We booked several rooms at the Standard including the Empire Suite, the largest suite, which cost over $1800/night++. Our total bill was well over $5000 for two nights for our rooms, F&B, etc., so our expectations were high. They were not met. My review will be about the Empire Suite.
Check-in
Despite having emailed ahead of time, my name was not added to the reservation made by my friend. I was told I would need to wait for 40 minutes for a meeting of hotel managers to end before checking into my suite, despite showing them the email confirming.
When I checked in, finally, I was told that the room had mechanical issues. We waited until after 4:30, and eventually were checked-in. There were light fixtures in the room.
Room service
We called several times the first night for turn-down service. They never came. When they cleaned the room the next morning, they changed the sheets etc., but never tied up. In any 5-star hotel I had stayed at, and any time I book a suite, the staff will tidy amenities, etc. At the Plaza, they will dry-clean/iron your clothes. Nothing.
Club
We reserved tables at Le Bain, the Standard's club. Despite having a reservation on my phone, again, when I arrived to check in, I was told I had no reservation. When I showed an email from the club's manager to the bouncer, the bouncer informed me that he was not sure who the manager was. After a few minutes, the situation cleared up and we were shown a table. The club was great, and our hostess was fantastic.
General service
Several times we called for Blackberry/iPad/iPod chargers and were told simply "we do not have any." A good hotel will either offer to buy them for you, or tell you where to get them. Nothing of the sort.
The room
The room was stylish with a fantstic view, but lacked expected amenities and several items were broken. The television in the dining room was broken, and would not turn on. The lighting panels in the bedroom and in the dining room were spotty at best. There was no automatic curtain system, so you literally had to step over couches, the hot tub, etc. to close the blinds in the room. The "guest" shower (the smaller of the two) had watermarks all over the glass and floor, indicating that it had not been thoroughly cleaned.
In general, we were there for a good time, so we did not really care; however, for having the most expensive room in the place for several nights; for having spent thousands of dollars in the restaurant and bar, we expected much more. I will not stay at the Standard again.
Now, about the positive:
People: The staff, while sometimes unhelpful, are pleasant and stylish
Design: The hotel, while minimalist, is stylish and hip
The clubs: Can't be beat in NYC, though the Boom Boom Room was not open
The food: The F&B venues on-site are amazing, and the service 5-star
The location: Washington and 14. Can't beat it.
hotel reviews