Manhattan/Midtown East

Orientation

Midtown, also called Midtown East to distinguish it from the Theater District to the west, is the area between around 34th St and 59th St (beyond which is Central Park), and from the East River through First, Second, Third, Lexington, Park, Madison, and Fifth Avenues, with Sixth Avenue as the western boundary of the district.
There is a small but vibrant Koreatown neighborhood, which is focused on 32nd St. between Broadway and 5th Av. and extends a bit north, south and east. It has a Midtown character and has been included in this article.

By subway

There is plenty of subway service to this area. The 4, 5, and 6 lines travel under Park Avenue (south of Grand Central Station) and Lexington Avenue (north of Grand Central), stopping at 42nd St. (Grand Central Station) and 59th St., with the 6 also stopping at 51st St. and 33rd St. Running under 6th Avenue are the B, D, F, and M lines, which stop at 34th St. (close to the Empire State Building), 42nd St. (at Bryant Park, near the library) and 47-50 St. station (near Rockefeller Center). The F line continues up 6th Avenue, stopping at 57th St., while the E and M lines head under 53rd Street, stopping at 5th Av. and Lexington Av. (a passageway offers a free transfer to the 6 line). The 7 and S (Grand Central Shuttle) lines run under 42nd St. Both of them stop at Grand Central Station, with the 7 also stopping at 5th Av. (free transfer to the B, D, and F lines). Also serving the neighborhood are the N, Q, R, and W lines, which stop at 34th St. and 6th Av., close to the Empire State Building.

By MTA bus

Regular MTA buses run along every avenue except for short avenues like Vanderbilt, and there are also many crosstown routes. These include the M34 and M34A SBS (34th St), M42 (42nd St), M50 (49th/50th Sts), and M31 and M57 (57th St). Local buses charge $2.75 and enable free transfers to other local routes and the subway. In addition, express buses stop along these avenues, providing service to other boroughs. Express buses charge a $6.75 fare, with free transfers available to other routes.

By Metro-North commuter rail

Metro-North commuter trains originate and terminate at Grand Central Terminal on E. 42 St at Park Av. See the By train section on the main New York City page for more info. Note that the train terminal (but not the subway stop serving it) closes from 2 am to 5:30 am daily.

Parks and recreation

• Greenacre Park

  address: 51st St
  One of New York's many "pocket parks," Greenacre is a small plot of green space and an excellent place to relax, with a nice waterfall in the back, plenty of seats and tables, and lots of shade, plus a small tea shop.

• Paley Park

  address: 53rd St
  Another pocket park which is celebrated among landscape architects and urban designers, Paley is a great place to relax, with plenty of chairs below a canopy of trees and a waterfall spanning the entire back wall of the park.

Skyscrapers

• Chrysler Building

  address: 405 Lexington Ave
  One of the most recognizable and favored structures of New York, the Chrysler was the world's tallest building when completed in 1930, but lost that title to the nearby Empire State Building less than a year later. But what it lost in fame it makes up for in beauty, with its gorgeous, instantly recognizable Art Deco crown.

• Citigroup Center

  address: 153 E 53rd St
  With its distinctive slanted roof and long, slender base columns, this building is another great skyscraper with a grand atrium.

• Daily News Building

  address: 220 E 42nd St
  This Art Deco design classic, completed in 1930 to a design by Raymond Hood, was made famous by the Superman films; to be admired are the extreme verticality of the design, the understated setbacks and functional design. The newspaper no longer holds offices here, but the foyer is well worth a visit if passing, if only to see the newspaper's giant globe sculpture and wall weather stations.

• MetLife Building

  address: 200 Park Ave
  Since it was built it has been probably the most hated building in New York, mostly because it rises up over Grand Central Station, completely blocking the view up Park Avenue, but it is a good example of modern architecture.

• United Nations Headquarters

  address: 1st Ave at 46th St
  The UN HQ sits on an 18-acre site between 42nd and 48th Streets, and between First Avenue and the East River. It is noted for its gardens and outdoor sculpture. There is a charge for the tours of the General Assembly and Secretariat but you can visit the Visitor's Lobby for free (although you do have to pass through a security checkpoint). There are two levels to the lobby area which includes a gallery, a gift shop, and a bookshop. If you're just visiting the lobby, don't join any queues - just find your way around. There is little in the way of signs to tell you where you can go - this is the UN, well-meaning but not well organized.

Historic buildings

• Grand Central Terminal

  address: 42nd St and Park Ave
  Walk in and see the main concourse, a cavernous room often filled with people and elegantly detailed, with arched windows, a lovely clock, and an astronomical ceiling.

• St. Patrick's Cathedral

  phone: +1 212 753-2261
  address: 460 Madison Ave
  A big, grand neo-Gothic Catholic church, presided over by the Archbishop of New York; a years-long renovation was completed in time for a September, 2015 visit by Pope Francis.

• Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

  phone: +1 212 355-3100
  address: 301 Park Ave
  A famous luxury hotel.

Museums

• The Morgan Library

  phone: +1 212 685-0008
  address: 225 Madison Ave
  Once J. Pierpont Morgan's private library, this building houses his art collection, a Gutenberg Bible, and a first printing of The Star Spangled Banner. The bookshelves lining the walls include books by Dante, Dickens, Einstein, Twain, and several First and Second Folios.

• Walk on 5th Av. Around Christmas, it is usually mobbed, but off-season, it can be downright pleasant, and you can get to see just how pretty some of the department stores and high-end shops are. You may even be able to walk around Rockefeller Center at a strolling pace and see a view of the entire plaza.

For great views:

• Walk or bike across the Edward I. Koch Queensboro Bridge.
• Take the Roosevelt Island Tram.

More about Roosevelt Island below:

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is an elongated island in the East River between Manhattan Island and Queens. Originally a cattle farm, over the years it has had various names and uses, including as an asylum and a quarantine hospital. Today called Roosevelt Island, it is the home to several thousand New Yorkers who like its calm ambiance and connection to Manhattan. The island offers excellent views of the Manhattan skyline, particularly at the , just north of the Tramway stop, and , a public space at the southern tip of the island, accessible by one of the riverside promenades. The island also affords one of the best views of the city's 4th of July Fireworks displays when they take place in the East River (some years, they are too far away); in such cases, get to the island very early, or you'll find that the seats are sold out.
There are two ways to access the island from Manhattan. The most popular way for tourists (and certainly the most scenic) is to take the , an aerial tram which crosses over the stretch of the East River between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island next to the Queensboro Bridge, offering splendid views of the skyline along the way. You can board the tram on Second Avenue at 60th Street; the one-way fare is $2.75; subway MetroCards accepted. The second option is to take the subway: the F train makes a single stop on the island at Roosevelt Island station, connecting it to Midtown Manhattan to the west and Queens to the east. Additionally, a road bridge connects the island to the intersection of 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Queens, allowing you to drive, walk, bike, or take the Q102 bus to the island from Queens. Private cars are forbidden on the roads of the island.

Fifth Ave is a shoppers' paradise from 42nd to 60th Streets, boasting numerous flagships stores of national chains. Perpetually mobbed with shoppers and tourists, Fifth Avenue is a virtual standstill during the Christmas shopping season, when Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Tiffany's, and Lord and Taylor put out their holiday displays. Other popular stores include Niketown, NBA Store, Versace, Gucci, Armani Exchange.
47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is a large wholesale and retail Jewelry District. It is said that nearly every diamond sold in the US passes first through this street. On this street a dealer's reputation among the community of jewelry dealers is all-important, and million-dollar contracts are agreed to with just a handshake because of the reputation of each dealer.

• Apple Store

  phone: +1 212 336-1440
  address: 767 5th Ave
  Located beneath a giant glass cube, this flagship Apple Store is open 24/7 and is crowded with shoppers all day long. Come here on the day the company releases a new gadget and you'll see lines that wrap around the block.

• Saks Fifth Avenue

  phone: +1 212 753-4000
  address: 611 5th Ave

• Tiffany & Co.

  phone: +1 212 755-8000
  address: 727 5th Ave
  The famous jewellers, scene of Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's

• FAO Schwarz

  phone: +1 800 326-8638
  address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
  Toy store

• Dos Caminos

  phone: +1 212 336-5400
  address: 825 Third Avenue
  One of four up-market Mexican restaurants in Manhattan by the same name and under the same ownership (the others are in Gramercy, Chelsea, SoHo) Sticky, saucy ribs and guacamole.

• Ess'a Bagel

  phone: +1 212 980-1010
  address: 831 3rd Avenue
  This legendary place serves up doughy, chewy bagels the size of hubcaps that some New Yorkers consider 'the best bagels in NYC - which means everywhere'. Bagel-eaters will also find a wide variety of mixed cream cheeses, tofu spreads, and smoked fish. Bagels are cheap, but prices depend on whether you eat in or take out! Expect to pay $3 for two bagels and a small tub of your favorite cream-cheese spread. Lines can be long at lunchtime.

• Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

  phone: +1 212-490-6650
  address: 89 E 42nd St
  An institution, opened in 1913 along with the station itself.

• Tao

  phone: +1 212 888-2288
  address: 42 E 58th St
  Trendy Asian cuisine; reservations required. Beautiful decor.

• VietHaven

  phone: +1 212-342-21-78
  address: 155 W 51st St
  Very nice Vietnamese restaurant with full bar. Nice food and decent prices. Try seafood combo

• mad46

  address: 45 E 46th St
  Amazing happy hour spot in Midtown atop The Roosevelt Hotel with a fantastic view. Not only serving delicious after work cocktails, but also offers a lite fair menu.

Budget

• Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club

  phone: +1 212 683-4353
  address: 283 Lexington Ave
  A service member friendly hotel. The hotel is closed to non-military personnel unless accompanied by a service member, veteran, or military retiree.

• Vanderbilt YMCA

  address: 224 E 47th St
  Walking distance from Grand Central Terminal and near the United Nations.

Mid-range

• Roosevelt Hotel

  phone: +1 212 661-4475
  address: 45 E 45th St
  A Pakistani-owned hotel named after the 20th President Theodore Roosevelt and opened in 1924. The hotel has 1,015 rooms including 52 suites. This hotel has been seen in several major motion pictures.

• Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South

  phone: +1 212 239-9100
  address: 52 West 36th Street

Splurge

• 70 Park Avenue Hotel

  phone: +1 212 973-2400
  address: 70 Park Ave
  Nice boutique hotel with good bar, Silverleaf Tavern, which serves a good G&T. Lovely rooms including LCD TV's etc. Some rooms have a view of the Empire State Building.

• Dylan Hotel

  phone: +1 212 338-0500
  address: 52 E 41st St

• Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel

  phone: +1 212 355-0100
  address: 687 Lexington Ave
  Irish boutique hotel with a popular on-site Irish restaurant.

• Four Seasons Hotel

  phone: +1 212 758-5700
  address: 57 E 57th St

• Grand Hyatt New York

  phone: +1 212 883-1234
  address: 109 E 42nd St
  Attached to Grand Central Station.

• Hotel Elysee

  phone: +1 212 753-1066
  address: 60 E 54th St
  This country French hotel offers guests free high speed Wi-fi and complimentary refreshments in the Club room 24 hours a day including breakfast in the mornings and wine and cheese receptions on weeknights.

• Hyatt 48 Lex

  phone: +1 212 838-1234
  address: 517 Lexington Ave
  A fresh blend of highly personalized concierge service with high-end contemporary art and design.

• Kimberly Hotel

  phone: +1 212 702-1600
  address: 145 E 50th St

• Kitano

  phone: +1 212 885-7000
  address: 66 Park Ave
  A luxury, four-diamond, Japanese-style hotel.

• Library Hotel

  phone: +1 212 983-4500
  address: 299 Madison Ave
  Free high speed Wi-fi and complimentary refreshments in the Reading Room 24 hours a day including breakfast in the mornings and wine and cheese receptions in the evenings except for Sunday nights.

• New York Palace Hotel

  phone: +1 212 888-7000
  address: 455 Madison Ave
  Luxury accommodations, good views, spacious rooms, spa & fitness center, fine dining at the Gilt Restaurant & Bar, meeting and event rooms.

• Omni Berkshire Place

  phone: +1 212 753-5800
  address: 21 E 52nd St

• Roger Smith Hotel

  phone: +1 212 755-1400
  address: 501 Lexington Ave

• San Carlos Hotel

  phone: +1 212 755-1800
  address: 150 E 50th St

• Waldorf Astoria New York

  phone: +1 212-355-3000
  address: 301 Park Ave
  Another famous luxury hotel that is among the more notable in New York, with a long history in a lavish Art Deco building that has housed many a celebrity. Perhaps one of the most famous guests was President Franklin Roosevelt, and a secret platform that is believed to have been used by Roosevelt to travel directly from the train to his hotel room so he could hide his paralysis from the public survives under the hotel. The traincar that Roosevelt is believed to have used is parked on the platform. Sadly, neither the secret platform nor the traincar are open to public.

• Westgate New York City

  phone: +1 212-986-8800
  address: 304 East 42nd St
  The former Hilton, an iconic landmark, neo-gothic hotel, only a few blocks from Times Square and Grand Central Station.