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The Coronavirus has impacted the globe in a way we haven't seen for years. Here we provide all the updates we know, how you can explore NYC safely from home, what's open and closed, how you can help and much more. Plus, MAJOR NYC bargains you can steal right now with NO risk.
Top Virtual NYC Things to Do
United Nations, Grand Central, St. Patrick’s
Midtown East is a huge tourist, commercial and residential area. Around 5th Ave, the neighborhood is home to many tourist attractions, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. Moving towards 3rd Ave and further east, the area is more residential, and generally, the restaurants are better and more affordable. There are tons of famous attractions for both adults and children in Midtown.
Midtown East NYC – United Nations, Chrysler Building
Things to Do
The Plaza Hotel, Apple Store – 59th and 5th Ave
Shopping down 5th Avenue, (Tiffany, Cartier, Henri Bendel) – start at 59th and work your way down to Rockefeller Center, shop the whole way.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, 11 W 53rd, 5th/6th Aves)
Rockefeller Center – Top of the Rock, NBC Studios, American Girl Place, Nintendo, Ice Skating. 47th-50th along 5th Ave
St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Ave, 50th St)
Radio City Music Hall (1260 6th Ave, 50th/51st)
Dylan’s Candy Bar (60th and 3rd Ave) – world’s largest candy store, owned by Dylan Lauren (Ralph’s daughter), Right across from Bloomingdale’s
Paley Center for Media (formerly Museum of Television & Radio, 52nd, 5th/6th Aves). Closed Mon/Tues. $10 adult, $5 children suggested.
Grand Central Terminal (42nd/Lex) – free tours, Whispering Gallery, gorgeous ceiling
Bryant Park NYC
Bryant Park, in the heart of Midtown, just next to the New York Public Library and a few blocks from Grand Central Station, is home to thousands of free events and programs every year, including free movies, free Broadway, free ice skating, the annual Skate-tacular (Christmas Tree Lighting), Holiday Markets and Winter Village. A small selection of the tours and classes they offer include arts & crafts, yoga, juggling, fencing, poetry, kung fu, beekeeping and just about everything else you can think of. Enjoy our Bryant Park Guide.
New York Public Library (42nd and 5th Ave)
United Nations (1st Avenue, between 45th and 46th Street) – Guided and Audio Tours Mon-Fri, 9:45am – 4:45pm, approximately one hour.
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Midtown East Discount Passes and Tours
Which is the BEST NYC Attractions Pass? See our detailed comparison and Compare All NYC Passes – Download our FREE side by side Comparison Chart
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- The Paley Center for Media
- Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour
- Highlights of Midtown Tour
- Rockefeller Center Tour
- Top of the Rock
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Rockefeller Center Tour
- Top of the Rock
- United Nations Guided Tour
- Choice of Top of the Rock or Guggenheim Museum
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Recommended Restaurants
Tao Uptown (58th, Park and Mad) – Asian hot spot with a 16 ft Buddha, gorgeous decor and lots of fun. You may have seen it on a Sex and the City episode.
Del Frisco’s Steakhouse – 1221 6th Ave (49th St)
Serendipity – (225 E 60th, 2nd/3rd Aves) Best known for Frozen Hot Chocolate, one of Oprah’s favorites
The Modern (and others restaurants in MoMA)
Sofia Wine Bar & Cafe – (242 E 50th / 2nd Ave) – Tapas, amazing meatballs, quaint and tiny brownstone. Quintessential NYC.
Rosa Mexicano (58th & 1st)- Mexican, fresh guacamole prepared tableside and great Margaritas. A few in the City now, but this is the original.
PJ Clarke’s (55th and 3rd)- good, old-fashioned burgers, very casual, packed happy hour, old NYC institution
Serafina Osteria (58th b/w Park and Mad) – northern italian, beautiful garden at their Alwayslocation (61st b/w Mad and Park). There are 10 Serafina’s in NYC, each different, and you can’t go wrong at any of them.
Daniel – upscale French. Many lifelong NYers vote it the best meal they have ever had. Ideal for special occasions.
McFadden’s Saloon – Irish Pub, a NYC classic
Kurant – (1091 2nd Ave @ 58th) wine bar & casual restaurant. Lunch, brunch, dinner & daily happy hour in the understated elegance of exposed brick and reclaimed wood.
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Shopping
Bergdorf Goodman (754 5th Ave, 57th/58th)
Saks Fifth Avenue (611 5th Ave, 49th/50th)
Bloomingdales (1000 3rd Ave, 60th/61st)
All department stores, and beautiful holiday lights tour and window displays during December along 5th Avenue. See More: Holiday Lights Tours
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Midtown East Hotels
Luxury | Suite | Boutique | Cheap | Romantic
Best Hotels Near Rockefeller Center
Some of our top value picks near Rockefeller Center include:
- The Jewel facing Rockefeller Center - great value and location. My NY high school classmates stayed here for our reunion
- Night Hotel - Rated the #1 Sexiest Hotel in America (best for couples)
- 3 West Club - consistently receives excellent reviews, especially the location and value for the price.
- Radio City Apartments - a NYC Insider Guide Favorite
See the Insider Guide for dozens more Hotels Near Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center runs from 47th - 50th Streets, between 5th and 6th Aves. Download our free neighborhood maps at Midtown East Hotels and Midtown West Hotels
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Luxury Hotels in Midtown NYC
Any luxury hotel in Midtown NYC provides you with our top of the line accommodations while placing you in the heart of all the action. From decadent dining to killer skyline views to the world's best spas, these luxury hotels put you in the premier location in the heart of the best city in the world.
- St. Regis Hotel - founded by the famous Astor family (photo)
- The Peninsula - one of the city's best Rooftop Bars
- Langham Place Fifth Avenue - 57 stories, rooms with incredible views
See More: Exclusive Luxury Hotels in Midtown NYC
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Spacious Suite Hotels in Midtown NYC
Many NYC visitors love staying in Midtown, putting them within a mile of Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Grand Central, Empire State Building, Broadway, Times Square and tons of restaurants and shopping. One could easily spend 2-3 days in Midtown alone and only see a fraction of all there is to offer. Some of our top spacious and family-friendly Midtown Suite Hotels include:
- Element Times Square West - roofdeck, gym, kitchenettes, bikes (photo)
- Best Western Hospitality - good family rates, great location, breakfast included
- The Jewel facing Rockefeller Center - great value hotel in a prime NYC location
See More: Spacious Suite Hotels in Midtown NYC
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Boutique Hotels – Midtown East
The Maxwell New York City
- Discount Rates: The Maxwell New York City
- 541 Lexington Avenue, Midtown East
Rebranded in May 2018, formerly the W New York, The Maxwell still offers the cult Bliss products, as well as the Bliss 49 Spa, and former W guests love the newly branded hotel. The Maxwell New York City offers a soulful sanctuary within the city and is close to museums, Times Square, Broadway and the business district. Guests rave about great location, accommodating staff, excellent food, room service and Heartbeat restaurant.
Roosevelt Hotel NYC
Opened in 1924 and named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the Roosevelt Hotel NYC New York offers a 1920s ambience that includes original Tiffany crystal chandeliers, gilt trim, coffered ceilings, and wrought-iron balconies overlooking the lobby. Modern amenities include shops inside the hotel, a fitness center, multiple dining options, including their amazing Mad46 Rooftop, a local favorite! They have over 1,025 guest rooms, including 38 suites. The hotel is three blocks from Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal and numerous Broadway theaters.
- Favorites: Mad46 Roof Top
- Discount Rates: Roosevelt Hotel NYC
- See More: New York City Boutique Hotels
Library Hotel NYC
The Library Hotel has some of THE most interesting rooms in all of NYC and an awesome rooftop! The hotel is organized like a library with 10 floors arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System. Each floor has a theme (literature, languages, math & science) and each room has a theme and tons of books – try the Love Room, Astronomy Room or Fairy Tales Room.
Romantic Packages: The Guilty Pleasure Package, Erotica Package and several other choices.
- Sister Hotels: Casablanca Hotel, Hotel Elysée, Hotel Giraffe
- Favorites: Bookmarks Roof Bar, Free Breakfast
- See Also: Boutique Hotels, Romantic Hotels
The Gotham Hotel
From: $265
Airy, light-filled guest rooms are appointed with streamlined European furnishings, tailored minibars, and lavish linens. Every room is large, has an outdoor terrace and loft-like ceilings, and features funky vintage books, king-size beds, and gorgeous tiled bathrooms with dual showerheads.
- 16 E 46th St, (Fifth and Madison Aves)
- Discount Rates: The Gotham Hotel
- See More: Boutique Hotels
More Hotels: The Dylan, Hotel Giraffe
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Cheap Budget Hotels – Midtown East
Pod 39 Hotel NYC
Targeting the “Hip and Thrifty” market, the Pod 39 Hotel offers extremely compact, cleverly designed guestrooms with iPod docking stations and small LCD TVs. Rooms have shared or private baths and in-room displays indicate availability of the shared baths. The shared bathrooms feature rainfall showerheads, water jets built into the sides and streaming music. Private bathrooms also have rainfall showerheads (no jets), along with sleek stainless-steel sinks. The Pod also offers suites with standard TVs, private bathrooms and living areas with sofa beds.
- Discount Rates: Pod 39 Hotel
- Sister Hotels: Pod Hotel Times Square, Pod 51 Hotel, Pod Hotel Williamsburg Brooklyn
- 145 East 39th Street
- See Also: Cheap Budget Hotels in NYC
Seton Hotel NYC
From: $137
- Discount Rates: Seton Hotel
- Read More: Seton Hotel
The Seton Economy Option, (SEO), designed for travelers on a budget, offers a price point significantly lower than traditional hotel rooms and includes: a beautifully designed room with a double bed and a vanity sink, a shared bathroom (2-4 rooms per floor), complimentary robe and slippers to make your way to and from the bathroom.
Hotel 31 NYC
Reflecting the eclectic, cosmopolitan personality of New York City itself, each of the 60 rooms in the eight-story Hotel 31 New York City have their own unique decorative design. Stylish, comfortable, and very affordably priced, Hotel 31 offers accommodations for the discerning traveler on a budget.
- Discount Rates: Hotel 31 New York City
- 120 East 31st Street (Lexington & Park Aves)
- See More: Cheap Budget Hotels in NYC
Vanderbilt YMCA NYC
Vanderbilt YMCA – Offering hotels (or hostels, depends on your definition) for budget travelers from every continent, seven YMCAs in New York City provide great value for visitors who want to experience NYC’s multifaceted neighborhoods as well as its fabled sites and entertainment venues. Three YMCAs in Manhattan, two each in Brooklyn and Queens offer clean, comfortable and tranquil hostel accommodations for under $100 per night—in some cases, much less.
- Discount Rates: Vanderbilt YMCA
- 224 East 47th Street
- See More: Cheap Budget Hotels in NYC
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Romantic New York City Hotel Deals – Midtown East
Hotel Elysée
Once the playground for the rich and famous, Hotel Elysée has been home to movie stars, artists, writers and intellectuals. Hotel Elysée has been repeatedly honored as the “Most Romantic New York City Hotel” by Business Insider, and one online hotel reviewer titled their photo "The Most Romantic Hotel Room in the World."
Guests enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, cookies and coffee, an evening reception with champagne, wine and cheeses, wireless internet and more, while being central to all of Manhattan.
Romantic Packages: Suite Love Romantic New York City – Prepay your extended winter getaway in one of our three luxurious Premier Suites with features such as a baby grand piano once owned by Vladimir Horowitz, decorative fireplace, spacious bedroom with a King bed, dining area, kitchenette and based on availability, a magnificent terrace over-looking 54th Street.
- Sister Hotels: Library Hotel, Hotel Giraffe, Casablanca Hotel
- 60 East 54th Street New York, NY 10022
- See More: Romantic Hotels in NYC
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Courtyard Manhattan Fifth Avenue
From: $180
Make yourself at home in one of the 181 air-conditioned guestrooms, with complimentary wireless Internet and private bathrooms. A stay at Courtyard Fifth Avenue, puts you near the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.
Discount Rates: Marriott Courtyard NY Manhattan/ Fifth Avenue
Read More: Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/ Fifth Avenue
Hotels Near Grand Central Station
Subways
- 4, 5, 6 to 42nd or 59th Street
- B, D, F, V to Rockefeller Center
- General Address: 875 Third Ave, NY, NY 10022
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Midtown East Printable Map
Midtown East NYC Map
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NYC Insider Printable Guides
NYC Printable Map Guide Book
BONUS NYC Maps
NYC Travel Guide
More Info: NYC Printable Maps | Customer Reviews | Free Mini Guide
Manhattan Neighborhood Map
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Open, Closed, Explore NYC FREE, Help NYC
The Coronavirus has impacted the globe in a way we haven't seen for years. Here we provide all the updates we know, how you can explore NYC safely from home, what's open and closed, how you can help and much more. Plus, MAJOR NYC bargains you can steal right now with NO risk.
