The Standard High Line ★★★★

Manhattan’s Meatpacking District is definitely the place to be and be seen. These streets, filled with a fusion of dilapidated meatpacking warehouses and modernist architecture, started to come onto people’s radars in the late 1990s and early 2000s when people such Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Christian Louboutin set up shop here, and have appeared in many TV shows and films, including Sex and the City, Fatal Attraction and I Am Legend.

Rooms at The Standard High Line conform to what one would imagine as the perfect Manhattan pad, with sleek furniture in tones of cream and beige, and magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, providing unrivalled views of the Hudson River and iconic New York skyline beyond. They also offer mini bars, plasma TVs, deluxe rain showers and soft down pillows, among other luxuries.

The hotel is not just somewhere to lay your head though; on the contrary, it’s a place many glamorous people would be happy to come on a Friday night; think pre-dinner cocktails, swanky sundowners and a sophisticated supper lounge at the top of the hotel. In the glittering surrounds, enjoy a classic Cosmopolitan cocktail while watching as the sun streaks orange over the Hudson River. You’ll also be treated to live jazz and delicious mini bites. Finish off the night at Le Bain, a penthouse discotheque and rooftop bar where you can dance the night away to world class DJs and marvel at the surrounding panoramic vistas of Manhattan.

Just like New York itself, The Standard High Line is a hotel for all seasons. In winter, glide around the hotel’s own ice rink and enjoy cold-weather treats from the Alpine Kaffeeklatsch cafe; whilst summer brings the open-air plunge pool at Le Bain and a delicious French crêperie on a rooftop. There’s also the traditional German Biergarten, which you can enjoy all year round. Here, you can gorge on traditional German fare such as pretzels and bratwurst, prepared by Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner and accompanied by a stein of your favourite German beer.

This hotel is truly a venue within itself; it’s also a place to work out, with a fully equipped 24-hour gym and ping pong tables; a place to enjoy culture, with large-scale art installations; and a place to shop, where you can browse a unique selection of books, gifts and art.

As for food, The Standard Grill is a neighbourhood favourite, said to be one of the best places to enjoy traditional New York-style cuisine on the West Side. The grill is divided into two parts – the café and bistro, with clean lines and decked in white oak; and the main dining room filled with cosy red leather arm chairs and wood-panelled walls. Here, you can choose from a range of locally sourced dishes, from classic steaks to fresh oysters and charcuterie.

With all the stylish facilities and luxurious accommodation on offer at Standard High Line ****, it may seem like something out of the movies - but we can assure you this splendid establishment is all real. So what are you waiting for?