The Standard, 848 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014 tel. 212 645 4646; the latest Hot Spot in New York’s Hotel Scene is the bar at the Standard which is located in the MeatPacking District right at the High Line (which will be finalized sometimes 2009). The view of the rooms are amazing, overlooking the Hudson with a breathtaking sunset. As with every Andre Balazs owned property, the staff is uniformly young, beautiful and hip and also unbelieveably competent. The Pool will be open to the public in May 2009.
Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10010 tel. 212 920 3300; this hotel exists since 1924 (Bogat married actress Helen Menken on the rooftop). After a complete gutting the Hotel reopened in August 2006. All rooms custom designed by Julian Schnabel and with amazing Art hanging in the big library room (with a gigantic fireplace) - is this one of my favorit spots for a Saturday afternoon tea or a glass of Champagne to kick start the Saturday night.
Chelsea Hotel, 222 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011 tel. 212 243 3700; the Hotel is one of the city’s most notorious landmarks, a hotspot brimming with character even as it sinks into old age. Sid Vicious fatally stabbed his girlfriend here in 1978; Arthur C. Clarks’s 2001 and partf of William S Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch” were drated here. Ask for a renovated room with a private balcony. And the (alleged) ghost sightings, are free of charge.