Lowering the increasingly popular High Line park just below, this specially designed, 18-story Meat District hotel, the brainchild of celebrity hotelier Andre Balazs, has not lost an iota that steam-spot since its debuted in 2009. Its modern rooms, offering panoramic views of the city and the Hudson River, are just one part of the draw, with a list of venues filled with restaurants and drinks keeping visitors and locals coming back for more. Here’s the info on all things: The Standard, High Line.
To sleep
Settle into one of 338 rooms (including 4 suites), with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. Ten room types range from the standard 240-square-foot queens / queens to the massive 875-square-foot Empire Suite. The units are, for the most part, compact, but they are well designed to offer a greater sense of space, with white and beige color schemes and a boat cabin aesthetic. Rooms are outfitted with wood-frame beds topped with Italian feather bedding and pillows, banquet seating areas, and tech trimmings including large plasma TVs and iPod-ready sound systems.
Its unique doorless bathrooms are not for the shy, with rainfall showers separated from the main room only by a simple glass partition; Several rooms also have free-standing bathtubs, located right in the middle of the room (fortunately, the toilets are tucked away in a stall). Also look for additional extras like custom organic bath products, hooded robes, free Wi-Fi, an in-room safe, 24-hour room service, and a minibar with a selection of local products.
Make, drink and dine
On-site, guests can visit the spacious, state-of-the-art 24-hour gym, which combines cardiovascular workouts with panoramic views. Additionally, guests can use complimentary borrowed bikes, perfect for exploring the bike trails near the Hudson River. The front plaza transforms into a seasonal outdoor ice skating rink, complete with an adjacent pop-up alpine-inspired shack selling hot cocoa, hot babies, and more. Guests also have easy year-round access to the popular High Line park just below.
To stock up on sundries, reading materials, or designer gifts, The Shop at the Standard stocks tagged accessories from the likes of Comme des Garçons, Mast Brothers and more.
For some of the city’s most popular restaurants and nightspots (with so much more to choose from in the trendy Meatpacking District), you don’t need to venture further outside the hotel door. The Standard Grill, which is regularly filled, serves New American cuisine, steaks and oysters in a classic bistro-like setting (tip: in season, request outdoor seating on the adjacent pergola), be sure to visit the unique floor, paved in charge pennies For alternative dining, the seasonal The Standard Plaza, with outdoor seating (open until 2 am), touts a rotating culinary concept each year; Each winter, the square is transformed into the setting for an ice skating rink and an alpine-themed hut offering cold-weather treats.
Don’t miss the German-inspired Biergarten, with traditional dishes like pretzels and sausages on the menu, and a generous selection of German / Austrian beers. For one more scene night, check out Le Bain, on the 18th floor, a chic nightclub and rooftop bar, where rotating DJs and crowds of beautiful people meet with stellar views. Or, for a posh night on the town, don your cocktail attire and head to the sophisticated lounge The Top of The Standard, offering sunset happy hours with live jazz and Sunday brunch (later in the evening the space transforms in members) -only dinner club).
Book
The Standard, High Line is located at 848 Washington Street on West 13th Street in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District; rates start at $ 295 / night. 212 / 645-4646; standardhotels.com/high-line
