Some hotels stir a sense of déjà vu – impossibly familiar, comforting, almost. For us, the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC is one of these. It was the very first New York City hotel OutThere officially reviewed all those years ago, back when the neighbourhood still smelled faintly of industry and mischief; they say you never forget your first time. Since then, it’s become something of an unofficial pied-à-terre for us – a place we return to not just to sleep but to remember, to rediscover and to revel. To call it our home away from home would be an understatement – it’s more like our Manhattan muse. And while the Meatpacking District has shapeshifted from gritty fringe to glossy cultural powerhouse – all high fashion, higher rooftops and curated cool – the Gansevoort has remained at its centre, pulsing with the kind of downtown charisma that no amount of rebranding can manufacture.
The cobblestone-clad Meatpacking District was once the gritty playground of night owls, misfits and ‘miscreants’, now a chic hotbed of creativity and commerce. And the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC remains at its heart. Now sporting a decadent refurbishment, it oozes boutique cool. From the outside, it looks every bit the Gansevoort we remember in spirit – proud, punchy and perfectly positioned. Step inside, however, and the aesthetic shifts into something far more design-forward and art-driven. Gone are the neon flourishes and kitsch party vibes. In their place: curated calm, thoughtful elegance and a sense of place that is both cosmopolitan and cutting-edge – and a distinct colourway of Gansevoort blue.
The lobby is the hotel’s soul. An eye-catching Banksy, Flying Copper, greeted us with that unmistakable, signature wink of British satire. Richard Hambleton’s shadowy silhouette stalks a nearby wall like a leather-clad ghost of the district’s queer past. Hassan Hajjaj’s (dubbed ‘the Andy Warhol of Marrakech’) candy-coloured Marques 2013 beams like a stained-glass window to another universe. Olivier Weppe’s photo series, documenting the neighbourhood two decades apart, is like flipping through a visual diary. Observant lovers will note some new additions to the hotel’s already impressive collection. Rotating works from queer and BIPOC artists now join the permanent fixtures. It’s part gallery, part gathering place and entirely in tune with the vibrant creative pulse of the district.
Throughout the year (and throughout the hotel), the Gansevoort hosts artist talks, culinary pop-ups, live music, fashion-forward soirées and wellness weekenders – pulling in a mix of locals and globetrotters. Highlights include rooftop screenings of cult New York films under the stars, immersive wellness residencies and partnerships with downtown galleries and indie fashion labels that pop up in the hotel’s social spaces.
Upstairs, our Gansevoort Suite on the corner of the twelfth floor was a masterclass in subtle swagger. Think Mid-century Modern and Italian Modernism meets Manhattan loft – all with a playful wink. Ombré wallpaper, walnut headboard, designer seating, a handsome drinks trolley with Krosno glassware that all but insisted we help ourselves to the minibar’s best. And of course, more lashings of Gansevoort blue, all set against a neutral backdrop of other urban-industrial hues in a space flooded with natural light. A chilled bottle of champagne and dainty edible amenities lay in wait. Every detail felt intentional – not overly styled, just effortlessly considered. The bathroom followed suit with matte black fixtures and honeycomb tiles. A CBD face mask did wonders for our jet lag.
Tech-heads will rejoice: the suite doubles as a gadget lover’s dream. Smart mirrors for on-demand sweat-it-outs with a virtual trainer? Now they come with live sessions and guided breathwork, because this is New York City and we like our cortisol as curated as our cocktails. Then there are of course, the Marshall Bluetooth speakers, super-Smart TV, a bedside tablet and Google Nest.
Those with a flair for the fabulous should aim for the Poliform Penthouse – a 157 sq m / 1,690 sq ft duplex temple of modernity and light. It’s less a room, more a Manhattan fantasy in high-definition: furniture as a result of a collaboration with the renowned furniture maker, panoramic views that stretch belief and a private art collection and pop-culture photography that rivals Chelsea’s galleries.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Culturalist | JFK / EWR | GMT -5 |
| While you’re Out There |
| The Whitney Museum of American Art is virtually around the corner from the hotel and it’d be a crime not to visit. Little Island, which has quickly risen to fame after opening in 2021, is just as easy and convenient to get to – its architecture and quirkiness alone make it worth visiting, but Little Island is also home to a rather special amphitheatre with views over the Hudson River. |
Speaking of views, the rooftop – always a scene-stealer – now boasts a refreshed pool deck edged with minimalist-chic daybeds and cabanas, with spa service if it comes to that. Once the stomping ground for bikini-clad debauchery, it’s now an elevated, elegant sanctuary. Think Scandi-neutral tones, soft lighting and cocktail glasses clinked by fashionable locals. Add in the newly enhanced LED lighting scheme that bathes the skyline in an ambient glow come sunset, and you’ve got a front-row seat to Manhattan’s most photogenic golden hour.
The rooftop’s culinary programme is as meticulously styled as its crowd. The menu offers a modern Mediterranean-meets-American affair – light, vibrant and subtly luxurious. Everything is crafted for sharing – and for lingering. It’s not about the rush here, it’s about the rhythm: of people-watching, of music that knows when to stay in the background, of plates arriving just as we had sipped the last of our Provençal rosé.
Our favourite dinner came courtesy of Saishin, the rooftop omakase experience that began life as a pop-up, has settled in beautifully and grown bolder in both flavour and form. Executive Chef Isaac Kek and his team served us a menu that dances between Kaiseki tradition and contemporary interpretation. The food is rooted in inventive and sustainable ingredient sourcing and can only be described as gastro-artistry. Chef Kek honed his craft at New York City’s three-Michelin-star Omakase temple, Masa. Hailing from Dallas, Texas and raised on the bold flavours of Mexican, South East Asian and Texan cookery, Chef Kek draws inspiration from culinary traditions from across the globe. His travels – from Japan and Europe to South East Asia – combined with New York’s own inventive spirit, have converged in the signature Saishin menu, where each dish reflects a fusion of cultural influences and his unbridled creativity. The ever-evolving menu is now joined by limited-seating sake pairing nights at the Omakase counter.
For a different flavour altogether, we recommend Le Coin, the hotel’s intimate downstairs French-American bistro with a flair for both the classic and the contemporary. Here, familiar favourites are given a bold, cosmopolitan twist. The interiors blend vintage Parisian charm with New York edge – brass finishes, warm leather, soft globe lighting – all designed to feel like the kind of Left Bank restaurant we always hope to stumble into but rarely do. Whether perching at the bar with a dirty martini or diving into oysters at a velvet banquette, Le Coin is one of the Gansevoort’s most delicious secrets.
On the subject of transformations, the surrounding Meatpacking District has evolved significantly too. No longer just the domain of high-gloss boutiques and curated grittiness, it now buzzes with art spaces, tech start-ups and cool cafés. It’s still got edge, but it’s sharper, smarter and more sophisticated. Just like the Gansevoort.
To meet this burgeoning evolution, there’s something new hidden discreetly within the Gansevoort’s walls. Seven24 Collective – the hotel’s new private membership club concept – is a thoroughly contemporary take on the members’ club: equal parts creative salon, luxe hideaway and unapologetic playground. Seven24 Collective is more than just a club lounge with a velvet rope – it’s a curated ecosystem for the culturally curious and socially versed. Members can access private, casual work and meeting spaces and expect more curated cultural and intellectual programming, as well as the freedom to use the hotel’s facilities.
At its heart, however, is DIMES – Seven24 Collective’s post-work alter ego and nod to the city’s disco-soaked heyday. A homage to the hotel owner’s parents’ basement den, it is a deliberately decadent space with mirrored ceilings, disco balls, plush banquettes, a dancefloor, karaoke room and two-lane bowling alley all rolled into one. More than a lifestyle perk, Seven24 Collective is a curated experience – a private club that feels anything but closed off.
So, what’s the updated verdict? While the hotel may not be new to us, and while we may have returned to the Gansevoort with some nostalgic expectations, we have to say that it feels as if we’re seeing it all again for the first time. It’s still sexy, still scene-y, just a little more self-aware… more polished but still very much itself. And, without question, still very much us.
There are always going to be new luxury or concept hotels in Manhattan – more next-gen, trendier, perhaps even flashier. But few offer the Gansevoort’s particular blend of location, personality and design without sacrificing the buzz that made the Meatpacking District legendary in the first place. And that’s precisely why we believe it works so well for OutThere travellers. It leans confidently into the realm of lifestyle luxury, and like when it first opened, anticipates the desires of the new and now generation of worldly, experience-hungry guests. Rather than cocoon you from the city, it throws open its doors and invites you to be part of it.
Photography courtesy of the Gansevoort Hotel Group
