Not so long ago, the trendiest thing worn in the Meatpacking District was a blood-stained apron. Now, Gansevoort Market (as the district is officially known) is New York’s most fashionable neighbourhood.
From Union Square park, follow 15th street - a relatively safe street although there is no bike lane- till 9th ave and arrive at Chelsea Market. Residing in what used to be the National Biscuit Co. (the company that produces Oreos), this strangely unassuming building from the outside is opening up into a gorgeous urban market including specialty food shops and lots of bakeries.
- Eleni's: Hand-painted art cookies make expensive but yummie NY souvenirs
- Ruthy’s Bakery: Sesame Street cupcakes with self-serve coffee
- Ronnybrook Dairy: try an icecream sandwiche – 2 cookies (eg chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin) combined with farm fresh ice cream (eg creme brulee or strawberry flavour), mmmmh!
- Jacques Torres , Anthropologie, ...
Walk your bike one block south on 9th Avenue and stop @ the Apple Store. This shop is the second biggest Apple store in Northern America and is open till midnight - an excellent place to check your email, visit the (very clean) restrooms at the 3rd floor and of course see if any Apple product fits your hand/wallet.Turn right on 14th street and continue walking your bicycle -no bike lane and busy traffic- towards the Hudson. Meanwhile you can do some excellent windowshopping (Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, ...). Turn left @ Diane von Furstenberg and follow Washington street untill the big staircase that leads to the Highline Park.
The Highline is an 1.5 mile long elevated public park. It is a small part of an 75-year-old elevated railway along the Hudson River used to transport goods (fabrics, meat, ...) from the Westside waterfront to the uptown warehouses, at several places it runs through buildings instead of wandering around it.
PS: Gansevoort district is famous for it's hip cocktail hours, wining and dining.
- Pastis: Perennially bustling French bistro with sidewalk tables (famous from SATC + excellent Mimosa)
- Fig & Olive (416 W13th street, near Washington st): spacious mediterranean
- Hotel gansevoort: pool lounge with killer views and cocktails
- Spice Market: Celebrity pan-asian hotspot (Nicole Kidman,Scarlet Johansson) long wait and reservation required!
- Dinner reservations can be made (free) in advance through Opentable.
