Midtown Manhattan offers SO much New York City magic. Midtown Manhattan is home to so many of New York City’s icons, including The Empire State Building, Central Park, MoMa, Grand Central Station, Times Square & more! After living in New York City for two years, and working in Midtown, I’ve created this Midtown Neighborhood Guide to help visitors find the absolute best things to do in Midtown Manhattan. You can squeeze most of what you’ll want to do in Midtown in a day or two, so you can still stay in another part of town with a bit more character if you want to, like West Village, SoHo, Nolita or Williamsburg.

Where is Midtown?

Midtown technically spans the entire width of Manhattan, between 30th and 59th streets. However, usually when people talk about Midtown they’re talking about the area between 8th Avenue & the East River (the centre & the east). Midtown west is Hell’s Kitchen, which is usually treated like a seperate neighbourhood. Hudson Yards is located in Midtown, at 10th Avenue & W 30th Street.

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The Most Iconic Sights in Midtown Manhattan

The Empire State Building

It takes a LONG time for the thrill of spotting the Empire State Building to wear off. The beautiful, Art Deco Empire State Building is an icon of New York City, and of course, the rest of the empire state! You can spy the 102-storey Empire State Building towering over the city from all over Manhattan, but to get up & close, you’ll need to visit it in Midtown, on West 34th Street. If you’re going to the top of the Empire State Building, get lunch or dinner afterwards in Koreatown, which surrounds the Empire State Building.

Central Park

The southern border of Central Park borders on the northern edge of Midtown, along W 59th Street. From Midtown, you’re only a short walk away from The Pond, Central Park Zoo, and in winter, ice skating on the Wollman Rink. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the entrance to The Mall, which is one of the most beautiful parts of Central Park, which leads to The Lake, the Loeb Boathouse and the Bethesda Terrace. Why not go to MoMA, and then walk 5 blocks up to Central Park afterwards?

The Chrysler Building

Completed in 1930, the Art Deco skyscraper is one of the most beautiful buildings in New York City. You can find the Chrysler Building in Midtown on the corner of 42nd St & Lexington Avenue, but unfortunately it’s not open to the public. I was so jealous when my (now) husband had a meeting for work in the Chrysler Building! The photo below is the view I had from our temporary apartment we had when we first moved to the city – I was in heaven.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is one of my favourites parks in New York City. Located between Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas, and 40th and 42nd Street, it’s a literal breath of fresh air in one of the densest parts of Midtown. It’s popular with officeworkers on their lunch breaks, and sightseers taking a respite from the hustle and bustle. Half of Bryant Park is a lawn, with a carousel, plenty of seating, fountains and a restaurant, Bryant Park Grill, and Bryant Park Cafe. The other half of Bryant Park is home to the New York Public Library. Every winter, the Winter Village Pop Up brings the festive spirit to Bryant Park with Christmas Markets, an ice skating rink and a giant Christmas tree – worth a visit. The black and gold, neo-baroque American Radiator Building which overlooks Bryant Park is one of my favourites!

The New York Public Library

The flagship branch of the New York Public Library is one of the grandest libraries in the world. Located in Midtown, on Bryant Park, the New York Public Library is a beautiful place to visit in Midtown – and it’s free! Don’t miss the Rose Reading Room, which is one of the most majestic spaces in New York City. The Rose Reading Room is a gorgeous Beaux-Arts space that is the size of two city blocks, with 52 foot high ceilings.

Pulitzer Fountain & The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in the world, and sits in prime position at the south entrance to Central Park. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can still experience the Plaza by going for High Tea, or a drink, at The Palm Court. Out the front of the Plaza is the Pulitzer Fountain, which was named for newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who bequeathed the funds to build the fountain. This is also a filming location from Sex & The City, when Carrie confronts Big after his engagement party at The Plaza!

Times Square

Times Square is one of the most infamous tourist attractions in New York City, but it is absolutely worth a quick visit. Walk through Times Square, and once you’ve had enough of the crowds, slip away into the sophisticated Times Square EDITION hotel, for lunch or a drink at the Terrace & Outdoor Gardens, tucked away on the 7th floor of the hotel.

The Best Things to Do in Midtown Manhattan

For more ideas across town, check out my guide to the best things to do in New York City

The Top of The Rock Observation Deck

There are three major observation decks in New York City: The Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock), The Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center in the Financial District. I think the Top of the Rock is the best of the three, because you get views of the Empire State Building and Central Park, and you’re in the thick of the Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers. Try and go just before sunset to get the best daytime views as well as golden hour from the Top of the Rock.

The Empire State Building Observation Deck

On one trip to New York City, you only need to go to one observation deck. While I think the view from The Top of The Rock is better, The 86th Floor Observatory at the Empire State Building is a classic for a reason – including for all of it’s iconic movie moments! Book in advance, and be on time to get the most out of your visit. I love the view of the Chrysler Building and the East River from the Empire State Building.

The Knicks at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous stadiums in the world. It’s the home area for two New York City teams, The Knicks and The Rangers. You don’t need to be a basketball fan to get swept up in the excitement of seeing The Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are New York City’s basketball team in the NBA, and there’s nothing like the atmosphere at a home game. I saw The Knicks play in Madison Square Garden, and was on the edge of my seat, despite knowing nothing about basketball! The Rangers are an ice hockey team, and play in the NHL. Both the basketball (NBA) and ice hockey (NHL) seasons run at the same time, from November to April.

The area immediately around Madison Square Gardens isn’t great for bars & restaurants, so I’d recommend going to Mercado Little Spain in Hudson Yards or to Koreatown for a pre or post game meal.

PS. Madison Square Garden is completely seperate to Madison Square Park, which is a pretty garden in NoMad, at the corner of 5th Ave & 23rd St.

Visit the New MoMA

New York City’s Museum of Modern Art is one of the world’s most spectacular art collections. In 2019, MoMa unveiled “the new MoMA” after a transformative renovation and expansion. The museum is not just bigger, but each gallery is curated completely differently, than how it was before. You’ll find pieces from a range of time periods and clashing styles, side by side, to create a much more thought-provoking viewing experience. Some notable highlights include Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Salivdor Dali’s The Persistance of Memory, Roy Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl, Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, Henri Roussaeau’s The Sleeping Gypsy and Jasper Johns’ Flag.

MoMA has free entry on Friday nights between 4-8pm.

See a show on Broadway

Seeing a show is an iconic New York City experience. Get your tickets with Today Tix for the best prices, you can collect your tickets from a Today Tix rep outside the theatre. Go for dinner & drinks before or after the show at The Terrace & Outdoor Gardens or Iris, a gorgeous Greek restaurant.

Explore Grand Central Station

It wouldn’t be a Midtown Neighborhood Guide without a mention of Grand Central! Grand Central Station is the most famous and most romantic train station in the world. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and welcomes 21 million visitors a year who aren’t even catching a train! Grand Central was opened in 1913, and much of its charm is due to it’s beautiful, Beaux-Arts architecture that transports you into Old New York. There are five great spots for visitors in Grand Central.

First, there’s the celestial ceiling of the main concourse, featuring a mural of the zodiac. The mural is one of New York’s most loved pieces of public art. You can spot Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer, along with constellations like Orion and Pegasus.

Dine in the belly of the train station at Grand Central Oyster Bar, which has been serving fresh seafood for over 100 years. The atmosphere here is half the charm, so sit at the bar to catch all the action. While you’re there, check out the whispering gallery, just outside the entrance to Grand Central Oyster bar. It’s an architectural anomaly which allows you to whisper something in one corner of the gallery, and for it to be heard on the opposite corner, no matter how noisy the rest of the gallery is. Grand Central Market is a collection of some of the city’s most beloved gourmet providores in one place, including Upper West Side deli Zabar’s, Brooklyn bakery Bien Cuit and my personal favourite, Murray’s Cheese from West Village.

Finally, The Campbell is a gorgeous cocktail bar, housed in the former office of American financier John W Campbell. It’s also the filming location of Serena & Nate’s original hook up in Gossip Girl, if you were wondering.

Department Stores: Bergdorf’s, Saks & Bloomingdales

Manhattan’s most beautiful department stores can be found in Midtown. Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue are the top luxury department stores in New York City, and they both really put on a show. Bloomingdale’s is a beloved New York City department store, with a more mainstream offering and frequent sales. Bergdorf’s has a secret cafe on the 7th floor, which has amazing views over Central Park.

Morgan Library & Museum

The former home and office of banking tycoon JP Morgan himself, is now a small but impressive museum. There are several small exhibitions, but the Morgan Library is the most impressive part. Like something straight out of a Disney movie, this library has to be seen to be believed. The extreme concentration of obscene wealth is a little nauseating, but it’s a sight to behold.

See a show at Paradise Club

Paradise Club is moody, glamorous basement club and celebrity hotspot inside the Times Square Edition hotel in Midtown. Paradise Club hosts a line up of live entertainment, burlesque, comedy & DJs. The fit out alone is worth a visit!

Catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved annual spectacle, that parades through Midtown. The parade includes floats, balloons, Broadway performers, dancing & more. The Parade starts on the Upper West Side and ends at the Macy’s store on Herald Square. This year, it’s heading down 6th Avenue and Macy’s recommends getting the best view between W 59th and W 38th.

See a Show at Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall is one of the most famous theatres in the world, and a New York City icon. The 1930s facade is one of my favourites in town. You can see a show here year-round, but if you’re in town at Christmas time, the iconic Rockettes Christmas Spectacular is a must! It’s short, sweet and full of dazzle, and a lot of fun.

The Best Restaurants in Midtown Manhattan

Mercado Little Spain at Hudson Yards

Mercado Little Spain is an excellent reason to visit Hudson Yards, a newly-developed residential precinct between 10th Avenue and the Hudson River. Created by renowned Chef Jose Andres, Mercado Little Spain is a collection of Spanish restaurants, bars & kiosks that showcase the breadth and diversity of Spanish cuisine. There are so many delicious menus to choose from, you could visit five times and still come back for more!

IRIS Aegean Restaurant

IRIS is a beautiful, upscale restaurant in Midtown, drawing on the cuisine found along the coastlines of the Aegean. Chef & Owner John Fraser draws upon his Greek heritage and his admiration for Turkish cuisine, to offer an inventive take on Aegean cuisine. The menu blends Greek and Turkish elements, to reflect the cuisine found along the Aegean Sea, which touches both countries. IRIS is a beautiful restaurant, the food is spectacular and the service is flawless.

Keen’s Steakhouse

Step back in time at Keen’s Steakhouse, recognised as one of America’s most classic restaurants. Established in 1885, this classic American steakhouse is an icon in a city of steakhouses. This isn’t a tourist trap – you’ll find beautiful food at Keene’s, and spot plenty of tables of locals (often Wall Street types) at the other tables. The ceiling of Keene’s is covered in pipes – it’s the largest collection of churchwarden pipes in the world. Customers used to keep their pipe at their favourite tavern, rather than risk breaking it when carrying it around in their pockets.

The Terrace & Outdoor Garden

The Terrace & Outdoor Garden is a gorgeous garden restaurant on the roof of the Times Square EDITION Hotel. The menu, by Chef & Owner John Fraser, is fresh and produce-forward food. There’s a wraparound outdoor terrace, from where you can see some of the bright lights of Times Square, but inside the glass-walled terrace, you’re a world away from the chaos of the outside world. I love the broccoli pasta and the carrot bolognese! Trust me.

Bryant Park Cafe

Bryant Park is one of my favourite gardens in New York City, and there’s no better spot to sit and watch the world go by on a nice day than Bryant Park Cafe‘s outdoor terrace. For a fancier meal, head inside to the Bryant Park Grill. I just can’t go past the view from the terrace though!

Koreatown

Right underneath the Empire State Building is one of Manhattan’s most delicious neighbourhoods – Koreatown! Koreatown is a block on 32nd Street, between Madison Ave and the intersection between Sixth Avenue and Broadway. Come for Korean BBQ, dessert cafes, karaoke and more delicious Korean food than you could possibly try in one visit.

The Best Cheap & Healthy Eats in Midtown Manhattan

Ess-A-Bagel

Bagels are a New York culinary institution, and nowhere does them better than Ess-A-Bagel. They’re bagels are the biggest in Manhattan, so consider sharing one between two unless you’re absolutely starving!

Explore More: The Best Bagels in New York City

Joe & The Juice

UK & European readers will know this one, but if you’re Australian or somewhere else not lucky enough to have a Joe, get excited! I LOVE Joe & The Juice and used to go there all the time when I lived in New York City. It’s basically a juice bar, but the have such delicious snack-sized sandwiches and other things to eat, you’ll always find something fresh, healthy and delicious here.

UrbanSpace

Fancy food courts are really having a moment in New York City. There are two UrbanSpace food halls in Midtown, my favourite is the one at 570 Lex. UrbanSpace has gathered a number of New York’s most popular cafes & restaurants in one food hall – like the legendary Roberta’s pizza from Brooklyn, Little Collins, Taim falafel, sushi, tacos and more. Keep everyone happy!

Beatnic

Pick up delicious, fresh vegan takeaway at Beatnic. Formerly known as By Chloe, the vegan fast casual chain rebranded after a lengthy legal battle with the departed founding chef (Chloe), to Beatnic. Weird name, but I can totally empathise with how impossible it is to re-name a concept or come up with a new name in such a saturated market. The food looks mostly the same – I used to love it when I lived in NYC, especially for a healthy breakfast on the go!

Dr Smood

Dr Smood is a fancy juice bar in Midtown that ticks all the organic, gluten free, plant based etc etc boxes. Great smoothies and cute cafes!

The Best Bars in Midtown Manhattan

The Lobby Bar at Times Square Edition

Another mention of the Times Square EDITION, but it’s truly home to some of the best spots to eat & drink in Times Square. Also operated by Chef John Fraser and his team, The Lobby Bar is a classic cool hotel lobby bar, just like it says on the tin. It looks like an extremely rich person’s living room, and like the rest of the EDITION, it smells amazing. There’s a veggie-heavy snacks menu and plenty of excellent cocktails. A very nice spot, and very calm considering it’s in the middle of Times Square. Step out onto the balcony for a view of Times Square.

The Rum House

The Rum House is a casual but classy cocktail bar, tucked away just a few blocks from Times Squares’ madness. This used to be a popular haunt for David, our friend Lachlan, and I after we all finished work in Midtown on a Friday. Somehow, not full of tourists, and great cocktails.

Top of the Strand Rooftop Bar

Top of the Strand is a rooftop bar with some of the best views of the Empire State Building going around. Obviously, it gets busy so it helps to make a reservation if you can.

Second Avenue: Casual bars & taverns

It’s not a destination, but if you’re looking for a more casual spot to drink or bar hop, head to Second Avenue. There’s a strip of casual bars & pubs from 50th – 53rd Sts along Second. If you’re not American, like me, you might enjoy the novelty of an All-American bar like The Stag’s Head or Cornerstone’s. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, The Horny Ram is a nice pub with a decent menu – it’s a bit nicer than the aforementioned venues on this list.

The Best Coffee in Midtown

Australian readers will be happy to know that decent coffee is no longer a rarity in New York City, but it still helps to have a few trusted spots saved in your Google Maps.

Bluestone Lane

Bluestone Lane is an Aussie-founded coffee shop chain, that was born in New York City and is now all over the USA. They have coffee shops (coffee + a snacks fridge) and full service cafes (often licensed) throughout New York City, with three locations in Midtown including in Times Square and next to Bryant Park. Your flat white prayers have been answered.

Little Collins

Named for Little Collins street in Melbourne, this one is another Aussie invention (sensing a theme here?). Little Collins is located inside a shopping centre near the Chrysler Building.

Remi Flowers + Coffee

Remi is a gorgeous florist & cafe, with lovely coffee! I was SO glad to find this one when I first landed in New York City, when we were in our temporary apartment in Midtown. Who doesn’t love coffee & fresh flowers?

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