Family Places to Eat by Rockefeller Center

By Go City Expert

Published: May 16, 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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Guide to Visiting One World Trade Center

All you need to know about visiting the One World Trade Center, 9/11 Museum & Memorial and One World Observatory. Plan your trip now. When planning your visit to New York City, One World Trade Center – also known as Freedom Tower – must be on the bucket list. Located in the New York City’s bustling financial district in Downtown Manhattan, it offers some of the most breath-taking views across the city up the One World Observatory and it is home to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. It’s also one of the most unique places to enjoy sunset cocktails and fine dining – so any experience of this modern landmark will offer something to remember. Everyone remembers where they were when they found out about 9/11 so what better way to honor this day than to pay homage to the victims at the Memorial & Museum. Situated on the site of the original World Trade Center, the 9/11 Museum uncovers the story of this ill-fated day with over 10,000 artifacts on display, as well as interviews of 2,000 first-hand accounts, photographs and family testimonies. The One World Trade Center’s Museum also features a Permanent Collection with exhibitions of items donated as well as the incredible account from John Stiastny, one of few survivors of the national disaster. The Foundation Hall contains a segment of the surviving wall of the original structure of the World Trade Center and visitors can still see inscriptions, memorials, and missing posters from the aftermath in 2001. Outside visitors can also see the two memorial pools on the North and South end, the 80-foot Tridents columns as well as International flags which were suspended in the lobby of the original Twin Towers prior to the devastating incident. You can easily spend half a day at the site if you then head up the 102 stories to the One World Observatory. The elevator takes just 47 seconds and, on the way, up you can enjoy a dynamic display learning of the transformation of New York City from its original settlement and bedrock to the concrete jungle of today. At the top, the Forever Theatre audio-visual exhibition thrusts you into the vibrant city life and the interactive displays and presentations will help you get to know Gotham’s rich culture and unique history. Don’t miss the Sky Portal, a glass floor that looks down onto the streets beneath you 100 stories below... Be warned: if you have vertigo this will be a challenge! Indulge in an evening to remember at ONE Dine, One World Trade Center's New York’s ultimate dining and drinking experience. The New York themed menu is a fun way to celebrate something special and guests are welcome for a cocktail, bar snack or a gourmet meal. Tip: you will need an Observatory ticket to enter and make a dinner reservation. Of course, you won’t want to forget your camera for shots of the iconic skyline which, by day or night, is one of the most breathtaking vistas in all of New York. You can also make the most of a professional photographer for a take-home souvenir and visit the souvenir shop full of One World Trade Center-themed gifts. A trip to the Big Apple during the holiday season is one of the best times of the year to experience the iconic city in all its cheer. One World Trade Center's Winter Onederland promises a giant snow globe, Santa Visits, family-friendly Christmas displays, as well as Christmas themed drinks and dining - fun for everyone! If you plan on visiting the One World Trade Center’s 9/11 Memorial & Museum you can visit between 9AM – 8PM daily. To visit the One World Observatory, it is open 9AM – 9PM 7 days a week with last admission 8:15PM (check website for amended holiday hours over Christmas & New Year and during the summer months). ONE Dine is open for meals from 12PM – 9PM daily with last reservations at 6:45PM. Nearby you can also visit the iconic Statue of Liberty and historic Ellis Island Immigration Museum to make the most of your New York experience. If you plan on arriving by Subway, the stop is Fulton Street/Park Place or enjoy a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour experience and jump off at stop 11, 12, or 13 on the Downtown route. Alternatively, the address is 180 Greenwich St. World Trade Center should you be arriving by Taxi or car.

Shashia Mitchell

People in front of the Macy's store, New York

How to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - and other New York attractions to see

The annual world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York starts at 9am EST and ends at noon EST. It's one of America’s favorite holiday events and a New York City tradition since 1924. Past years have seen around 3.5 million people in attendance to see more than 1,500 dancers, thousands of clowns, and 30-plus floats in the parade, featuring big-name characters from movies and cartoons. Every year brings traditional favorites and fresh new performers to the lineup. Now you’re probably thinking, 'Okay, do I need tickets to see the Macy's parade?' The answer is no - but you might be able to get tickets! Read our guide to find out more, and discover the best ways for you to watch the Macy's parade. 💰 >> See how you can save up to 50% on New York attractions 🗓️ >> Check out our example New York itineraries Secure a spot on the street It's easy - and free! If you're an early bird, then get down to join the other spectators, who'd typically be lining the streets around 6 am or even earlier. Dress for the weather (and wear comfortable shoes), bring food and drink, charge your phones, use the restroom before you arrive – there are no public facilities on the parade route –and stay put. Macy’s recommends between 61st and 72nd on Central Park West as the best place to watch Tom Turkey leading his way through Manhattan. A lot of the performances happen around 34th Street, so know that location will have the most coveted spots and be the most difficult to get - along with spots at the beginning of the parade, 77th Street and Central Park West and where it ends at Macy's Herald Square in Midtown, on 34th. If you're in or around NYC beforehand and want a chance to see the balloons for the floats being inflated, head to 77th and 81st streets (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue) from 3-10 pm on Wednesday, before the parade. Get Macy's Parade grandstand tickets This one is for those with friends and family in the know - or even in the parade itself. Technically, Macy’s doesn’t sell grandstand tickets to the general public. But if you know any parade participants, or Macy’s employees and volunteers, you might be able to score a free ticket. Book a hotel room with a view Grandstand seating and street spots may be harder to come by, but if you act quickly, you can get VIP access to the parade through one of the hotels along the route. Hotel rooms with a view and VIP packages both come at a premium - but once you see what’s in these exclusive packages, you just may find it’s worth it. Previously, some package options included the Mandarin Oriental, the New York Hilton Midtown’s Thanksgiving Packages, the JW Marriott’s Buffet Brunch Package or Parade-View Room Package, and the Residence Inn Prime View Package. Check out each hotel's official website for specifics on this year's packages. Top tips for staying safe during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 👉Make sure you know this year's parade route (as it has changed in the past). Check out the official Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade site for the complete lineup, parade route, and much more info. 👉 Follow @Macys on X (Twitter) and check out all social media with the #macysparade hashtag to get the latest Parade updates, photos, and to join the conversation. 👉 Make sure your phones and cameras are fully charged before you arrive – you won't find a place to charge your tech during the parade and you won't want to miss out on photos! 👉 Use the restroom before you arrive – there are no public facilities on the parade route. 👉 Expect massive crowds, and be cautious with your children. Keep the family together at all times! 👉 Be aware that this parade will cause a lot of attraction closures along the parade route. Save exploring with your New York Pass for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 💸 Bonus: If you happen to want to do a little shopping while you're in the city after the parade, be sure to stop by the mezzanine level of Macy's Herald Square for a 10% off Visitor's Savings Pass. Plus, if you want more options of what to do when visiting New York, check out our Things to do in New York for inspiration! Save up to 50% on New York attractions Of course, we know the Macy's Day Parade in NYC is the main event on Thanksgiving, but you have a long weekend to see other top attractions in the city. Discover our full line-up, including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more. 🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you. 😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. Grab whichever New York pass suits you best and save while you sightsee!

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The Explorer Pass – how many attractions should I go for?

Not sure how many New York attractions to squeeze into your trip? Don’t worry – we’ve crunched the options so you can pick your perfect Explorer Pass and get the most bang for your sightseeing buck.

Alice Padfield

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