The Meatpacking district is the part of the city that never sleeps. Located below 14th street, west of the Hudson River, the neighborhood is only about 10 blocks large. Despite its size, it’s packed with some of the most exclusive nightclubs, restaurants, stores and galleries in the world. Few would argue that it is one of the chicest areas in New York City, the Soho of the 21st century.
In 1900, the Meatpacking District was home to 250 slaughterhouses and packing plants. Butchers and railway workers filled the streets in the early mornings. At night the area was mostly desolate. Today, jet setters and fashionistas flock to the neighborhood at all hours, drawn by the restaurants, luxury stores and trendy bars. The outdoor cafes and entrances to nightclubs are thronged with well-dressed visitors, hoping to see and be seen. If you walk around the neighborhood at the right time of the day, there’s a good chance you’ll be a subject in one of the television shows or movies that are regularly filmed on the cobblestoned streets.
The neighborhood became even more popular when the High Line opened on June 7, 2009. During the summer weekends, over 50,000 people flocked to the park in the sky to sunbathe and enjoy the elevated views of the Hudson River.
