Midtown Manhattan is the core retail and commercial neighborhood of New York City, containing the highest concentration of business and money this side of, well, the planet. The Empire State Building, once again the tallest building in Manhattan, is here. Shady Bryant Park abuts the imposing New York Public Library main branch at 42nd Street, while to the east is the magnificent Beaux Arts Grand Central Terminal. Le Corbusier's landmark UN Headquarters is located on the East River. The masterpiece art deco towers of Rockefeller Center and adjoining Radio City sit opposite 5th Avenue from St. Patrick's Cathedral, the seat of the city's archdiocese. Fifth Avenue below 59th remains the most exclusive retail neighborhood in New York City, home to names like Saks, Tiffany, FAO Schwarz and Bendel. Murray Hill north of 34th Street is home to some of the city's nicest brownstones. Much of the real estate in this neighborhood is likewise quite expensive, and the restaurants, bars and other facilities notably cater to a higher-paying clientele.

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 avenues First, Second, Third, Lexington, Park, Madison, Fifth and Sixth. Broadway forms the absolute western boundary of the district as it merges with the Theater District.

Attractions

Landmarks
 • Empire State Building, 350 5th Ave between 33rd and 34th Sts, - once again the tallest building in New York, since the destruction of the World Trade Center Twin Towers on 11 September 2001. Between its completion in 1930 and the building of the Twin Towers, the New York icon also held the record as the tallest building in the world.
 • Grand Central Terminal, 42nd-44th Streets, between Vanderbilt and Lexington Avenues - the famous Beaux Arts train station, completed in 1913.
 • Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Ave at 42nd St.
 • Daily News Building, 220 East 42nd St, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues - 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 a visit to 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 (formerly the Pan Am Building), 200 Park Ave between 44th and 45 Sts.
 • United Nations Headquarters, First Avenue at 46th St (no parking available; take public transport to Grand Central Station then walk), guided tours only, adults $11.50, seniors $8.50, students $7.50, children 6-14 yrs $6.50, - 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 Visitors' Lobby for free. There are two levels to the lobby area which includes exhibits, gift shop, bookshop etc. If just visiting the lobby, don't join any queues once you're in the lobby - 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.
 • Waldorf-Astoria, 301 Park Ave between 49th and 50th Streets
 • St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Ave between 50/51st Sts. A big, grand Episcopal church is in this area as well.
 • Rockefeller Plaza, 630 5th Ave. The Christmas Tree, the Skating Rink, the shops and hubbub - you can't miss it. The Christmas Tree and the Skating Rink are not year round. You may take skating lessons. There are several dining establishments overlooking this area. The art deco buildings of Rockefeller Center are quite cool. Saks Fifth Avenue is across the street, and there are many other stores throughout the complex.
 • Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave between 50th and 51st Sts, (212) 632-3975 - See the Rockettes, another show or just tour the famous Art Deco masterpiece.
 • SONY Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave, (212) 833-8100. An interactive hands-on experience of cutting edge technology, sponsored by Sony.
 • Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street -

Museums and galleries
 • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 West 53rd Street, tel +1 212 708-9400 - Sa-M 10.30am-5.30pm, closed Tu, W-Th 10.30am-5.30pm, F 10.30am-8pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. 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 these, turn up at the door at least a half hour before opening. Travelers may wish to utilize a new, unofficial service of podcasts for MoMA tours - simply download to your iPod and off you go! The newly-renovated and re-opened building is as much a draw as the outstanding collection. Considered by many to possess arguably the best collection of modern masterpieces world-wide, MoMA houses such important art works as Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso, a Monet Water Lilies triptych, Dance by Henri Matisse, The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dal, The Bather by Paul Cezanne, Self-Portrait With Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo, Broadway Boogie Woogie by 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. Tip: get there early and take the elevator to the top floor where many of the major attractions are, then work your way down the floors. Hungry / thirsty punters can be refreshed at one of several great cafés or the in-house restaurant The Modern. Adults $20, seniors $16, students with ID $12, children under 16 and members free. Free for all every Friday 4-8pm (tickets not available in advance).
 • Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St, (212) 621-6800 - Founded in 1976 to preserve and collect television programs as a service to the public. The museum has expanded and consists of two museum branches in Los Angeles and New York City. The two museums hold over 100,000 television programs that are available to the public. Its programs provide 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.
 • American Folk Art Museum, 45 W. 53rd St -

Parks and gardens
 • Bryant Park, at the Main Library 42nd and 6th Avenue - Free wireless Internet; children's carousel; several food and drink kiosks and seasonal shows such as Fashion Week

Other destinations
 • Roosevelt Island tramway, 60th Street at 2nd Avenue. Take a quick tram ride to Roosevelt Island for gorgeous city and river views.
 • PDPal public art project to map your vision of Times Square. Beam program from 125 W. 42nd Street or Plot your Times Square experience and then share with others on the website.

Dining

 • Plantain, 20 West 38th St, tel 212-869-8596 - Tapas~Bar~Restaurant~Lounge - Good food oasis in an otherwise business-oriented district. Excellent Mojitos or "Jo"jitos (with Malibu rum instead of dark rum). Mid-range prices for Manhattan.
 • Asia de Cuba, Madison Ave between 37/38th Streets - an excellent fusion of Asian and Latin in Ian Schrager's Morgan Hotel. Reserve in advance and go dressed - no jeans/sneakers. Everything is fabulous from cocktails to dinner items to dessert. The custom is to get many dishes that are shared at the table, but you don't have to stick to that format.

Drink

 • Under the Volcano, 36th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison. Darkly lit atmospheric bar, this place usually caters to the after-work crowd. Relatively small, it can get crowded but after the throngs leave, you will enjoy the fun and friendly staff who'll let you invent your own drinks. Malcolm Lowry themed through and through.
 • The Ginger Man, 36th between 5th and Madison Avenues. Sister bar to the Volcano (above). Larger bar with a broad selection of drinks that also serves bar food and snacks. Also an after-work crowd, this bar is also popular with your average Joes. Good place for groups.

Lodging

 • Grand Hyatt New York, Park Avenue at Grand Central Station / East 42nd St, tel 212-883-1234 (fax 212-697-3772) - Attached to Grand Central Station and conveniently located in the heart of Midtown
 • Four Seasons Hotel, 57 East 57th St (between Madison and Park Avenues), tel 212-758-5700/1 - The last word in opulent accommodation.