The Standard Grill

With their velvet ropes, rooftop bars, and bribeable doormen, hotels are the engines that make Meatpacking go. The most important one when it comes to nightlife is The Standard, which has three of the most popular spots to drink - Le Bain, the Boom Boom Room, and the Biergarten - as well as one of the best restaurants, The Standard Grill. The dark space on the ground floor of the hotel has white-jacketed servers doing tableside presentations for client dinners and dates. It feels like a high-end steakhouse, and they do offer a few expensive cuts of meat, but most of the menu is made up of seafood, vegetables, and Italian entrees. Our favorite dish here is the truffle risotto that’s rich, earthy, and comes with shrimp that basically melt when you bite into them. Finish the meal with the baked Alaska that’s set on fire tableside, and then if you still need more entertainment, head up the elevator to Le Bain.