Refinery Hotel New York

The Refinery Hotel New York, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its unique blend of industrial chic and classic refinement, coupled with an unbeatable Midtown location. Guests frequently highlight the hotel's stylish ambiance, comfortable and spacious rooms, and exceptional rooftop bar.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Refinery Hotel New York is overwhelmingly positive. Guests frequently describe their stays as "fantastic," "immaculate," "stylish," and "super cozy". The hotel often receives very good to excellent ratings across various platforms, with high scores for location, staff, and comfort. The hotel is considered a "special" stay as indicated by its inclusion in the Michelin Guide hotel selection.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several standout features:

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel, a former hat factory and Prohibition-era tea room, beautifully blends industrial accents like high ceilings and distressed hardwood floors with Deco-inspired gloss and classic refinement. The preservation of the building's original style and thoughtful details are frequently appreciated.
• Rooftop Lounge: The Refinery Rooftop is a major draw, offering awe-inspiring views of the Empire State Building and Manhattan skyline, and is popular year-round thanks to its retractable glass roof. It's been named America's #1 Rooftop Bar & Hotel Bar for three consecutive years by USA Today.
• Location: Its central Garment District location is highly valued, providing convenient access to Bryant Park, Times Square, Fifth Avenue shopping, and the Theater District, without being directly in the "Times Square mayhem".
• Service: The staff is frequently commended for being "warm, helpful, accommodating, and friendly".

Room Quality

The 197 rooms and suites are described as simple, elegant, and quite spacious by New York boutique standards, featuring tall ceilings that enhance the airy feel. The décor incorporates touchable textures of wood and leather with a touch of Deco-inspired gloss. Specific details guests appreciate include:

• Comfort: Beds and bedding are consistently noted as "extra comfy".
• Design: Rooms have an industrial-chic aesthetic with oak floors, concrete ceilings, exposed pipes, and fashion-sketchbook-inspired wall art. Modern amenities include 42-inch LCD HDTVs, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are often described as gorgeous.
• Amenities: Thoughtful touches like Frette Italian sheets, down comforters, premium bedding, Le Labo or Rhône Le Bois Maison bath products, and in-room Fellow Electric Kettles with Copper Cow Coffee are highlighted. Some rooms even feature a mini fridge bar, coffee/tea making equipment, and a sofa bed with a study desk.

Dining Experience

The Refinery Hotel offers a diverse "gastronomic micro world" within its premises:

• Parker & Quinn: This signature restaurant serves American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner in a nostalgic atmosphere. Chef Jeff Haskell focuses on high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients for balanced and approachable dishes. Guests have had "fantastic meals" here.
• Refinery Rooftop: Beyond its views, the rooftop offers an approachable yet elevated menu for lunch, brunch, and dinner, along with a popular signature cocktail list.
• Winnie's Jazz Lounge: An intimate, prohibition-style bar in the lobby, Winnie's serves mixology cocktails and small bites, often featuring live jazz music.

Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently praises the hotel's staff. They are described as "super kind," "attentive," "gracious," "enthusiastic," and "going above and beyond". Many guests appreciate the "casual friendly and personable" service. Examples include staff providing complimentary wine and birthday cupcakes for a special occasion, and offering room upgrades without being asked.

Location & Accessibility

The Refinery Hotel boasts an excellent location in Manhattan's Garment District at 63 W 38th Street.

• Neighborhood: It's in a vibrant, revitalized area of Midtown, often described as "in the heart of the city but on a quiet street".
• Attractions: Guests are within easy walking distance of major landmarks:
  • Bryant Park (5 minutes' walk)
  • Times Square (10 minutes' walk)
  • Empire State Building (8 minutes' walk)
  • Fifth Avenue for shopping (less than a minute walk)
  • Theater District
  • Macy's Department Store (less than 1 mile)
• Transport: The hotel is exceptionally well-connected to public transportation. It's a short 2-block walk from the Bryant Park/42nd Street MTA subway station (B, D, F, M, and 7 trains) and 4 blocks from the Times Square-42 Street/Broadway tube station (1, 2, 3, A, C, and E trains). Bus stops are also conveniently located on 5th and 6th Avenues. Taxis are readily available, and the hotel concierge can arrange private car service.

Value & Pricing

While the Refinery Hotel is a luxury 5-star property, guests generally find it to be a worthwhile experience. Room prices can range significantly, with reported prices from $194 to over $14000 (though the higher end is likely for specialized bookings or extended stays). More typical rates observed recently range from approximately $286 to $800. The average price on Fridays and Saturdays can see a significant rise. Guests often feel the value is justified by the unique design, spacious rooms (for NYC), excellent service, and prime location.

Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted by some guests:

• Limited Storage: Some guests have mentioned that storage space in the rooms can be limited.
• Bathroom Towels: A few found the bathroom towels to be on the thinner side compared to the luxurious bedsheets.
• Rooftop Bar Age Restriction: The rooftop bar requires patrons to be 21 years or older after 6:00 PM, which disappointed one guest traveling with kids who couldn't access it in the evening.
• No In-Room Coffee/Tea: While free drip coffee is available in the lobby in the mornings, some guests expressed a desire for an in-room coffee pot or complimentary water. (Note: Other sources indicate in-room Fellow Electric Kettles and Copper Cow Coffee, suggesting this may have changed or varies by room type).
• Potential for Street Noise: Light sleepers are sometimes advised to request courtyard-facing rooms to mitigate street noise.

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