NYC: Spice Market (CLOSED) in Meatpacking District

Spice Market is now closed, but read my blog post about other nice NYC restaurants with a party vibe here

A perfect night out starts with good food accompanied by tasty cocktails before and after the meal, and most preferably at a restaurant located within walking distance of a good selection of nice bars.

Spice Market is therefore an obvious favorite with its second-to-none location in the nightlife heart of Meatpacking District, just opposite Gansevoort hotel and the rooftop bar Plunge. Such a location usually spells mediocre, overpriced food and trapped tourists, but luckily this is not the case for Spice Market.

Celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is the man behind the concept, and the menu is a colorful mix of reasonably priced Southest Asian dishes. Most mains are 20-30USD, but I usually order 2-3 appetizers instead. The food is served “Asian style” (to share), when it’s ready.

The restaurant is multilevel and very spacious with pillars and staircases here and there and a large bar, but there are also plenty of cozy corners and intimate nooks.

• Most people dining at Spice Market on weekends continue the night at Meatpacking’s clubs and bars, so they’re dressed up and arrive for late dinner (20:00-21:00).

• There’s a good selection of vegetarian dishes.