NYC’s Meatpacking District is now a high-end retail district in the northwest corner of the West Village. The High Line and Whitney Museum of American Art are cultural anchors.
Open Streets
The Meatpacking District is a fun place to walk around. The neighborhood’s open streets are now permanent. They include:
- Gansevoort from Washington St to Hudson St
- Little West 12th St from Washington St to Ninth Avenue
- West 13th St from Washington St to Ninth Avenue
Manhattan’s Old Meatpacking District
When we came to Manhattan in 2000, the neighborhood was still filled with meatpackers. Your shoes would stick to the sidewalk as you walked around.
Back in the day, cattle were brought in by train on what is now the High Line. Architecturally speaking, New York City eats its own children. The area is now a very high end shopping district that retains some of its old-timey charm.
At times, herds of long-legged, high-heeled, model types step out of black cars right around 8pm. It makes you wonder if model school just got out. It’s fun to watch.
The Gansevoort Meatpacking is a popular hotel that renewed the neighborhood. The Standard, High Line hotel is a popular place to stay. The Standard Biergarten is fun with friends. The Standard rooftop bar and nightclub is cool. At one time it was an impossible velvet rope, but New York City is always changing. The Soho House private club has a rooftop pool that is a see and be seen spot. It was made famous by the “Sex and the City” television show.
If you go to the Whitney Museum, step out on the balconies that overlook the neighborhood.