hotel has it covered: there’s a slight edge of industrial chic about the guest rooms, an air of classic refinement about the public spaces, and the whole thing is built on the site of a factory that once turned out finery, if you’ll extend the pun that far — hats, to be specific, though the vibe is more holistically Twenties-inspired than specifically headwear-related.

The location, after all, is Manhattan’s fabled Garment District, give or take a yard or two, so the classic fashion angle is a natural one. More relevant to the majority of travelers is that this lower stretch of Midtown is on the up; young boutiques like the Ace and NoMad have revitalized the area just to the south, and the charming Bryant Park is just to the north, while Times Square and the theater district are the merest stumble from the front door.

Rooms are simple, elegant, quite spacious and sunny by New York boutique standards, and the décor mixes touchable textures of wood and leather with a little bit of Deco-inspired gloss. They’re a bit like a classic suit — the refinement is in the simplicity and the detailing. Far less subtle is the feature that we think will turn out to be the Refinery’s greatest asset, however; the rooftop lounge looks out over the Empire State Building, even in winter, when it’s protected by a retractable glass roof.