Mr & Mrs Smith

At the Standard, you’re within easy reach of some of the city’s most mouth-watering gastronomic temptations. Perfect for a lengthy brunch, Fig & Olive (www.figandolive.com) is practically on the hotel’s doorstep, and specialises in fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Trad Provençal bistro, Pastis (www.pastisny.com) on W12th and 9th is an ever-cool fixture on the Meatpacking menu, with a dead cert steak-frites and perfect people-watching on offer. Malatesta Trattoria (+1 212 741 1207) at 649 Washington Street may be an in-the-know eatery but it’s invariably packed to the rafters with a cheery clientele eager to sample its well-priced rustic Italian fare. Hip West Village institution Bobo (www.bobnyc.com) on W10th Street is an artfully dark townhouse restaurant with formal and informal dining options, a fine Fusion menu, and a basement bar, complete with vinyl-spinning jazz DJ. Walking the fine line between taste and tackiness, Tortilla Flats (www.tortillaflatsnyc.com) at 260 Washington Street is a cheap and chirpy Mexican spot with a weekly calendar of outlandish events: bingo, hula-hoop nights and pop quizzes, washed down with an abundance of tequila. With an outpost in St Barths, brick-lined Villa Pacri’s warm-hued leather banquettes are perfect for supping on house-made pastas, fresh fish and roasted veal chops. A well-edited wine list ensures your glass won’t stay empty for long (+1 212 924 5559; www.villapacri.com). Reel in the freshest seafood dishes at the three-storey Catch, on the corner of 13th Street and Ninth Avenue, run by <i>Top Chef</i> contender Hung Huynh (+1 212 392 5978).

Skip the starter and main and go straight to afters at Chickalicious dessert bar (www.chikalicious.com) on E10th Street, which offers three-course menus of scintillating sweets, coupled with sommelier-selected champagnes, dessert wines and ports.

The city’s only eco-friendly nightclub, Greenhouse (www.greenhouseusa.com), is a vast, crystal-hung two-storied space on Varick Street, with a strict door policy and a slinky clientele.

As well as the drinking, dining, dancing and shopping that the neighbourhood’s known for, you can explore The Standard’s West Village environs by bike – the has a fleet of sleek black cycles at guests’ disposal. If you’d prefer to take to the air, try a trapeze class in Hudson River Park. Outdoor classes run from May to September and cost around US$50 a session – call +1 212 242 8769 or book online. If vertigo’s an issue, you can always try your baseball skills at the park’s batting cages (+1 212 627 2020). After all this exercise, hit the Chelsea Wine Vault (www.chelseawinevault.com) for a cheese-enhanced tasting.