Hotels are so much more than just a place to lay your head at the end of the day.
They've become destinations offering everything from restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs to hot rooftop bars.
We evaluated the New York City hotels that have opened within the last year and looked at hotels that will open later this year, and found the buzziest new offerings.
Book your room soon — here's where you'll want to stay next time you're in New York City.
Refinery Hotel
Address: 63 West 38th St., Garment District
Open: May 2013
Price: Starting at $399 per night.
The Refinery Hotel used to be the Colony Arcade Building, a 20th century hat factory. The hotel keeps that rich Garment District history alive with oversized hatpins stacked behind the registration decks and scissor motifs in the rugs. Stonehill & Taylor — the design firm behind the chic NoMad Hotel — took the reins of the Refinery.
It has a prime location, too: Guests can walk to Times Square, the Theater District, Bryant Park and the Empire State Building in 10 minutes.
But if they decide to stay in, the hotel offers a prime rooftop bar. It's divided into three sections with a retractable glass roof that keeps it a comfortable place to hang out in the snow or sun.
The Paper Factory Hotel
Address: 37-06 36th St., Long Island City, Queens
Open: Winter 2013
Price: Starting at $145 for a double.
Built inside a hundred-year-old paper factory in Long Island City, the Paper Factory Hotel takes its name and aesthetic from the building's history. The old Fourdrinier machine is about to be turned into a restaurant and bar. There's even a spiral staircase held up entirely on a column of books.
The renovation cost owner Gal Sela $27 million, according to Curbed NY. Although 16o rooms could have fit in the space, Sela opted to only construct 122 to maximize the spaciousness of each room. There's also a communal kitchen for travelers who want to save a buck and enjoy cooking with fellow guests.
NYLO New York
Address: 2178 Broadway, Upper West Side
Open: October 2013
Price: Starting at $259 per night.
NYLO New York plays with the idea of the piano bar, with three restaurants stuffed with Chesterfield sofas and a red lacquered piano. It pays homage to New York City's Jazz Age with Roaring '20s architecture. Rooms from the 14th floor through the top offer balconies that overlook Central Park and the Hudson River from the Upper West Side.
The hotel is great for the cultured traveler who wants to stay within steps of Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History.
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