The Standard East Village East Village

As the newest sister in the Standard family, this Kind hotel is upholding the family tradition of sleek style and sophistication in a neighborhood otherwise known for rebellion. 

The Setting

Standing tall in the amalgam that is the modern day East Village and Bowery, which some say is Manhattan’s last refuge for bohemian culture, is The Standard. The original hotel was once a much maligned eyesore in a neighborhood famous for its discretionary tastes before being acquired by Andre Balazs and his Standard brand. A head-to-toe renovation and complete overhaul of the public spaces (picture brick facade on the ground floors, tons more greenery) led to a rebirth of the 21-story angular glass tower and a long awaited acceptance in this vibrant and artistic community. Step off of historic Cooper Square and enter through a four-story 1845 tenement style building, still home to local artists and once a hub for iconic beat writers, musicians and NY’s Black Rights Movement of the 60’s, to find a bustling all day/all night street-side cafe, an off-lobby library lounge stocked with books whose sales benefit local charity, Housing Works, an impeccably sourced restaurant helmed by a Michelin starred chef, a peaceful outdoor garden tucked away from the hustle and bustle, and cozy rooms with floor to ceiling views of a dramatic skyline. Sure, the East Village has changed, but still at the core of this neighborhood is a wildly eccentric counterculture that isn’t afraid to usher in a new era of forward thinking, and by those, uh, standards, we think this Kind hotel is a perfect fit.

Sleep and Sanctuary

The Bowery has been known as a relatively acrophobic enclave of the city, so the good news for us is unobstructed panoramic views of New York. Naturally, the higher you go up, the more bells and whistles to be found. But, certain to be had in each room and suite are floor to ceiling (in some cases wall-to-wall) windows for welcoming natural light, warm and pleasing soft colors, custom carpets, wood accents and true to form for Standard fans, a huge bright red lipped accent pillow. Also find comfy beds (worthy of daylong hibernation), huge HDTV’s, glass enclosed rain showers to lather up with the hotel’s custom KISS MY FACE animal and chemical free organic bath products, Bluetooth speakers to blare your punk playlists (we’re in the East Village after all), over-stocked mini-bars with healthy snacks, vitamin powders from fitness guru David Kirsch and Oxia personal oxygen to help get over the effects of the unmentioned members of mini bar, and, lastly, free (hooray!) Wi-Fi. Pooches are also welcome to stay free (hooray!) with a heads up before check in.

Eat. Pray. Eat.

Perhaps the crown jewel of this property is one of New York’s hottest restaurants, Narcissa. Named after a dairy cow with a wild streak (she once escaped into a nearby town for a little revelry) at Balazs’ own Hudson Valley farm The Locusts, where Michelin-starred chef, John Fraser, sources all the restaurant’s produce. Historically known as a dairy farm, The Locusts was re-purposed to focus on veggies and herbs for Narcissa’s healthy California inspired cuisine. A vegetarian off the clock, chef Fraser wanted to explore new techniques of roasting , rotisserie and slow cooking seasonal vegetables. And the results are, well, just ask any foodie south of 14th St. Also catering to the palette on property is the electric Cafe Standard, a cafe full of rich colors, hanging foliage and European laissez-faire style attitude. Open breakfast ‘til late night, this neighborhood hub offers a twist on casual American cuisine (also created by Fraser) and hand crafted cocktails. The warm months see the cafe open to its own plaza on the Bowery for some supreme summertime chillin.’ A carefully curated room service menu from 6AM-2AM is the perfect offshoot for those that still crave Fraser’s bites but would rather indulge in that comfy bed with those romantic views. Just, remember to hang that Do Not Disturb sign.

Narcissa – this Vegan-friendly resto has been the talk of the town since opening. Don’t stress about scoring a table, guests get priority and the hotel immediately books one for you for your first night’s feast. The room is warm and matches the dishes in simplicity and sophistication. There are two rooms, one has an open flowing feel and a chef’s counter, the other, overlooks the Garden and, is itself, an al fresco sanctum in warmer months. Savor veggie delights like a carrot Wellington with bluefoot mushrooms, sunchokes and gremolata or roasted cauliflower with French curry broth. However, it is highly recommend that you immerse yourself (metaphorically, of course) in the crisped beets, one of NYC’s most lauded dishes as of late. Upstate farm fresh beets meet upright Narcissa rotisserie and slow cook for five hours to create a crisp, charred skin on the outside, contrasting a sweet and savory pulp on the inside. It’s placed on a bed of horseradish along with  pickled cucumbers, apples, slivers of golden beet and sprigs of dill. Farm fresh cocktails and brunch on the weekends also make this a can’t miss. 

Cafe Standard - This lively cafe brings to mind a chic Venetian bistro meets Pantone swatch meets  classic downtown New York watering hole. The indoor/outdoor boite is happening from early AM til... um, early AM again. So post up at the bar or grab a table on the Bowery patio and nosh on snacks like a vegan kale Caesar (et tu, Brute?) or Japanese fried chicken with daikon. Another inspired cocktail menu can be found here, too. (No surprise).

The Garden - “Give me sanctuary, or give me death” said, surely someone in New York at some point. Well, here it is. Tucked behind a corner off Bowery & 5th, this intimate, green oasis is perfect for enjoying that refreshing cocktail, or that refreshing moment of zen. The warm months see the likes of lobster bakes and bocci ball. And when the weather outside is frightful, the Garden transforms into…

The Winter Garden  - (worthy of its own header), this winter wonderland  is complete with surrounding Christmas trees,  festivals of light, warm cocktails and mulled wines and your very own Yurt! Yep, heated Alpine-inspired yurts can be reserved for cozyin’ up and sharing fondue and/or apple strudels. Throw on a fur they offer for loan and recount your Alpine adventures.

The Penthouse - Located on the 21st floor, this 1000sq ft space offers dynamite panoramic views of the city. Typically reserved for private events, such as seated dinners and cocktail receptions, the space also hosts Annie O’s Live Music Series, a carefully curated evening of emerging and established artists set against the backdrop of a twinkling skyline. Past performers include (Kind Traveler fav) Moby. Admission is free with RSVP.

 The Art of De-stressing

If the serene Garden isn’t doing the trick as far as de-stressing is concerned, you can always head up to the 21st floor Penthouse, where every Tuesday at 7pm, The Path leads free guided meditations for guests, Om. While the hotel lacks a spa & fitness center, guests are given free passes to get their fit on at Crunch Gym across the street. Their signature club, this location caters to a diverse selection of neighborhood clientele. Group classes, riding classes and personal training can be enjoyed along with Crunch’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. 

For the adventurous, Standard bikes are always complimentary. Take a spin around your new hood (please, please mind the bike lanes and NY drivers!) and on your way to the East River Bikeway, stop at Tompkins Square Park. Once a haven for crime and the neighborhood’s homeless population, the park, like much of the neighborhood, has undergone a rapid transformation. Today, relaxing lawns, ripe foliage, ping pong tables, chess, basketball courts and a rich element  of community keep the park thriving and attracting visitors from all over the globe. Buy a book from the Standard’s aforementioned Library (and help Housing Works) and daydream about Jean Michel Basquiat once living in a box on the very same spot you’re sitting. 

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  Pet Friendly

  Pets stay for Free, they provide organic dog treats made in house upon request

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  Complimentary WiFi

  free WiFi

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  Restaurant

  Café Standard serves breakfast, lunch and dinner + Lunch/dinner at Narcissa,

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  Air Conditioning

  hot summer days, no sweat!

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  Parking

  Public parking location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs $45 per/day

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  Bar Lounge

  cocktails mixed daily

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  Laundry Facility

  Laundry Service

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  Business Center

  on property

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  Bath Robes

  designer robes in room

• 

  Sundries

  on property

• 

  Room Service

  24 hour

• 

  Flat Screen TV

  cable TV + Movie rental

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  Minibar

  in room

• 

  Conference Rooms

  on property

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  In-Room Bluetooth

  connect your device in room

• 

  Concierge

  24 hour

• 

  Handicap Accessible

  physically disabled

• 

  Garden Lounge

  relax in the green

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  Public Transportation

  the subway takes you everywhere

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  Local Car Service

  booked by our Guest Services team

• Check In
  3pm
• Check Out
  12pm

Kind Eats and Drinks

• Momofuku Noodle Bar. Helped usher in the ramen craze and soooo freakin’ delicious! 
• Superiority Burger. All-Veggie burgers and well worth the long lines. 
• Renowned Chef Guy Vaknin makes fish-free sushi and other bites with seasonal veggies and fruits. Pleasing to the eye as much as the pallette. Beyond Sushi. 
• A stone’s throw from the Standard on St. Marks, is a hot dog stand with a phone booth inside. Go into the booth and make a call. Why you might ask? Because NYC’s best cocktail bar will answer. And, Please Don’t Tell.  

Conscious Culture

• Attend a screening at the Anthology Film Archives, an internationally renowned center for the preservation, study and exhibition of film since 1970. 
• No trip to the East Village would be complete without an evening of slam poetry at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe,  a non-profit that was the epicenter of the Nuyorican poetry movement in the early 70’s. 
• Take a tour at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, or MoRUS and learn all about past and future activism in the East Village. 

Mindful Adventures

• Take a free walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and indulge in one of the best vantage points of downtown NYC from one the most iconic structures in the world. 
• Or, spend the day actually on the East River and take in the views from a kayak. 
• Walk across Cooper Square and explore the intensely minimalist Muji Store. Founded in 1980, the Japanese company specializes in a wide variety of household goods, clothing and food. 

Do Good for the Day

• Help out at the Lower East Side Girls Club,  already supported in kind by the Standard East Village. 
• Donate time or $$ to the Bowery Mission, a vital part of the Lower East Side that has provided food, shelter, medical care as well a family support and mentoring programs since 1879. 
• Since we’re in NYC’s art mecca, lend your talents or heart to Art Start, a charity nurturing the voices and minds of NYC’s underserved and at-risk youth for 25 years.

Be Kind to Yourself

• The Russian & Turkish Baths have been an East Village institution since 1892. Get an Oak Leaf Platza, an exfoliating treatment where you are beaten by a coarse leaf brush before a cold shower. (Trust Us) 
• Nurture your wellness and balance at Great Jones Spa. 
• Skip over to St. Marks for a vinyasa flow or hot yoga class at Yoga to the People. 

HOW TO GET THERE

25 Cooper Sq New York, NY 10003

By Plane

• 17.2mi from JFK International Airport  (JFK) (Taxi: approx. $67)
• 9.9mi from LaGuardia NYC Airport  (Taxi: approx. $41)
• 14.3mi from Newark Liberty Airport (Taxi: approx. $57)

By Train

• From Grand Central 42nd St take 6 train downtown to Brooklyn Bridge, EXIT at Astor Pl and 2nd Ave. Walk 3 min to Cooper Sq. 
• From Penn Station walk 8min to 34th St. Take R train downtown towards Bay Ridge, EXIT at 8th St. walk 6min to Cooper Sq. 
• MTA Website

By Bus/Metro

• Buses from all local airports arrive at Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd St. For MTA buses take crosstown M42 to Lexington Ave. Aks for transfer to downtown M101. Get off at 3rd Ave & Lex. 

By Automobile

• Valet is available for free, Parking overnight is $55.

By Uber

• Link here.

By Zip Car

•  Link here.