30 to Midnight

Zampa, Meatpacking

Sunday, 1pm

Zampa
306 West 13th St. (8th Ave.), Manhattan

If you show up at Zampa weekdays when it opens - 8am - we can promise Age Appropriate-espresso. Weekend brunch, we're told, is mostly AA (completely AA when we visited). Afternoon and evening wine drinking is somewhat mixed. As you know, Meatpacking is tough but this location is thankfully not in the heart. Something to keep in mind, however, service is awkward - friendly but not smart. We don't love that. Oh, and something else too - food is only alright, if they manage to get the avo on your B.L.avo.T sandwich. 

The High Line, Meatpacking District

Saturday, 9pm

The High Line
Gansevoort St. to W. 20th St., Manhattan

We'd heard the High Line was too crowded to be enjoyable. Guess we were lucky because we enjoyed our back-and-forth stroll immensely, marveling at the combination of old, new, natural, artificial. Up here The Standard Hotel is as provocative as its nickname—the lap dance (since it straddles but does not touch the High Line, pictured below)—suggests. Many men (the ones who hold each other's hands), and couples, but no chance you will feel old when you explore this lovely little pedestrian park, which you should, as soon as possible, as the sun sets. Open hours: 7am-10pm. City Bakery has the concession contract, and its offerings include Sullivan Street Pizza.

Brass Monkey, Meatpacking District

Saturday, 7pm

Brass Monkey
55 Little West 12th St. (Washington St.), Manhattan

We were greeted by an encouragingly chill first-floor crowd in their 30's, eating and watching sports. On the roof deck, however, the party was in full swing. According to the 20-something server, these more boisterous ones had been at it for a couple hours already. Lucky for us, some early boozers bailed, abandoning their spots on the cushy bench—just in time for us to catch the sunset. At some point, our view was blocked by picture-posing girls in foofy dresses. It was obviously time for us to go.
-Amy B.

The Standard Hotel, Meatpacking District

Wednesday, 7:15pm

The Living Room at The Standard Hotel
848 Washington St. (13th St.), Manhattan

Not to be confused with the, er, Living Room, the Living Room at The Standard Hotel is a somewhat uncomfortable yet crowded bar full of an eclectic mix of the Age Appropriate: tourists who read about the hotel opening but are not guests, men talking about the hilarity of impregnating 26-year-old flings, artists designing on ibooks, and hipster boys who like boys.

Age Appropriates know what we mean when we say many chairs here are stools barely larger than a Sit 'n Spin (see photo exhibit). But the outdoor space will be fantastic in dryer weather, and the drinks are remarkably cheap: $6 beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktails. We'll be back, if only to get up on the Highline.

Fig & Olive, Meatpacking District

Wednesday, 7pm

Fig & Olive
420 W. 13th St. (Washington), Manhattan

There are three Fig & Olives in the city. The one in the Meatpacking District is pleasing because it's open, airy, and the bar is a comfortable size. Plenty of seats there, generally filled by Age Appropriates, if you're there pre-10ish, maybe pre-9ish. Weekends are ok here, but like the entire neighborhood, tourists and children ultimately reign. 

675 Bar, Meatpacking District

Wednesday, 6:45pm

675 Bar
675 Hudson St. (entrance on 13th St.), Manhattan

675 o'clock is clearly not the busy time for this just-days-old bar, but it's a great time for a walk-through. Two Age Appropriate guys were at the classy bar and a group of 20-something girls were planning a party. We, meanwhile, were peering into the catacomb-like side spaces: some private, with ropes, other not; one was tricked out with cards tables and vintage video games, another had the setup of a frat library room, and another like the basement dwelling of the kid in high school who had all the parties.

We want to go back, but Meatpacking is so scary. Is there ever a right time? Yes. After the nearby stores close, but before midnight. Stay tuned.