Family Places to Eat by Rockefeller Center

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2024
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Before or after your visit to the Top of the Rock in the middle of Manhattan, odds are you are or someone in your family is going to want to eat. Sometimes it’s fine to just grab a hot dog, pretzel or some mystery street meat, but if you would rather have a nice family meal at a sit-down restaurant there are certainly tons of nearby options. These are just a few of the fun, family places to eat near Rockefeller Center. Located at 37 West 48th Street, Mendy's Restaurant is a great option if you are looking to grab a late breakfast, brunch or late lunch. With five locations in the city (and one in Brooklyn) Mendy's Restaurant is an upscale kosher delicatessen that has been serving New Yorkers for over 25 years. Besides boasting a wide variety of finger foods that the kids will just love, Mendy’s also has classic kosher deli fare like juicy roast beef, homemade fries and freshly cut corned beef. Fans of “Seinfeld” also might enjoy a trip to the restaurant because Jerry once went there to eat...just remember that soup doesn’t count as a meal! If your family wants to try some world-famous New York City pizza (they say the secret ingredient is the water) then head to 30 Rockefeller Center Concourse and grab a slice or an entire pie at Harry’s Italian Pizza Parlor. After having years of success at two downtown locations, restaurateurs Peter and Harry Poulakakos and the team from Nick's Pizza decided to open a branch of Harry’s Italian Pizza Parlor uptown. The menu at Harry’s Italian Pizza Parlor is fairly basic, but when there are great Italian favorites like old-fashioned square pizzas, fresh salads, cold hero sandwiches and Italian ices, no one is going to leave hungry. Sushi is delicious and tapas are can be exciting, but sometimes there’s nothing quite like an American classic. If your family is in the mood to taste a little Americana, head to 16 West 51st Street and grab a seat at Bill’s Bar & Burger. Before Bill’s opened its doors, the chefs conducted 100 tastings of different burger recipes. After all that research, the crew at Bill’s Bar & Burger decided to serve the “Bill's Classic” a throwback diner burger cooked on a flattop and served in an all-American seeded bun. With 400 seats, Bill’s Bar & Burger is the biggest standalone burger joint in the country - but that doesn’t mean the quality suffers. There are dozens of shakes, fries and burgers combos to choose from and they are all made fresh daily. Critics have called Bill’s “the best thing to happen to freshly ground beef since the Kraft single.” Stop in and see if you agree! Save on admission to Top of the Rock and other top New York City attractions like the Museum of Natural History and Ripley’s Believe It or Not NYC with a discount New York Explorer Pass. Save money and skip lines!

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A Guide to the High Line in New York City

The High Line is one of the world’s most unique public parks. The park in New York City is made from reclaimed elevated rail running above Manhattan’s West Side. It was originally slated for destruction after remaining unused for decades. But locals and the city decided to repurpose the stretch of rail for public benefit. They opened the High Line in 2009. Today, it’s one of the more unusual tourist attractions in NYC, but it’s also becoming increasingly popular with visitors. If you’re looking for a quick guide to the High Line NYC, we’ve got you covered. When is the High Line Open? As a public park, the High Line does have regular operating hours. These vary seasonally, with the longest hours in the summer months. Regardless of the time of year, the park is open at 7 am every day, including weekends. Gansevoort Street – 17th Street Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook (at Gansevoort St.). This dramatic overlook marks where the original rail line was taken apart in the 1980s to make way for construction. Whitney Museum of American Art: Located just east of the overlook, this popular museum features over 21,000 modern works of art. Donald Pels & Wendy Keys Gansevoort Woodland (between Gansevoort & 13th St.): A lush garden space filled with striking flora, this is a great spot for photos. 14th Street Passage (between 14th St. & 15th St.): A quasi-enclosed passageway, here you can find an original video series on display at dusk each evening. Diller-Von Furstenberg Sundeck & Water Feature (between 14th St. & 15th St.): This water feature marks the spot where water tended to gather during the days when the High Line was still a railroad track, drawing inspiration from life. Chelsea Market Passage (between 15th St. & 16th St.): Running right along the iconic Chelsea Market, this section of the park is the perfect place to descend if you’re looking for a snack or souvenir. Chelsea Market: This expansive complex is beloved for its food hall. It is brimming with vendors selling everything from cheese and wine to coffee and bread. There’s also a retail component with many popular and hyper-local options. Northern Spur Preserve (at 16th St.): This section of the park honors the indigenous plants that grew on and around the High Line before it was converted into cultivated parkland. 10th Avenue Square & Overlook (at 17th St.): Featuring a giant “window” down onto 10th Ave., this area also encompasses an amphitheater with public performances. 21st Street to 34th street Chelsea Thicket (between 21st St. & 22nd St.): Another piece of wilderness brought to downtown Manhattan, this section of the New York High Line boasts a variety of dense trees and shrubs indigenous to the region. 23rd Street Lawn & Seating Steps (at 23rd St.): A great spot for picnics, this elevated lawn area is also home to many local art installations like a massive mural that changes each year. Philip A. and Lisa Maria Falcone Flyover (between 25th St. & 27th St.): Designed specifically to allow visitors to encounter larger trees like magnolias and sassafras, the path elevates several feet above the rail line. 26th Street Viewing Spur (at 26th St.): A great place to get views of the city below, and gain perspective on your position relative to the bustle. Crossroads (at 30th St.): This is the widest section of the High Line Greenwich and therefore often the most accessible to those wanting to sit for a bit. It’s also where the High Line switches from a North-South orientation to an East-West one. Spur (at 30th St. & 10th Ave.): The final section of the original trail to be converted to park space, the public art here is spectacular—keep an eye out for the High Line Plinth! Pershing Square Beams (at 30th St.): A delightful place for the little ones to play, the exposed steel beams have been coated in a safe silicone surface, turning them into a playground. Interim Walkway (between 30th St. & 34th St.): Stop here for panoramic views of the Hudson River. Stay for the wildflowers and uncultivated plants. CSX Transportation Gate (at 34th St.): The only point at which the High Line New York hits street level. This is where you can most easily access it from downtown Manhattan. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity or use the hashtag #GoCity in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination too!
Katie Sagal
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The Upper East Side, New York Guide

The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in Manhattan between 59th street and 96th street to the east of Central Park. The New York neighborhood is famous for its high-end stores and upscale restaurants. However, there are tons of budget-friendly attractions to enjoy in the Upper East Side. Art fans will especially love the Upper East Side, as it’s home to plenty of galleries and museums. Check out our list of New York City attractions in the Upper East Side, including... The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Guggenheim The Met Breuer Neue Galerie Central Park And more! Save on admission to New York attractions The New York Explorer Pass provides admission to many popular New York attractions. You could save up to 50% on admission vs gate price. Galleries in the Upper East Side The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or ‘the Met’ as it’s also known, is one of the most popular attractions in New York City. It is the largest art museum in the United States and home to art spanning over 5,000 years. So whether you enjoy Medieval art or contemporary photography, there is sure to be something to inspire the whole family. As well as its permanent collection, the Met is always exhibiting exciting temporary collections. Currently, they are showing “Camp: Notes on Fashion” (until September 8, 2019), and Alicja Kwade’s “Parapivot” at the gallery’s roof garden (until October 27, 2019). So even if you’ve visited before, there is always something new to see. A visit to the Upper East Side would be incomplete without a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Getting in: Admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is included with the New York Explorer Pass. The Guggenheim The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is just as famous for its striking architecture as it is for the art it contains. The museum’s modern, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed exterior stands out among the classic 5th Avenue buildings. But you have to step inside to truly appreciate the Guggenheim Museum. The Guggenheim Museum exhibits temporary collections as well as its permanent collection, so check ahead to see what’s being displayed during your visit. Currently, there are exhibitions such as Basquiat’s “Defacement: The Untold Story,” (until November 6, 2019), and “Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now,” (until January 5, 2020). Even if you visit for the architecture alone, the Guggenheim should be on your Upper East Side itinerary. Getting in: Admission to the Guggenheim Museum is included with the New York Explorer Pass. The Met Breuer The Met Breuer is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but this gallery focuses on modern and contemporary art. Head here if you’re interested in exciting, contemporary pieces that unlike any art in traditional art museums. Explore a sculpture collection inspired by nature in Mrinalini Mukherjee’s “Phenomenal Nature” (until September 2019), or “Home is a foreign place,” which is a collection highlighting contemporary art from Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as art by American artists, (until June 21, 2020). Getting in: Admission to The Met Breuer with an audio tour is included with the New York Explorer Pass. Neue Galerie If the art lover in your group is still not satisfied, head to Neue Galerie. The Neue Galerie is an art museum focusing on early twentieth-century art by German and Austrian artists. See work by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, (until September 2, 2020) plus the Neue Galerie’s permanent, collection featuring a range of art from paintings to sculptures. Take a guided tour around the museum at 3:30 PM on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to make the most of your visit. Or, take an audio tour which is free with admission. Getting in: Admission to Neue Galerie is not included with the New York Explorer pass and tickets must be purchased separately. Admission is half price until September 2, 2019. Please note: children under 12 are not admitted. Central Park As the Upper East Side is adjacent to Central Park, there are plenty of fun attractions and landmarks to visit in the park itself, including... The Central Park Zoo: Kids will love visiting the zoo. They’ll get to see snow leopards and red pandas up close – not what you’d expect from a trip to New York City! Alice in Wonderland statue: Visiting the Alice in Wonderland statue is a must for families visiting Central Park. Kids get to climb, play, and interact with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the White Rabbit. It’s a great photo opportunity too. Balto statue: The Balto statue commemorates a sled dog who delivered medicine to save children in Alaska. Erected in 1925, Balto is still standing proudly. Gapstow Bridge: The Gapstow Bridge is a must-visit Central Park location. It offers great views of the skyline and The Pond. Plus, it has featured in a few movies, like Home Alone 2 and The Devil Wears Prada. Getting in: Admission to Central Park is free. You must purchase tickets to the Central Park Zoo separately. Admission to the Central Park Walking Tour is included with the New York Explorer Pass. Restaurants in the Upper East Side Upscale restaurants are the star of the Upper East Side. However, there are plenty of family-friendly options too. Check out our recommendations for restaurants in the Upper East Side, including... JG Melon: This laid-back pub is known for its delicious American burgers. A favorite with locals, this place can get busy, but it’s worth it. Please note that JG Melon is cash only. San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina: Pizza fans have to head to San Matteo for wood-fired pizzas and casual, affordable dining. Up Thai: This Thai place is known for its extensive menu, good value and is vegetarian-friendly. It’s popular, so it can get busy, so make sure to reserve ahead of time. Candle 79: Vegans visiting the Upper East Side have to visit Candle 79. It’s a little pricier but has tons of delicious vegan options. Head here for brunch, lunch or dinner! If you don’t want to take too much time out of your day, the Upper East Side also has plenty of fast-food restaurants. You could eat at fast-food favorites like Chipotle, Taco Bell, Shake Shack, McDonald’s and Subway. In summary Why not add a few of these Upper East Side attractions to your New York itinerary? Check out our top tips for visiting New York City.
Seren Morris

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