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Theater District
Broadway. Times Square. Madison Square Garden. The name says it all: the Theater District is the entertainment hub of the city, and possibly the entire nation. The western half of Midtown Manhattan (to be distinguished from Midtown East), this is where you'll find Times Square, the streets packed with people taking in one of the brightest entertainment districts in the world. Despite its gaudy signage and superficial nature, a place where no local would want to be caught dead, it's hard not to be awestruck by it all. This is where the famous musicals of Broadway perform, where many famous TV shows are taped, and where the Knicks and Rangers play to sellout crowds.
It's easy to get distracted by Times Square; even in this city of giant skyscrapers and famed landmarks, the night glow of the Theater District overwhelms everything around it, making the rest of Manhattan look dark in comparison. It draws your attention away from anything else, much like a stage light focused on a theater set. But there is more to this area than bright lights and big-name shows, with revivified neighborhoods surrounding the core entertainment zone. To the south of Times Square lies the Garment District, center of New York's fashion scene, while to the north and west are more residential areas. West of Times Square is Hell's Kitchen, long the site of many smaller theaters and studios, less flashy than their counterparts on Broadway but no less active. There's much to see and do here — just try not to forget about the rest of Manhattan while you're here.
Understand
[edit]
This district stretches from 31st St, through the heavily commercial West 30s up to 59th St (beyond which is Central Park), and lies west of 6th Ave. The West Side is home not only to the famed "Great White Way" (Broadway), but to the emerging business district centered on the now thoroughly Disneyfied Times Square. The Theater District centers on the outlandishly commercial "New" 42nd Street and heads up Broadway and 7th Avenues, melding to the west with the resurgent neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen and its commercial strip on 9th Avenue, and to the north with the newly-built Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. South of Times Square is the Garment District, where most of the city's showrooms and many well-known designers occupy the area between Times Square and Madison Square Garden, the famous sports arena located atop Pennsylvania Station. The area becomes increasingly residential as you go north or west, and more commercial to the east and south. Many of Manhattan's largest hotels (including the Hilton and the Sheraton) are located on 6th or 7th Avenue in this area.
Broadway is one of the leading venues in the world for musicals, on equal footing with London's West End, with both musical scenes often influencing each other and shows from one side of the pond touring on the other or having sister productions quite often.
Visitor information
[edit]- 1 Official NYC Information Center at Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th St. (between 7th Ave. and Broadway, inside Macy's), ☏ +1 212-484-1222. M–Sa 10AM–10PM, Su 10AM–9PM, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Multilingual FAQ stations, free WiFi, plenty of guides and maps, and a MetroCard machine.
Get in
[edit]
Map of Manhattan/Theater District
By subway
[edit]The Times Square–42nd St subway station is one of the major nerve centers of public transit in New York, with the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, and S (Grand Central Shuttle) lines all stopping there, while a pedestrian tunnel provides a free transfer to the 42nd St–Port Authority station, which serves the A, C, and E lines. Nearby, though not connected to Times Square–42nd St. station, the B, D, F, and M lines stop at 42nd St–Bryant Park station.
South of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under 7th Avenue, the A, C and E lines run under 8th Avenue, the N, Q, R, and W lines run under Broadway, and the B, D, F and M lines run under 6th Avenue, with all lines stopping at 34th Street, near Penn Station. Additionally, the 7 line runs southwest to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, adjacent to the Javits Convention Center. From outside New York City, Penn Station, located underneath Madison Square Garden, is the east coast hub of Amtrak services and is the regional hub for Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit commuter rail services. See the By train section on the main New York City page for more info. Also serving the neighborhood is PATH subway service to Hoboken and Jersey City, New Jersey, which runs under 6th Ave., stopping at 33rd St., 23rd St., and 14th St.
North of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under Broadway, with the 1 stopping at 50th St and 59th St–Columbus Circle. The A, C, and E lines run under 8th Avenue, with the C and E stopping at 50th St, before the E branches east to head under 53rd St. to Queens, stopping at 7th Av, while the A and C lines continue north, stopping at 59th St-Columbus Circle. The N, Q, R, and W lines run under 7th Avenue, stopping at 57th St–7th Av (the ideal stop for Carnegie Hall), with the N, R, and W lines also stopping at 49th St. The B, D, F, and M lines continue along 6th Avenue, stopping at 47th–50th Sts.–Rockefeller Center, before the lines branch out in different directions. The F train continues along 6th Avenue, stopping at 57th St, while the B and D trains head northwest, stopping at 7th Av and 59th St–Columbus Circle.
By MTA bus
[edit]Quite a number of city bus routes serve the area (see the MTA website for a map), but crosstown routes in particular can be subject to gridlock at peak times.
By long distance bus
[edit]Manhattan's main long distance bus station is the Port Authority Bus Terminal, between 8th and 9th Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets. Connections are available on commuter buses to New Jersey and Rockland County, New York, and on long-distance routes through the country and to Canada.
By taxi
[edit]Taxis ply the area day and night but can slow to a standstill during rush hour, lunchtime, and even mid-afternoon. However, if you need a taxi and are unfamiliar with normal taxi fares, do not hail anything but a yellow cab. Drivers of black limos who offer to pick you up may try to cheat you.
On foot
[edit]Walking is the way you can see the most, but even walking can be a problem, particularly in Times Square (on Broadway and 7th Av. between 42nd and 48th Sts). Large numbers of tourists are liable to be standing still and looking up every few feet, and of course, you may be one of them. But if you prefer to take a walk at a steadier pace, take a side street and walk on another avenue.
See
[edit]
- 1 Times Square, Broadway and 7th Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 48th Streets ( 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Sq–42 St). A place filled with video screens, LED signs, and flashing lights; a world wonder or a tourist nightmare depending on your perspective, the "new" Times Square is a family-friendly theme park of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels, as well as a developing business district. The lights and signs can be viewed anytime, but the most enchanting experience comes when one visits Times Square at night, as all the signs and screens are ablaze with color. Times Square is also well known for its famous New Year's Eve ball drop. Those looking for the seedy Times Square of years past will find it around the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and on Eighth Avenue to the west.
- 2 TKTS Booth, 1564 Broadway (at 47th St, at the north end of Times Square), ☏ +1 212-912-9770. Booth: tickets for evening performances Tu 2-8PM, M and W-Sa 3-8PM, Su 3-7PM; tickets for matinee performances W-Th and Sa 10AM-2PM, Su 11AM-3PM. A ticket booth selling discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows. However, the cheaper tickets aren't the only attraction, as the back of the booth is a large, red-lit glass staircase facing Times Square, which serves as a set of bleachers and offers an excellent opportunity to get above the street and just watch the crowds and flashing signs. Above the booth is a video screen with a live feed of the top step, giving you a chance to appear (if only briefly) on one of the many signs in Times Square.
- 3 One Times Square, 1475 Broadway (at 42nd St). Originally the second-tallest building in the world when it opened in 1905, One Times Square was constructed to be the headquarters for The New York Times, a function it would serve for less than ten years. The annual Times Square ball drop is performed from the roof of this building. And you can't miss the famous Dow Jones news and sports zipper (the first news ticker in the world) attached to its lower facade.
- 4 Rockefeller Center ( B D F M to 47th–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr). The Christmas Tree, the Skating Rink, NBC Studios, the shops and hubbub - you can't miss it. The Christmas Tree and the Skating Rink are naturally not year round, but in the summer, the complex is a hub for touristy operations. Within the striking Art Deco buildings of the complex are several dining establishments overlooking the area and many stores.
- 5 Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave (between 50th and 51st Sts), ☏ +1 212-307-7171. Daily 11:30AM–6PM. See the Rockettes, another show, or just tour the famous Art Deco masterpiece.
- 6 Top of the Rock Observation Deck, W 50th St (between 5th and 6th Aves), ☏ +1 212-698-2000, [email protected]. Daily 8AM–12:30AM, last elevator up 11:40PM. On the 70th floor of the GE Building (better known by some as "30 Rock") is this narrow observation deck, built to resemble the deck of a cruise ship. The deck affords uninterrupted views over Central Park to the north and across Midtown to the south. $38 adults, $36 seniors, $32 children (ages 6-12), free for children under age 6.
- 5 Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave (between 50th and 51st Sts), ☏ +1 212-307-7171. Daily 11:30AM–6PM. See the Rockettes, another show, or just tour the famous Art Deco masterpiece.
- 7 Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 W 53rd St (between 5th and 6th Aves; Subway: E M trains to 5th Ave/53rd St or B D F trains to 47th-50th Sts-Rockefeller Center), ☏ +1 212-708-9400, [email protected]. Sa–Th 10AM–5:30PM, F 10:30AM–8PM, open until 9PM on first Thursday of the month and every Thursday Jul–Aug. One of the greatest and most popular collections of modern art, on a par with the Tate Modern in London or Paris's Centre Georges Pompidou. Exceedingly popular so be warned: queues for tickets start early and stretch long. To avoid the crowds, turn up at the door at least a half hour before opening, then take the elevator to the top floor and work your way down. The building is as much a draw as the outstanding collection; possessing arguably the best collection of modern masterpieces world-wide, MoMA houses important art works from Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Paul Cézanne, Frida Kahlo, Piet Mondrian, and works by leading American artists such as Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, and Chuck Close. MoMA also holds renowned art photography and design collections. In addition to being the crown jewel of modern art museums, MoMA puts on a terrific repertory program in a nicely renovated theater below the museum. $28 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students, free for children 16 and under. Free admission for all on Fridays 4PM–8PM.
- 8 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86 (12th Ave & 46th St), ☏ +1 212-245-0072. April–October: M–F 10AM–5PM, Sa Su 10AM–6PM; November–March: Tu–Su 10AM–5PM. The aircraft carrier Intrepid is docked here and loaded with spacecraft and aircraft, including the very cool Blackbird spy plane and the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise. On the other side of the dock is a guided-missile submarine and a Concorde, both of which you can tour also, and some tanks. $36 adults, $34 seniors, $26 children (ages 5-12), children under 5 free.
- 9 Madame Tussauds New York, 234 W 42nd St (between 7th & 8th Avs; 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Sq–42 St or A C E to 42 St/Port Authority), ☏ +1 212-512-9600. Sept–May: daily 9AM–10PM; June–August: Su–Th 9AM–10PM, F Sa 9 AM–midnight. Get up close to over 200 lifelike wax figures of the biggest stars and icons in entertainment, sports and history. Silver Ticket: $36.95 ($29.95 online), children 2 and under free.
- 10 Gulliver's Gate, 216 W 44th St (between 7th & 8th Avs; 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Sq–42 St). Daily 10AM–8PM. A very large miniature world. $36 adults, $27 seniors and children (ages 4-12), children under 4 free.
- 11 Saint Thomas Church, 1 W. 53th St (corner of 5th Ave; E M to 5th Ave/53rd St or B D F to 47th–50th Sts–Rockefeller Center), ☏ +1 212-757-7013, [email protected]. M–F approximately 7:30AM–6:30PM; Sa mornings and afternoons (hours vary week to week); Su 7AM–6PM (Sep-May), 7AM–1PM (Jun–Aug). The interior of this Episcopal church is a peaceful place, and both the exterior and interior are architecturally harmonious and worth looking at if you are walking nearby. Free admission.
- 12 The Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television & Radio), 25 W 52nd St (between 5th and 6th Avs; Subway: E M to 5th Ave/53rd St or B D F to 47th–50th Sts–Rockefeller Center), ☏ +1 212-621-6600. W F–Su noon–6PM; Th noon–8PM; closed M Tu. Dedicated to preserving and collecting television programs as a service to the public, the museum consists of two museum branches in Los Angeles and New York City; combined they hold over 100,000 television programs that are available to the public, providing a historical, artistic and cultural perspective to television and radio. You may use their library here for the price of admission. They have lots of old shows and a database so you can see if they have what you want. Admission is free; suggested admission: $10 adults, $8 students/seniors, $5 children under 14.
- 13 Museum of Broadway, 145 W 45th St, ☏ +1 212-239-6200, toll-free: +1 800-447-7400, [email protected]. Tu-Fr 9:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 9:30AM-8PM, Su 9:30AM-6:30PM. Opened on November 15, 2022, this interactive museum utilizes technology to convey the history of Broadway, complete with props from past shows, costumes, and other artifacts. You can learn about how a Broadway show is made, and there is a gift shop selling not only their own merch, but also products from current Broadway shows and Broadway in general. $57.71 including service fee and tax.
Do
[edit]- 1 ABC Times Square Studios, 1500 Broadway (at 44th St; Subway: 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Square–42nd St), ☏ +1 212-930-7700. Come here bright and early in the morning to be in the live audience of the network's famous morning news show, Good Morning America. Walkbys can view the show in progress from the studio's street level windows and catch up on the latest news scrolling away continuously on the building's lower two message zippers.
- 2 AMC Empire 25, 234 W 42nd St (between 7th & 8th Avs; Subway: 1 2 3 7 N Q R W to Times Square–42nd St or A C E to 42 St/Port Authority), ☏ +1 212-398-3939. First showings begin around noon, last showings begin at around 11PM. This large multiplex cinema shows first-run, mainstream films on 25 screens. It also contains an IMAX cinema showing mainstream feature films. $6-14.
- 3 Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W 44th St (between 8th & 9th Avs; Subway: A C E to 42 St/Port Authority), ☏ +1 212-581-3080. This historic club (though not at the original location of W. 52 St.) — universally acknowledged as one of the top jazz venues in the city — features a great lineup of justly famous performers and has good acoustics. Expect to pay a fair price for that quality.
- 4 Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave (at 57th St; Subway: N Q R W to 57 St–7 Av or F to 57 St). If you ask a New Yorker how to get to Carnegie Hall, you may get the answer "Practice, practice!" This elegant 19th-century hall is New York's premier venue for famous recitalists and visiting symphony orchestras. The complex also includes the more intimate Weill Recital Hall slightly further east and Zankel Hall, in the basement of the side of the building facing 7th Av. near 56th St, a medium-sized venue used by jazz groups and classical concert pianists, alike.
- 5 Hudson Theatre, 141 W 44th St (between 6th & 7th Avs), ☏ +1 212-768-4400. This theater is over 100 years old and remains the third oldest theater on Broadway. Located right next to the Millennium Broadway Hotel, it remained defunct as a theater for decades, acting as the hotel's event space, before reopening in February 2017.
- 6 Kramer's Reality Tour, 358 W 44th St (at the Producers Club Theater, at 9th Ave), ☏ +1 212-268-5525, toll-free: +1-800-572-6377, fax: +1 212-465-9327. Sa Su noon. For Seinfeld fans. Kenny Kramer, said to be the inspiration for the character Kramer, tells about the show, in a fun way. And guides on a tour to places seen in the show. Stop for photo outside the restaurant seen in the show. $47.50.
- 7 Wicked the Musical, 222 W 51st St, toll-free: +1-888-842-5835. An incredibly popular show which has been on Broadway for roughly ten years, Wicked is one of the highest rated shows that has ever hit Broadway. It's based on the Wizard of Oz, but told from the witch's point of view instead of Dorothy's. The show runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
- 8 The Lion King, 200 W 45th St, toll-free: +1-866-958-9179. The highest grossing stage production of all time, this musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film has won numerous awards and has been going strong since its premiere in 1997. This show runs about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- 9 Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, ☏ +1 212-757-2323. This is one of the most respected comedy clubs in all of New York City, one that has played host to the likes of Joe Devito, Scott McFadden, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, and many others who have gone on to make it big in television. Tickets generally run for about $20 a night, and include a free pitcher of beer. Shows run up until as late as 11PM and are a great way for you to end your evening.
- 10 The Phantom of the Opera, 247 W 44th St (Majestic Theater), ☏ +1 212-239-6200. Regular shows: W-M 8PM, Tu 7PM, Th & Sa 2PM. The longest running show on Broadway with nearly full seating at every show! A classic musical with phenomenal pieces composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, special effects, and prodigy acting. Recommended for Broadway first-timers. From $45.
- 11 Vessel (Hudson Yards Staircase), 20 Hudson Yards (Subway: 7 to 34 St–Hudson Yards), ☏ +1 332-204-8500. 10AM–9PM. This photogenic 16-story vase-shaped structure on Manhattan's West Side allows intrepid visitors to climb 154 flights of stairs. In return, you get great views of the surrounding area, the Hudson River, and the structure itself. It re-opened in October 2024 with steel-mesh safety nets and the unusual rule that solo visitors are not allowed. There is one elevator, stopping at only three floors, usually with a long wait. Wheelchair users are given priority for the elevator. Baby strollers, bicycles, skateboards, food, pets, and emotional support animals are prohibited. Most admission tickets are for a specific date and time; same-day and walk-up tickets are not always available. $10–15.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Hershey's Chocolate World, 701 Seventh Ave, ☏ +1 212-581-9100. M-Su noon-8PM. You are able to purchase all types of chocolate goodies and Hershey-themed products at this store. A few dollars can also get you a personalized message scrolled across their zipper outside on the store's facade. Hershey stores are all over the country but this particular store is the largest Hershey's store in the world. It has three floors of pure chocolate, and Hershey's products.
- 2 Macy's, 151 W 34th St (between 7th Ave and Broadway), ☏ +1 212-695-4400. Billing itself as "The World's Largest Store" on the large signs outside, this is the flagship store of the national chain and covers an entire city block. Its holiday window displays are so popular that they usually have a corporate sponsor. One useful tip for visitors is to go to the Macy's guest center on floor 1 1/2 and they will give you a guest card that discounts virtually everything in the store by 11%.
- 3 Kinokuniya Bookstore, 1073 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave) (between 41st and 40th Streets), ☏ +1 212-869-1700, [email protected]. Daily 11AM–7PM. A Japanese book dealer, carrying a huge selection of Japanese reading material. It also sells a number of books by Japanese authors in English translation. It is also known as a source of excellent Japanese anime and manga, much of which is difficult or impossible to find anywhere else in the United States.
- 4 M&M's World New York, 1600 Broadway (at 48th St), ☏ +1 212-295-3850. Daily 9AM-midnight. You can purchase all types of M&M goodies and M&M-themed trinkets here.
- 5 Midtown Comics, 200 W 40th St (at 7th Ave), ☏ +1 212-302-8192. M Tu Th F Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon- 7PM, W 8AM-7PM. An absolutely gigantic comic book store, one of the largest and most well-known in the country, with two full floors of comics, collectibles, manga, and back issues, as well as a very knowledgeable staff. Signings by giants in the comic book industry are a regular occurrence here and the store also sponsors the annual New York Comic Con held every October. Smaller locations can be found in Midtown East and the Financial District.
- 6 Sephora, 1500 Broadway (between 43rd and 44th Sts), ☏ +1 212-944-6789, fax: +1 212-944-7503. Daily 10AM-Midnight. One-stop shopping for cosmetics.
- 7 Bergdorf Goodman, 754 5th Ave (at 58th St), toll-free: +1-888-774-2424. Very high-end designer clothing, jewelry and accessories store for women, men and kids.
- 8 Morrell Wine, 1 Rockefeller Plaza (49th St between 5th and 6th Aves), ☏ +1 212-262-7700. M-Sa 10AM-7PM. Perhaps the best wine selection in the city, this is the place to go if you want to find that unusual bottle to take home as a gift. They also ship all over if you want to take home more than you can carry!
- 9 Nintendo World Store (more commonly just referred to as the Nintendo Store), 10 Rockefeller Plaza, ☏ +1 646-459-0800. 11AM-6PM, daily. A two-story specialty store that sells a wide variety of Nintendo merchandise, including videogames, t-shirts, and plushies of your favorite Nintendo characters. The most popular aspect of the store is their Pokecenter which has a wall dedicated to Pokemon videogames, DVDs, action figures and plush dolls. The plush dolls and action figures that are on sale change every week or so, so you need to be quick to find and buy your favorite pokemon’s plush counterpart. The store has a large section devoted to Wiis and 3DS/DS’s that are opened for customers to play and preview videogames before they purchase them. The store also sometimes holds tournaments and video viewings to promote upcoming releases of games.
- 10 Disney Store, 1540 Broadway. A 2-level store for Disney merchandise.
- 11 The Back Vault, 15 W 47th St E3, ☏ 1(833)998-2858, [email protected]. 09:30-17:30. Vintage jewelry shop. 500USD.
Eat
[edit]Times Square can seem to be overrun with glorified, tacky, and overpriced versions of chain restaurants like McDonalds, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Red Lobster, and Applebee's that you can find anywhere else in America. These restaurants are more expensive than their suburban counterparts (a Big Mac costs $6). However, there are better food options available in the area, especially if you get away from Times Square proper and explore other areas in the Theater District.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Poseidon Bakery, 629 9th Ave (between 44th and 45th Sts), ☏ +1 212-757-6173. Serves wonderful Greek pastries, savory and sweet alike. There is no place to sit, but the staff are very friendly and helpful, and you can have a delicious, cheap meal for takeout.
- 2 The Halal Guys, corner of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. M–Th 10AM-4AM, F Sa 10AM-5AM. An extremely popular and affordable food stand that is probably the only Mediterranean stand in Manhattan that was given a name. This is the original location and since it started in 2008, it has begun a chain and opened 5 more throughout Manhattan and Bergen County, New Jersey. Delicious gyros, wraps, and falafel, and each dish comes with rice and pita bread. There's also an incredible white sauce that's worth trying. If you want some on a weekend, you're going to have to get there early because there is guaranteed to be a long wait. Each meal costs about $7 with a drink being included.
- 3 The Original Soup Man, 259 W 55th St, ☏ +1 212-956-0900. 11 to 8 daily. Inspiration for the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Menu items change daily. The best soup in the area, but only if you follow the rules! "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"
- 4 Empanada Mama, 765 9th Ave, ☏ +1 (212) 698-9008, [email protected]. Popular 24-hour joint with an extensive selection of empanadas ranging from classic to creative, as well as other Latin American dishes. The focus is on Colombian flavors but there's quite a bit of fusion. Excellent vegan options. In addition to this 24-hour Hell's Kitchen location at 51st and 9th, the 5 Empanada Mama Times Square location at 200 W 40th St is open past midnight. About $5 per empanada.
Mid-range
[edit]- 6 Ariana Afghan Kabob, 787 9th Ave (between 52nd and 53rd Sts), ☏ +1 212-262-2323, +1 212-262-0065. noon–11PM daily. Very good food, which of course includes kebabs, but also peppery Aush (a type of beany noodle soup), Badinjan Burani (a fried eggplant appetizer garlic and yogurt, served with bread), etc. Salads, which come with main dishes, have a dressing which includes mayonnaise. Ask for no dressing and put the green hot sauce on them yourself. $25-30/person for a large 3-course meal with a non-alcoholic beverage.
- 7 Bill’s Bar & Burger, 16 West 51st Street (at 5th Avenue), ☏ +1 212-705-8510. Sa - W 11AM-11PM, Th F 11AM-midnight. Burger spot also known for disco fries (with gravy & cheese), beer & alcoholic shakes. $8-14.
- 8 Dos Caminos, 1567 Broadway, ☏ +1 212-918-1330. Su M 7AM-11PM, Tu-Th 7AM-midnight, F 7AM-1AM, Sa 7AM-1AM. Dos Caminos' fifth New York City location. Designed by Brooklyn-based company, hOmE, spanning two floors, and featuring a 40-seat mezcal and margarita bar on the street level and a guacamole bar on the subterranean level. Expanded menu of Chef Ivy Stark’s healthy Mexican dishes as well as a selection of 120 premium tequilas. $12-24.
- 9 Joe's Shanghai, 24 W 56th St (between 5th and 6th Aves), ☏ +1 212-333-3868, fax: +1 212-397-1107. M-Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 1-10:30PM. Try their famous "soup dumplings", listed on the menu as "steamed buns", and their other delicious Shanghai specialties. Pricier than the Chinatown location. $10-20.
- 10 John's Pizzeria, 260 West 44th St (just east of 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212-391-7560. Daily 11:30AM-11:30PM. A popular pizza option with a lovely and spacious atmosphere and brick oven, coal fired, thin crust pizzas. Whole pizzas, no slices. Many fans, however, consider that the pizza at this location is not nearly as good as at their original Greenwich Village location. Also, pre-theater, it can be absolutely mobbed, with wait times of an hour or more.
- 11 Vice Versa, 325 W 51st St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212-399-9291. Simple, but tasty Italian fare. $10-25.
- 12 Westway Diner, 614 Ninth Ave, ☏ +1 212-582-7661. Real New York diner, excellent place for good value breakfast. Very good service.
- 13 Wondee Siam, 792 9th Ave (between 52nd and 53rd Sts), ☏ +1 212-582-0355. Small restaurant, so expect to wait on line at peak hours (e.g., Friday and Saturday nights); generally considered to be one of the best Thai restaurants in Manhattan. Food ranges in spiciness from mild to very spicy, not always consistent with what you ask for, but staff are happy to provide extra dried red pepper flakes on the side. Consistently tasty food, especially if you stick with the items on the "secret Thai" menu card on the table and ask for everything to be "very spicy and Thai style, not sweet." Lunch specials $7, soups and small salads $4, fried rice $10.50, yum (Thai spicy salads) $9.95-12.50, mains $10.50-22, noodles $9.50-11.50, side order of rice $1.50-2, beverages $2.50.
- 14 Yakitori Totto, 251 W 55th St., 2nd Fl (between Broadway and 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212-245-4555. Lunch: daily noon-4PM; dinner: Su-Th 5:30-10:30PM, F Sa 5:30-11:30PM. This is a great and very popular place for yakitori, which is Japanese food on sticks. If you're ordering drinks, be careful: their tea is very good but charged by the cup and the sakes are very expensive. However, the food is a very fair value. Cold appetizers $7-11, hot appetizers $5-18, soup $5-7, yakitori $3.50-10.00, bowls & noodles $5-28, desserts $6-9.
Splurge
[edit]- 15 Barbetta, 321 W 46th St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212-246-9171.
- 16 Blue Fin, 1567 Broadway (at 47th Street), ☏ +1 212-918-1400. Su M 7AM-11PM, Tu-Th 7AM-11:30PM, F Sa 7AM-midnight. Sushi bar, bar and lounge area, communal table and expanded private dining room options. mains $23-$46.
- 17 Brasserie 1605, 1605 Broadway (between 48th and 49th Street; at The Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan), ☏ +1 212-315-6000.
- 18 Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, 40 W 53rd St (between 5th and 6th Aves), ☏ +1 212-969-9980. Su–Th 11:30AM–10PM, F Sa 11:30AM–11PM. This Brazilian steakhouse is renowned for its churrasco/rodízio experience, wherein servers bring various fire-roasted meats to your table. It's all-you-can-eat and includes an extensive salad bar and feijoada—a black bean and pork stew—as well as various sides such as pão de queijo (cheese bread). Churrasco experience: Lunch $44.95, brunch $48.95, dinner $70.95.
- 19 Strip House, 15 West 44th Street, ☏ +1 212-336-5454. Su M 4-9PM, Tu-Sa: 4-10PM. Steakhouse with a raw bar boasts walls covered with photos of old-Hollywood stars. Part of a small chain with another location on E. 12th St. and one in Las Vegas. Appetizers $20-23, salads $17-21, steaks & chops $49-129, other mains $19-52, sides $13-16, desserts $15-19.
Drink
[edit]- 1 The Irish Pub, 837 7th Ave, ☏ +1 212-664-9364. Great place to drink after a long day at work.
- 2 McGee's Restaurant and Pub, 240 West 55th St (Between Broadway and 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212-957-3536. M-Sa 11AM-4AM, Su noon-4AM. Lunch 11AM-4PM; dinner 5PM-midnight; late night menu: 11PM-1AM. This is an unpretentious pub in the middle of a pricey neighborhood. The pub also provides downright good food. Their dining room is upstairs. Service is pleasant and helpful. Cocktails $8-11, Happy Hour specials (M-F 5-9PM) $3-6, Beer of the Month $4 pints, pitchers of beer $18-20, House wine by the glass $6.50, coffee drinks (with alcohol) $8-8.50, appetizers $6-15, soups $5-6, salads $8-14, sandwiches $12-16, burgers $12-17, mains $14-20, desserts $6.
- 3 The Perfect Pint, 123 W 45th St (at Broadway), ☏ +1 212-354-1099. Two-story pub off of Times Square with good Irish beers on tap and pricey main courses. Definitely not typical pub-grub, but the price matches. $15-25 per main course.
Sleep
[edit]| PEnnsylvania 6-5000 The Hotel Pennsylvania only returned to its original name in 1992, but it has always maintained the city's best-known phone number, immortalized in song by Glenn Miller's band in 1940. The PE6 telephone exchange wasn't named after the hotel, though; they were both named after nearby Penn Station. |
Budget
[edit]
Mid-range
[edit]- 1 Casablanca Hotel, 147 W 43rd St (between Broadway and 6th Ave), ☏ +1 212-869-1212, toll-free: +1-888-922-7225, fax: +1 212-391-7585, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Boutique hotel just off Times Square. High-speed Wi-fi and complimentary refreshments in Rick's Cafe 24 hours a day including breakfast in the mornings and wine and cheese receptions in the evenings except for Sunday nights. $183+.
- 2 Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square, 114 W 40th St, ☏ +1 212-391-0088.
- 3 Salisbury Hotel, 123 W 57th St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-246-1300, toll-free: +1-888-692-5757, fax: +1 212-977-7752. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. King and double-bed rooms. Standard rooms are much larger than typical as the hotel was designed as a suite hotel. $109+.
- 4 Sanctuary Hotel, 132 W 47th St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-234-7000, toll-free: +1-800-388-8988, fax: +1 212-382-0684. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. A Times Square-area hotel offering modern accommodations. $300+.
- 5 Travel Inn Hotel, 515 W 42nd St, ☏ +1 212-695-7171.
- 6 Truss Hotel, 515 9th Ave (in Times Square), ☏ +1 212-920-2020, [email protected]. Check-in: 4:00pm, check-out: 11:00am. Boutique hotel built in 2022, featuring a rooftop garden terrace with panoramic views of Hudson Yards.
- Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square, 145 W 47th St, ☏ +1 212 7063170, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00.
Splurge
[edit]- 7 Belvedere Hotel, 319 W 48th St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212-245-7000, toll-free: +1-888-468-3558. Art Deco hotel. $113.90+.
- 8 Crowne Plaza Times Square, 1605 Broadway (between 48th and 49th Sts), ☏ +1 212-977-4000, toll-free: +1-800-593-5434, fax: +1 212-333-7393, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Upscale hotel with 770 guest rooms, Manhattan's largest indoor lap pool, Brasserie 1605 Restaurant, meeting facilities. $189+.
- 9 Hilton New York Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-261-5966, toll-free: +1-800-HILTONS (4458667), fax: +1 212-397-1597, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A massive, amenity-laden hotel tower. $199 -559+.
- 10 Hotel Edison, 228 W 47th St (between Broadway and 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212-840-5000, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Art Deco hotel built in 1931, steps from Times Square, known for its mock-Art Deco murals on the ground floor. $119+.
- 11 Homewood Suites by Hilton Midtown Manhattan, 312 West 37th Street, ☏ +1-212-244-0644. Extended stay NYC hotel. Complimentary Wi-Fi and wired Internet access. Free hot full breakfast each morning and evening dinner and drinks, Monday through Thursday.
- 12 InterContinental New York Times Square, 300 West 44th St, ☏ +1-212-803-4500. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon.
- 13 JW Marriott Essex House, 160 Central Park South (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-247-0300, fax: +1 212-315-1839. $299+.
- 14 The London NYC, 151 W 54th St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-468-8856, toll-free: +1-866-690-2029. $279+.
- 15 Manhattan Club, 200 W 56th St (between 7th Ave and Broadway), ☏ +1 212-453-8855, toll-free: +1-888-692-2121, [email protected]. Suites and first class services and amenities. Each suite features appliances, plush fabrics and elegant furnishings with marble baths. Timeshares available.
- 16 The Millennium Broadway Hotel Times Square, 145 W 44th St, ☏ +1 212-768-4400. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel near Broadway that features spacious rooms and suites, a conference center, wedding reception locations, event venues and an on-site restaurant.
- 17 New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, 1535 Broadway, ☏ +1 212-398-1900. Gigantic in size with updated hotel rooms, high-speed elevators and six hotel restaurants and lounges. It is known for its revolving bar and the view from its clear-sided elevators.
- 18 Park Central Hotel, 870 7th Ave (at 56th St), ☏ +1 212-247-8000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Right next to Carnegie Hall and close to the Theater District. While its renovations have significantly improved this hotel, it is, at best, a four-star hotel and clearly not one of New York's luxury hotels.
- 19 Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square, 714 7th Ave.
- 20 Staybridge Suites Times Square, 340 W 40th St. An extended stay hotel offering pet friendly lodging accommodations and suites with fully equipped kitchens.
- 21 West 57th Street by Hilton Club, 102 West 57th St (between 6th & 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212-379-0103. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Studios, one- and two- bedrooms suites with floor to ceiling views of New York City.
- 22 Westin New York at Times Square, 270 W 43rd St, ☏ +1 212 201-2700, toll-free: +1-866-837-4183, [email protected].
- 23 Baccarat Hotel New York, 28 West 53rd St, ☏ +1 212-790-8800, toll-free: +1 844 294-1764, [email protected]. An upscale hotel offering 114 rooms and suites. The hotel has many interesting features, including a mica-covered vaulted ceiling, silver-leafed wood paneling, pleated-silk walls, marble, and Baccarat crystal elements throughout. $759+.
- 24 Peninsula Hotel New York, 700 5th Ave (5th Ave and 55th St), ☏ +1 212-956-2888, [email protected]. Has a rooftop bar.
- 25 Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Ave (at Central Park South, in front of Grand Army Plaza), ☏ +1 212-759-3000, toll-free: +1-888-850-0909, [email protected]. Perhaps the most famous of New York's luxury hotels, the Plaza is an attraction in and of itself, having been used as a backdrop in numerous movies and TV shows and serving as the meeting place for many celebrities and politicians. The Plaza is also famous as a place to go for afternoon tea or cocktails, and of course you will pay dearly for that. This is one place where the truism is accurate: If you have to ask the price of a room, you can't afford it. Room rates are not posted on their website, but go into the thousands per night.
- 26 1 Hotel Central Park, 1414 Avenue of the Americas, ☏ +1 212-703-2001, toll-free: +1-866-615-1111. Featuring natural light, organic and reclaimed materials. Farm-fresh meal at the restaurant, menu created by Chez Panisse alum, Jonathan Waxman, $300+.
Go next
[edit]Too many travelers spend all or most of their time in the Theater District and other largely non-residential areas of Midtown Manhattan. From the viewpoint of many New Yorkers, the "real New York" is elsewhere, in the residential neighborhoods uptown, downtown, and even a couple of blocks west of Times Square and the bright lights of the Great White Way. If you want to find out how New Yorkers live, work, and party and feel the pace of the city, go to neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, the East Village, Chinatown, Harlem, the Upper West and Upper East Sides, or just walk to 9th or 10th Avenues.
| Routes through Theater District |
| Bronx ← Upper West Side ← | N    S | → Chelsea → Financial District |
| END ← | W  E | → Midtown East → Flushing, Queens |
| Upper West Side (A & C) / Midtown East (E) ← | N    S | → Chelsea → Financial District |
| Bronx ← Upper West Side ← | N   S | → Midtown East → Downtown Brooklyn |
| Long Island City, Queens (N, R, W) ← Upper East Side ← | N     S | → Midtown East → Downtown Brooklyn |
| Hoboken ← Chelsea ← | SW  NE | → END |
| Jersey City ← Chelsea ← | SW  NE | → END |
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