By Randi Gollin
Not only has the Meatpacking District still got it, but the shopping's better than ever. Here's our short list (and a map) of stores, bars, restaurants and hotels.
The too-cool-for-school crowd may scoff that the once-stealth Meatpacking District has lost its achingly hip luster, morphing into a nocturnal playground for tourists and the bridge-and-tunnel crowd. And in some cases, like the imminent closing of pioneering French diner Florent, they may be right. But the influx of new hot spots like Bagatelle, Merkato 55, Kiss & Fly and Tenjune show that these cobblestone streets hold a charisma that won't quit, and the popularity of evergreens like Lotus, Pastis and Spice Market hints that the glitterati and night owls probably never left. Chances are that forthcoming attractions like the High Line Park and a satellite branch of the Whitney Museum of Art, plus the Standard Hotel, will further ramp up the MPD's buzz factor.
While the still-gritty Meatpacking District may lack SoHo's bustle and breadth, it remains a must-shop destination for fashionistas drawn to luxe labels with edge. Much like Jeffrey, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and other early arrivals, many of the latest retailers traffic in exclusivity – or, at the very least, require major bucks to burn – and despite the economy, seem to be going like gangbusters.
So whether you want to play dress-up, sip, snack, pose and/or shake your moneymaker, the Meatpacking District offers countless possibilities. Here's a short list (and a map) of spanking new shops and a selective sampling of hangouts. (Note: We've also included a few soon-to-open places for future reference.)
Map of Meatpacking District
View:
- Shops
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Hotels
Shops
A
Adam
678 Hudson St. (bet. 13th & 14th Sts.), 212-229-2838
www.shopadam.com
Chic, luxurious basics that tweak convention are the province of former Oscar de la Renta creative director Adam Lippes, who steps up the neighborhood's clothing options for guys and gals at his handsome bachelor-padlike showcase.
B
Iris
827 Washington St. (bet. Gansevoort & Little W. 12th Sts.), 212-645-0950
Kick along the cobblestones in high style after visiting this sleek silver-and-white shoe heaven, an Italian import that showcases the full collections of Chloé, Paul Smith, Viktor & Rolf, Marc Jacobs, John Galliano and Veronique Branquinho.
C
Helmut Lang
819 Washington St. (bet. Gansevoort & Little W. 12th Sts.), 212-242-3240
www.helmutlang.com
The legendary Lang is no longer the creative force behind this iconic label, but the spirit of his trademark long-and-lean silhouettes (embellished with 21st-century details by a new design team) lives on at this brick-walled, loftlike space, a stone's throw from its future home in the High Line building.
D
Osklen
32-36 Little W. 12th St. (bet. 9th Ave. and Washington St.), 212-727-2031
www.osklen.com
Bossa nova over to Destination, an arty mecca for edgy designers, and discover a store-within-a-store dedicated to this upbeat Brazilian brand (also found at its standalone store in SoHo) of nature-inspired apparel – and, yes, itty-bitty bikinis – made with eco-oriented fabrics.
E
Yohji Yamamoto
1 Gansevoort St. (bet. 8th Ave. & Hudson St.), 212-966-3615
www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Follow the fashion flock into the venerable Japanese designer's spanking new high-concept, triangular namesake flagship divided by an open courtyard. The store is sparingly filled with avant-garde men's and women's clothing, plus accessories from Stormy Weather, a collaborative line between Yamamoto and pearl powerhouse Mikimoto.
F
Y-3
317 W. 13th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Aves.), 917-546-8677
www.y-3.com
Larger and more accessible than its half-sibling across the way, this new black-and-white home for Yohji Yamamato and Adidas' collaboration – a sports-inspired, super-stylish line of clothing and sneakers – is the first of its kind in NYC; another branch is set to open in SoHo.
G
Apple
401 W. 14th St. (9th Ave.), 212-444-3400
www.apple.com
The newest Apple in Manhattan wears its mantle of cool proudly, selling techie toys from iPhones to MacBook Air computers till the midnight hour in a galleryesque, three-story space with a concrete floor, spiral staircase and concierge service.
H
Hugo Boss
Coming Soon
401 W. 14th St. (bet. 9th & 10th Aves.), no phone yet
www.hugoboss.com
After recently shuttering its Fifth Avenue flagship, this German sharpshooter is readying not one, but two new Downtown stores for 2008 openings: a humongous BOSS Hugo Boss boutique in SoHo, which will open first this summer, followed by a showstopper in the radically renovated retail building that once housed Western Beef and is now home to Apple.
I
Moschino
Coming Soon
401 W. 14th St. (bet. 9th & 10th Aves.), no phone yet
www.moschino.com
The MPD's most visible fashion corridor will soon throw down the welcome mat for this storied Italian designer label, slated to make its Manhattan debut this spring. It may be known for its whimsical ad campaigns and designs, including a collection called Cheap & Chic, but its prices tend toward serious and scorching.
J
Ports 1961
Coming Soon
3 Ninth Ave. (bet. Gansevoort & Horatio Sts.), no phone yet
www.ports1961.com
Wielding insider clout among the fashion pack stateside and in the Far East, this family-owned, high-end Canadian label is now poised to reach a wider audience with the opening of its first NYC store, a three-story affair with a street-level boutique showcasing creative director Tia Cibani's modern, elegant designs.
Restaurants
A
73 Gansevoort St. (bet. Gansevoort & Washington Sts.), 646-810-7290
After gallivanting around Gansevoort, nab a seat at the communal table of this new cantina from the folks behind Sueños and Lotus and dig into Mexican home cooking.
B
409 W. 13th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 212-675-2400
Round up your Francophile pals and swan over to this chic, contemporary French bistro from the owners of neighboring STK for post-shop sustenance. If the pulsating house music is your bag, carry the party upstairs to Kiss & Fly.
C
55 Gansevoort St. (bet. Greenwich & Washington Sts.), 212-255-8555
Aquavit's star chef Marcus Samuelsson steers a new course at his exotic two-floor destination where adventurous, moneyed hipsters feast on Middle Eastern-accented African fare and tip back unusual cocktails.
D
25 Little W. 12th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 212-647-7314
Boasting a 17-ft. Buddha, pagodas, aquariums and koi ponds, this cavernous, Disney-esque Asian fusion phenomenon remains a spectacle to behold.
E
Gansevoort Hotel, 18 Ninth Ave. (enter on 13th St., bet. Hudson St. & 9th Ave.), 212-660-6766
Check into Jeffrey Chodorow's stunning Japanese destination with a sweeping red staircase in Hotel Gansevoort and satisfy those cravings for sushi and robata grill meats.
F
1 Little W. 12th St. (9th Ave.), 212-255-9717
Walking the line between sleek lounge and fashionable restaurant, this sultry spot turned out in rich browns lures an equally sexy crowd with New American small plates, interesting libations and a soundtrack that never quits.
G
9 Ninth Ave. (Little W. 12th St.), 212-929-4844
Morning, noon and night, locals and leggy model-types belly up to the zinc bar and spill over to the sidewalk tables at Keith McNally's perennially bustling French bistro.
H
403 W. 13th St. (9th Ave.), 212-675-2322
Get your exotic on at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's colorful Southeast Asian stomping ground, a visual feast serving up Thai-Malay-Vietnamese street food and eye candy galore.
Bars
A
409 W. 13th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 212-255-1933
What was once Aer is now a swanky lounge above Bagatelle with a full-on Euro scene, DJs from far and wide, strobe lighting and Cirque du Soleil-esque performances.
B
26 Little W. 12th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 646-624-2444
Out with the steakhouse stereotype, in with this sultry, female-friendly three-level bar/lounge/meatery that dispenses with the boys club–vibe but still attracts big spenders.
C
409 W. 14th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 212-243-4420
The exotic, Southeast Asian–inspired club/restaurant, a tropical multilevel wonderland that practically put bottle service on the map, still draws droves of A-listers, pretty people and the eternally fashionable.
D
26 Little W. 12th St. (bet. 9th Ave. & Washington St.), 646-624-2410
Zebra-print tables, a leather-lined bar and velvet couches set the vibe-o-meter to swanky at STK's über-trendy subterranean club with a tough door policy where models, celebs and other untouchables dance the night away.
E
Gansevoort Hotel, 18 Ninth Ave. (bet. Little W. 12th & 13th Sts.), rooftop, 212-206-6700
This glam pool lounge atop the Hotel Gansevoort is known for its killer views and cocktails large enough to wade through.
F
Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave. (bet. Little W. 12th & 13th Sts.), downstairs, 212-206-6700
A hotel spa by day and an exclusive nightspot after hours, this two-faced haunt is where the beautiful people go – but unless you're connected, chances are you'll never darken its door.
G
29-35 Ninth Ave. (14th St.), 212-627-9800
Visiting Brits, European expats and Manhattan's innermost circle kick back with cocktails on the Chesterfield sofa in the sixth-floor bar area or lounge and sip around the rooftop pool at this members-only club/hotel.
Hotels
A
18 Ninth Ave. (bet. Little W. 12th & 13th Sts.), 206-6700
After dining at Ono and swilling martinis at Plunge, why leave the premises? Instead, chill like a rock star in one of this happening hotel's cool, compact rooms.
B
The Standard
Coming Soon
848 Washington St. (bet. W. 12th & 13th Sts.), 212-645-4646
If Andre Balazs' hip Standard hotels in Downtown LA, Hollywood and Miami are any barometer, his 18-story baby rising high above Washington Street may just be the standard-bearer of cheap chic in hoteldom; slated to open fall 2008.