Sometimes it’s fun to stay somewhere totally over the top and out of this world. The Standard High Line hotel gave me countless #OMG moments during my stay!
Built over and above the High Line (the inner city park built on the former New York Central Railroad spur, elevated above the streets and running amongst the buildings of the Lower West Side of Manhattan), in the super fashionable Meatpacking District, The Standard is well-known for many reasons: the high design interior, the amazing top floor bar with 360-degree views, the somewhat pretentious nature of the staff and clientele, and as “the exhibitionist hotel”…!
Entering the lobby through the bright yellow revolving doors, we checked in at the marbled reception desk, and then hit the elevators, heading for the tenth floor.
Opening the door to the room and being greeted by the floor-to-ceiling view of lower Manhattan, the Hudson River and New Jersey was definitely another one of those #OMG moments!
The room was small, with an insanely comfy queen size bed, flatscreen TV, table and seating area, and a bathroom with a slatted wall that could be open or closed – if you fancied admiring the view from the (huge!) tub. It was certainly a capsule room, but the use of space was ingenious and it didn’t feel claustrophobic at all – probably thanks to bright and infinite views from the window.
Some of the higher calibre suites come with a free-standing bath with panoramic views – like here in the Hudson Studio:
If you were so inclined, you wouldn’t actually need to leave the hotel, as all your needs are covered. There’s a gym on one of the top floors:
A terrace on the very top of the building, with loungers for sunbathing, easy listening background music and a bar:
The Standard Plaza, a public square out the front of the hotel, with ever-changing art installations, al fresco tables and an ice rink in winter; and The Standard Grill, the well-known all-day restaurant that serves something for everyone.
Also at street-level is the Biergarten, with waitresses in cheeky outfits and a party atmosphere – this place was really busy every evening.
And finally, my favourite, The Top of The Standard. Once you’ve navigated your way past the girls on the door (all of whom are 6″ tall models dressed in a slip of gold silk and skyscraper heels, and who take great pleasure in looking you up and down and telling you “this is a formal cocktail lounge, no cameras/laptops/sneakers/etc”…!), you will be rewarded by some pretty fabulous views.
If you can bring your eyes back into the room, you’ll notice the amazing interior design of the space too.
We went to The Top of The Standard both during the day and evening, and loved the music, atmosphere, views and drinks at both times. Next time I want to catch a sunset.
Top tip: You MUST visit the restrooms. The toilet faces a floor-to-ceiling window and gives amazing views of the Meatpacking District and Uptown beyond. Sure, there’s a curtain you can close to preserve your modesty – but where’s the fun in that!?
Walking the High Line is lovely too – the park still features lots of the original railway sleepers, plus food, drink and art stalls and plenty of places to sit. The landscape gardening is fantastic too, really taking you away from the city with all the lush greenness, while still showcasing some of the great buildings and architecture of the Meatpacking District.
Checking out on Wednesday afternoon was incredibly depressing (with a dose of adrenaline as we were running very late to the airport!). The Standard has elevated my expectations for what I want from a hotel now – satisfying me on future trips is going to be somewhat difficult and expensive (rooms cost upwards of $325 per night) 🙁 – but worth it for all those #OMG moments?!
The Standard High Line
848 Washington at 13th Street, New York 10014
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