
Staycation all I ever wanted
September 2, 2020
New Yorkers – show some love to your city and make an epic staycation in NYC this long holiday weekend. From dining out, booking gallery visits, walking along the High Line, staying in at your favorite hotels, and so much more, there’s plenty to do to enjoy and support the greatest city in the world. Here’s your guide for how to have an epic staycation for Labor Day Weekend in Meatpacking.
Bike the District
ICYMI: getting around on two wheels is the new way to commute. With four streets open only for pedestrians in the neighborhood, plus extended bike lines, there’s plenty of reasons to head down to the district. If you’re looking for the best routes, check our guide here.

Installation view of Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950–2019 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, November 22, 2019–January 2021). Robert Rauschenberg, Yoicks, 1954. Photograph by Ryan Lowry.
Peruse galleries again
The Whitney Museum reopens to the public on September 3rd! All visitors are required to book timed tickets in advance online at whitney.org. To welcome all New Yorkers back, admission to the Museum will be pay-what-you-wish from September 3 – 28.
Restaurants that feel far, far away
If your original summer travel plans included leaving the country, get your travel bug fixed by dining at some of these Meatpacking restaurants below.
- Buddakan – Transport yourself to a Far East night market with Buddakan’s outdoor dining setup.
- Pastis – Get your French fix with brasserie vibes for lunch or dinner at Pastis
- Daisy’s Cocktail Garden – For a lush, relaxing garden that feels miles away from NYC, try The High Line Hotel’s cocktail garden.
- Sandbar on Hudson – High Street on Hudson (hooray!) is back but in a different form. Meet Sandbar on Hudson, High Street’s answer for your beach on the street dining.
See more outdoor dining in Meatpacking
The Standard is back!
The Standard reopened it’s doors again for guests on September 1st. Book a staycation and take in all the west side has to offer with views of the High Line, rooftop drinks at Le Bain, and enjoy outdoor dining at The Summer Plaza.
Have rooftop drinks
It’s not summer in NYC without rooftop drinks. Catch a sunset overlooking the city from PHD at the Dream Hotel, RH rooftop, Le Bain, or the newly reopened Brass Monkey.
Go to the beach, in the city
For an oasis in the city, head to Dream Beach. Day passes are available for socially distanced chaise lounges by the pool. Book in advance – passes go fast! If you’re looking for a full on staycation, book a night at The Dream so you don’t have to go far after a cocktail or two in the sun.
Experience Art, Science, and Technology
Artechouse, the nation’s first innovative digital art space, reopens to the public on Thursday, September 3rd in Chelsea Market. They will re-inaugurate the venue with Intangible Forms, a kinetic audio-visual laser performance and installation by Japanese multimedia artist Shohei Fujimoto, whose run was cut short after only 10 days in mid-March.
Take a walk on the High Line
Picture this, the High Line filled with just locals. If you haven’t visited the park in a while, now is the best time to go. Make a reservation for a timed visit and walk to take in all the summer greenery with the best views of the Hudson and the city below.
200+ outdoor seats
Last month, Chelsea Market opened Chelsea Street Market with over 200 socially distanced outdoor seats. Make your own foodie tour of the market and try eats such as seafood tacos from Los Mariscos, stuffed pitas from Miznon, bacon smash burgers from Dicksons, and more from the 17+ vendors that are open.
Retail Therapy
If sweats have been your OOTD for the last 6 months, there’s no better weekend to break out of the rut with the last official weekend of the summer. Treat yourself to an outfit to wear out on the town paired with a fashionable mask of course. See retailers that are open in Meatpacking here.
Binge on episodes of Meatpacking Unpacked
If you find yourself staying in, catch up on the latest episodes of Meatpacking Unpacked: Community Connected. Stay in the know and check out our YouTube channel where we talk to a variety of guests shaping the cultural, political, and business landscape across NYC.