By Ken Alan
In New York City there used to be a somewhat undefined area along the Upper-20’s, situated between Broadway and the Hudson River, an almost nondescript locale known primarily for being a home to the famed Fashion Institute of Technology. This former no-man’s land had a seediness which made it far removed from the couture allure of the Garment District just northward, and it so lacked in hipness that nearby “Chelsea-ites” considered the blighted sector a red-headed stepchild.
Today that neighborhood not only has its own identity, it is also in the throes of a renaissance. Thanks to a burgeoning hotel, restaurant and hipster scene, The Fashion District is now one of NYC’s hottest up-and-coming destinations.
How far has the neighborhood evolved? It’s hot enough to warrant its own Whole Foods store!
With The Fashion District gaining in popularity, one of the district’s best-kept-secrets is out. Hotels are now opening at an exponential rate, and their rooms, by and large, are usually going for a couple bills less than uptown’s own stratospheric tariffs, while offering digs that can compare with Soho’s trendiest establishments.
One such property is the Ace Hotel, located on 29th Street just east of Broadway. The lobby serves as a coffee house-by-day and club-at-night. The industrial chic rooms and two outstanding restaurants – John Dory Oyster Bar and The Breslin (more to come on that second one in a moment) – all make for a very Kardashian-esque place to visit, yet it can provide easy-on-the-wallet room rates throughout many nights of the year.
The Hilton Fashion District, on 26th and east of Seventh Avenue, is set nicely off the street and possesses 280 contemporary rooms. The newly-refurbished Hilton also has a stylish rooftop lounge called RARE, which is the topside companion to their 1st floor burger café of the same name.
More subdued is the Hotel Indigo, located at 26th Street between Avenue of the Americas & Seventh Avenue. A modern boutique property offering comfortable rooms, the Indigo provides convenient proximity to points everywhere in the city.
Eats
The Fashion District’s lack of fine dining opportunities allow for other more rudimentary, yet no-less tasty pursuits including some of the best burger & pizza joints in town.
The aforementioned RARE Bar & Grill in the Hilton’s lobby serves up juicy gourmet burgers including their Classic. For the hell of it, add truffle butter to your bun – well worth the five extra bucks and the elevated cholesterol count.
BRGR
287 Seventh Avenue
“Going against the grain to create a better burger” is the slogan at this grass fed meatery that is situated in an airy, red brick walled storefront across from the Fashion Institute. Don’t forget to order a damn-fine milk shake to go with your BRGR burger.
The Breslin
Off the lobby at the Ace Hotel
Twenty-one dollars for a burger? Yup, and try to resist getting a second one because this wood paneled eatery has possibly the best lamb burger and thrice-cooked fries in the country. Uber-restaurateurs April Bloomfield & Ken Friedman from The Spotted Pig fame are producers of this laid back gastro-pub.
If beef isn’t your thing then you can satiate yourself at one of the district’s better pizza places. These include –
Waldy’s Wood Fired Pizza & Penne
27th & Sixth Avenue
There’s limited seating but the wait for a Waldy’s classic margherita pie is so worth it. Or, simply have one delivered.
Ovest Pizzoteca
513 W. 27th Street
This wood-fired enoteca is the perfect place to retreat, drink wine & aperitivo, watch Euro soccer, enjoy stimulating conversation with a cute bartender and delve into outstanding brick oven pizzas. Go while Ovest is still fairly unheralded; the treasured veil of secrecy won’t last much longer.
You won’t go hungry in this neck of the woods but can you find anything fun & cultural to do?
Sure, just look up! The High Line, a former elevated freight line running from West 34th Street down to the Meatpacking District (and paralleling Tenth Avenue) is a pedestrian walkway featuring stunning landscaping, murals galore; art installations and even sweet & savory food and beverage carts. The scenic walkway is part historical, part magical and wholly New York.
The Flower District
Occupying one block of 28th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue, you’ll find everything that’s potted, sprouting and blooming under the sun at this floral swath of the neighborhood. It’s a definite oasis for those in the green thumb set.
With each visit I make to NYC I might end way up in Harlem or deep down in The Battery but I tend to make the Fashion District my home base – a perfect halfway point to everything the island offers, and, if I do my proper research, a value-filled place to stay, anytime of year.
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