You have to love New York City's creative take on efficiency, especially in its hotels.
First, there was the bunk bed movement, made cool by hotels like the Wythe and the Ace. Then, there was the upgrade -- the new Room Mate Grace Hotel, where plush fixtures, like ornate wallpaper and velvet curtains, prove space-saving can be chic.
But our favorite new spin on hotel room practicality comes from the Marmara Park Avenue, a detail-focused luxury hotel with a dramatic glass entryway and a real hammam, shipped directly from Turkey. Here, the guestrooms feature a surprising twist -- something that New Yorkers often joke would give them more space in their tiny apartments: Murphy beds.
The hotel created the 295-square-foot rooms with business travelers in mind; honestly, who wants to take a business meeting in a room that has a bed in it? The Murphy bed rooms -- there are 11 at the property -- allow guests to have a good night’s sleep, and then fold the bed into the wall during the day. (If you’re averse to the heavy lifting, the housekeeping staff can transform the room for you.)
Leisure travelers might enjoy this, too, and not just because it’s a fun novelty. Folding up the bed makes the room -- already considered large by NYC standards -- comfortable enough to roll out your yoga mat and break a sweat, or to host a pre-theater drink with friends.
Whatever the motivation, the Marmara offers an interesting way to experience your own New York City space -- a luxury most New Yorkers rarely get. Murphy bed rooms at the Marmara go for $355 during the week, and up to about $400 on weekends, from April through May.