New York City: Finding Fun in Midtown Manhattan

As many of us know, the Manhattan borough of New York is a wondrous world of activity and fun. It would be impossible to write one blog on the whole island. So this one will focus on one of my favorite sections to visit: Midtown Manhattan. 

Midtown is generally said to extend from 34th Street to 59th Street and from 3rd Avenue to 8th Avenue. I like to extend that border into Central Park because of its close proximity to this amazing modern oasis. Here is my personal guide to fun in Midtown.

Where to stay

Midtown is known as one of the busier parts of the island with tall skyscrapers, electric Times Square, and tons of loudly honking cars. That’s part of the excitement of this part of town and also one of the detractions for many.

You can go right into the lion’s den and stay in Times Square or generally on the westside — if that’s your vibe. Just know it’s going to be constant crowds, noise, and brighter lights than you’ve ever seen. I prefer to stay on the east side of Midtown where it’s generally somewhat quieter but still in walking distance of all the fun. Because we brought our grown sons with us the last two times we visited, we stayed at EVEN Midtown East on 44^th between 3^rd and 2^nd. It is a more affordable option when you are booking 2 rooms. But other great recommendations are the Fifty Sonesta Select at 50^th and 3^rd, the Intercontinental Barclay at 49^th and Lexington, and the San Carlos Hotel at 50^th and 3^rd. Of course, there are many more hotels to choose from in Midtown so do a good search and find your preference.

Heading to the Parks

One of my favorite parks is Bryant Park, just past Grand Central train station between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas (6^th Ave) and between 40th and 42nd Streets. It’s a square full city block (9.6 acres) of green grass, tall trees, adorable cafes, ping pong tables, and other frivolity. It’s great for kids and adults alike. You can often find people playing chess, sitting at the many tables surrounding the park, or walking around to take photos of the beautiful and iconic NYC public library. They also show movies in the park in the summer. In the winter, the park owners put in an ice rink and build out the Bryant Park Village Christmas Market. 

From Bryant Park or other streets, you can rent a city bike and ride up to Central Park or simply walk up Fifth and do some shopping on this famous avenue. 6th Avenue has a great bike lane that is well protected from cars. One word of warning is to stop at the lights and watch for cars turning because NYC drivers are a bit…aggressive. You can ride right up to the park entrance on 59^th and follow the bikes lanes as far as you’d like. I generally like to do most of the loop and stop at the many attractions along the way, like Bethesda fountain, Belvedere Castle, the carousel, Central Park Zoo,  and the Conservatory. I love to stop at a cafe along the way and enjoy the scenery. It may sound touristy, but it is well worth the time.

Things to See and Do

Besides the parks mentioned, Midtown New York City has so much to offer. Let’s start with the the iconic skyscraper, the Empire State Building, which is still the old grand dame of the city. Head to the 86th floor of the 102 story building to get to the observation desk that gives you a stunning view of the city. Sleepless in Seattle anybody?

Visiting Rockefeller Center anytime of the year is a joy. There are crowds of people milling about to see the latest art installation, being a part of the Today Show crowd, eating at the restaurants, and heading up to the Top of the Rock observation deck that brings 360 degree views. In winter, you can ice skate at the famous ice rink, and in the summer, it converts into a roller rink.

Other famous things to do is walk around Times Square, take in a broadway show, or hit the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you’ve done these activities before or are not interested in them, I suggest you take the Circle Line ferry around the island. Buy tickets ahead of time and get on the boat at 43^rd at the Hudson River. It takes you south of the island out past Ellis Island to the Statue of Liberty and then around the Financial District and into the East River heading north uptown. 

During this 2 hour and 30 minute cruise, you boat along all three New York City rivers (Hudson, East, and Harlem), pass under 20 bridges, and see over 130 of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It has a lot of space outside and inside the large ferry so unless there are thunderstorms or high winds, it is doable in both hot and cold weather.

As someone who has never been above 110^th street, I found the north end of the island, as well as seeing Brooklyn and Bronx from the river, extremely interesting. You will see the medieval Met Cloisters and Ulysses S. Grant’s large domed tomb. I definitely plan to head way uptown to see these attractions next time I am in New York. 

Sampling the Nightlife

You can’t write a blog about Midtown without mentioning the great restaurants and beautiful rooftop bars. Starting with the rooftops (because they are my favorite thing to do), head to Ophelia Lounge inside the historic Beekman Tower at 49^th and 1^st Avenue. Both grand and charming on the inside, the rooftop comes with a wraparound greenhouse terrace, which means panoramic 360° views that include Manhattan and Brooklyn overlooking the East River. There are two small outside terraces so most of it is indoors, which is great for when it is extremely hot or cold. 

Other worthwhile rooftops in Midtown is Spyglass Rooftop Bar atop the Archer Hotel at 38^th between 5^th and 6th. It has THE best views of the Empire State Building so visit at dusk or at night to see the building lit up. This terrace is mostly open air so dress accordingly. 

And if you are near Times Square, make reservations outside at Bar 54 in the Hyatt Centric Times Square at 45^th and between 5^th and 6th. There’s a large indoor area to enjoy but I suggest you book table on the outdoor terrace to get the incredible views. 

As for restaurants, do not miss Avrà Estiatorio. It’s my favorite restaurant in the city! The Mediterranean/Greek food is absolutely sublime with amazing fresh fish, tomatoes and feta, and creamy homemade hummus and tzatziki in a posh, big scene atmosphere. There are now two of them. The original restaurant is at 48^th and Lexington. I recently ate at the new one at 50^th and Madison (called Avra Madison). It was more modern and larger with beautiful high ceilings and the same delicious food. 

For something smaller and more intimate, I recommend dining at Piccolo Cucina close to Avra Madison at 60th and Madison. Their specialty is Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, which they serve out of a large parmesan cheese wheel table-side. 

Another great restaurant in Midtown New York City are the venerable La Grenouille, a longstanding French restaurant with to-die-for food gras and a speciality of frogs legs (worth a try as it takes like well spiced chicken). 

To Dos and To Don’ts 

• Remember to allow a lot of time to get around NYC. Traffic is always a problem so build in extra time to get places. It’s often easier to walk or take the subway. 
• Do NOT rent a car. It is seriously expensive to park and even harder to drive through the city unless you are a strong city driver. 
• If you are going to a show, eat beforehand as many restaurants close before you get out of the show. 
• Eat the bread, whether it is a bagel, pizza, or baguettes. Bread is life in NYC. 
• Walking is an art form, especially in the very crowded Midtown area. Do not stop in the middle of the sidewalk; move to the side. Don’t be offended if someone passes you rather closely. And finally, NewYorkers do not obey walk lights. If there are no cars coming, they cross the street whether it is legal to do so or not. 
• While walking, beware of the bike lane. There are tons of locals who bike to make deliveries and get places quickly. And I mean quickly. Stay out of their way.
• While In Times Square, safeguard  your valuables from pickpockets and keep your head on a swivel. 
• Wear comfortable shoes. Just because Carrie wore high heels in Sex in the City doesn’t mean you can or should. You’ll regret it. Thankfully sneakers are always in vogue. Get a cute pair and wear them everywhere. 

Overview

Ophelia Lounge: 3 Mitchell Pl 26th floor, New York, NY 10017

Spyglass Rooftop Bar: 45 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018

Bar 54: 135 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Avra Estriatorio: 141 E 48th St, New York 10017

Piccolo Cucina Uptown: 106 E 60th St, New York