Travel | The View from The Standard NYC

With all the talk about the build out of The Standard Hotel, we figured it was high time for us to take in the experience ourselves. We have been through our share of new “modern” takes on the hotel experience, which tend to put primary focus on the interiors of the property, but it was clear after reading Alexandra Lange’s “Standard Operating Procedure” essay that our camera would need to focus up and out.

The NYC version of The Standard Hotel by Andre Balazs opened it’s doors to wide acclaim. The roof top “Boom Boom Room” instantly became the newest hot spot in a city with high turnover in this category (impressively the likes of Thom Browne and others affirmed that it still remains in that position during our visit). But a good rooftop bar does not sell a group of gents who have come to NYC to hear techno…

For us, what you could see – from the windows, from the terrace of The Standard – as well as the extension of this view on the inside are what made the weekend special. Let us walk you through our view of The Standard New York City.

Read and view more particulars of The Standard NYC after the click…

As many readers may be well aware, The Standard NYC is located just above the Highline Parkway on the West Side of Manhattan. It is literally built above the 1.5 miles of abandoned track which has been transformed into a green space. From the terrace just above the entry way, Standard guests can experience their own broad view of the parkway, while enjoying food and beverages to their liking. In a city which moves quickly, this vantage point offers a relaxed and calming escape with broad views of the Highline and the Meatpacking District itself.

The Highline view is really a bonus to what you experience from your hotel room itself. Depending on which side of The Standard you are situated in, you room in either uptown or downtown. After seeing a few of the rooms, it is clear that our preference would be downtown, perpendicular to the river.

The view offers an unobstructed take of Manhattan that really does not compare to many others. The field of obstruction downtown is minimal. The Standard offers vast views to the outside world. We’ll caution you in the same manner that General Manager, Ian Nicholson cautioned us: the open views of The Standard “open” your room to some transparency when your curtains are open. We kept ours open all night (having spent most of the late evening inside of Brooklyn’s Bunker as part of the UNSOUND Festival; we needed the sunlight). Nevertheless, the big selling point to us at The Standard comes from the visuals outside of your window.

Coming back inside the rooms, The Standard’s interiors, with their mix of teak ceiling paneling that form from the top of the bed’s headboard across the ceiling remind of us shutters – similar to those which blind the room from the open shower and bath (seen below). They extend and compliment the view you have to the outside world. Transparency, again, is optional.

Overall, The Standard is a unique experience of New York City. Those looking for some of the best views of the city would be wise to consider their offering on the West Side. And to those who care for their privacy, simply draw your curtains. You cannot go wrong either way.

Sidenote: If you would like a bubble bath at 7:30 am, you may have your bubble bath as my good friend Ish did. Others in our party opted for the breakfast via proper room service. Well done on both counts.