Our favorite areas in New York are SoHo and the Village with it’s neighbouring Meatpacking District. In this post I want to share a great hotel in New Yorks most fashion-conscious neighbourhood: The Standard. Hovering above the beautiful High Line Park it is offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city and Hudson River. What I love about boutique hotels and where The Standard really shines are those many little twists it adds to everything (Like the floor of it’s restaurant, which consists of 50,000 glazed pennies). So what does a typical day at The Standard look like?
Breakfast at Pastis
I love a bistro breakfast and Pastis is a nice place just a few meters from the hotel. Sex and the City filmed here and it’s a regular spot for the Meatpacking fashion crowd. Be sure to get a table outside for some people watching, and if a french breakfast is not your thing, on the same street you can find another one of my regular breakfast spots: Le Pain Quotidien.
Shopping in the Meatpacking District
The Meatpacking is New Yorks fashion hotspot and you can spend so much time browsing the high-end shops like Diane von Fuerstenberg, Christian Louboutin and of course the New York brands Theory & Rag&Bone. A few blocks downtown in the Village you should also visit the Bleecker street with it’s many small boutiques.
A Snack at Chelsea Market
If you are after a quick snack, you should visit the Chelsea Market, an urban food court, which offers a myriad of dishes to try. It’s located in the former National Biscuit Company factory complex where the Oreo cookie was invented. Definitely check out Ruthy’s Bakery which created a Christian Louboutin cake!
The Standard Biergarten
If you are travelling with your significant other, now would be a good time to thank him for enduring your shopping spree. The Standard Biergarten is conveniently located below the High Line Park, just left of the hotel entrance. In the evening you can expect a long line so you should go early or if you are with a group, reserve one of the “Stammtisch” tables, where you are hooked up directly to the tap. I don’t drink beer so I always enjoy one of the tasty cocktails that are on the menu.
http://standardhotels.com/high-line/food-drink/biergarten#
Touring the High Line Park
Quickly freshen up at your hotel room and then take a walk on the High Line Park to enjoy a striking hudson river sundown. The steps to the High Line are just a few meters from the hotel entrance. On there you should try a shaved ice from people’s pops, who transform locally grown fruits into creative, hand-made ice pops. The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line and was founded by community residents who wanted to preserve the historic structure. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues.
Dinner at Spice Market
The sun has set, and now you are getting ready for dinner. As you might have noted from my other posts, I love Asian food and Spice Market offers an interesting take on it. The restaurant’s vast space is instantly welcoming, energized and undeniably dazzling. I would suggest to get a table outside where you can watch the interesting nighlife scene.
Party at Le Bain
The Standard is home to two of the hottest nightlife locations in New York. What they both have in common are the breathtaking views of Manhattan and the Hudson which you enjoy indoors with floor to ceiling windows or on the terraces outside. The Top of the Standard, known as the Boom Boom Room, is a cocktail lounge that often transforms into a party space which is famous for hosting star-studded events like the after party of the Met Gala. It is also known for having one of the hardest door policies in New York. If you want to end the night in a club, Le Bain is the spot to be. I love the Manhattan skyline so this is easily my favorite nightlife location and I enjoyed some great parties there.
http://standardculture.com/lebain