Midtown is New York City’s central business district and home to iconic attractions like Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, Central Park, MoMA, and Grand Central Station. Midtown – made up of Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and Murray Hill – is where tourists gather and skyscrapers tower. Keep reading if your NYC moving plans include living among the country’s biggest commercial, entertainment, and media scene.
Food
- Le Rock (45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York): Indulge your inner Parisian at this classic French brasserie in a grand Art Deco setting—think seafood platters, pâtés, and plenty of au poivre sauce to go around.
- Grand Sichuan Eastern (1049 2nd Ave, New York): If you like it hot, head here for spicy Sichuan dishes. With an endless, photo-filled menu, Grand Sichuan Eastern is perfect for those who eat with their eyes first. Plus, it’s conveniently located across from the Joyce Theater, so you can grab a bite before or after a performance.
- Tavern on the Green (W 67th St, New York): Sometimes snubbed by New Yorkers for being clichéd, Tavern on the Green is charming nevertheless. Set in a romantic garden, it serves a hearty, rustic menu shaped by local, seasonal ingredients. Heads up: it’s about to become a bit less leafy due to the removal of a historic 160-year-old tree.
- The Grill (Seagram Building, 99 E 52nd St, New York): A fine dining steakhouse where tuxedo-clad servers roll out black truffle pasta, rib eye, and champagne cocktails on a silver-domed trolley.
Attractions
- Broadway: You can’t live in, or visit New York City and not experience Broadway. It’s both a profession and a place—a theater genre presented in 41 theaters (mostly in Midtown) and a major boulevard stretching the length of Manhattan. Be prepared to fall in love with New York all over again.
- Empire State Building (20 W 34th St, New York): The Empire State Building was the first building in the world with more than 100 floors. It’s famous for its Art Deco architecture, height, and observation decks, which attract around four million visitors annually.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (45 E 42nd St, New York): Take your sightseeing to new heights with three levels of immersive, multi-sensory experiences. Far from your average observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt was born out of the Instagram age.
- Times Square (Junction of Broadway, 7th Ave, and 42nd St, New York): Heart of the Broadway Theater District and one of the busiest pedestrian zones on the planet where 330,000 pedestrians pass through daily. With hundreds of glowing billboards, it’s so bright that astronauts can see it from space.
Nightlife
- Rudy’s Bar & Grill (627 9th Ave, New York): For a no-frills night out, Rudy’s is the place to be. This “Inflation-Proof” dive bar in Hell’s Kitchen serves cheap beer and throws in a free hot dog with every drink. Old-school, cash-only, and unpretentious.
- Nothing Really Matters (210 W 50th St, New York): Claiming to be “the greatest cocktail bar in the universe,” this speakeasy is hidden in a subway station beneath the old Duane Reade at 50th and Broadway. You’ll have to check it out to see if it lives up to that title.
- Ophelia (3 Mitchell Pl, 26th floor, New York): Located at the top of the Beekman Tower, this cocktail lounge has adorned its 360° greenhouse terrace with vintage glamour touches: think flapper hats, century-old tarot cards, and a red velour couch.
- Birdland Jazz Club (315 W 44th St, New York): This Theater District classic has it all—candlelit tables, fantastic acoustics, and Cajun-inspired bites. Named after Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, Birdland became the spot every jazz musician had to play in the ’50s. Decades later, it’s still hitting all the right notes.
Neighborhood Festivals
- Taste of Times Square: Get a taste of Midtown with over 25 restaurants dishing out Mexican, Caribbean, Argentinian, Italian, Indian, and American cuisine. As one of NYC’s longest-running food festivals, it’s a must for any foodie.
- Dragon Fest Manhattan: Taking over Seventh Avenue from 56th to 57th Street, Dragon Fest is the largest celebration of Chinese culture in Manhattan. Held in July, this 2024 edition welcomed Panda Day, with panda-shaped balloons to panda-themed snacks.
- BIG Salsa Festival New York: Memorial Day Weekend gets even hotter with this salsa and bachata festival held at the New York Hilton Midtown. Come for the technique boot camps, stay for the fun.
Corporate Highlights
Midtown East is where many major corporations in media, finance, and retail set up shop, including:
- Calvin Klein (205 W 39th St, New York): Located in the Garment District, Calvin Klein’s headquarters is more than just an office – the 39th Street space also holds archives of every single Calvin Klein design ever made.
- JP Morgan Chase (270 Park Avenue, New York): JPMorgan Chase’s construction of a new 60-story global headquarters in Midtown East reflects the company’s loyal commitment to New York City.
- Blackstone (345 Park Ave, New York): Blackstone, an alternative investment company, is expanding its Midtown office, making it one of the largest recent office leases in New York City. The space will grow from 750,000 square feet to just over 1 million square feet.
- Bloomberg (731 Lexington Ave, New York): The global publisher of financial news and data calls Midtown home. Their HQ has a high-floor terrace with direct views of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.
- The New York Times Company (620 8th Ave, New York): This 52-story skyscraper in Times Square serves as the headquarters for The New York Times and is ranked among the top 150 buildings in the U.S.
Living in Midtown
Midtown Manhattan is a mosaic of neighborhoods, each with its own “thing.” Hell’s Kitchen is a hub for the LGBTQ+ community, Chelsea for the scene makers and art aficionados, Kips Bay is family-friendly, and Gramercy caters to the ultra-wealthy.
Living in Midtown isn’t cheap—it’s one of the priciest neighborhoods on the planet. Expect to pay over $4,880 for a one-bedroom apartment in Midtown East, which is about 46% more than nearby cities.
Midtown is home to around 308,750 residents, with a racial makeup of 67% White, 16% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% two or more races, and 1% other races. It’s also where you’ll find the headquarters of major companies like JPMorgan Chase, The New York Times, and Marvel Entertainment.
Fun fact: Midtown was the site of the most expensive home sale in U.S. history when hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin bought a penthouse on Billionaires’ Row for nearly $240 million.
Moving to Midtown
Living in Midtown is pure movie magic—an experience people either love or hate.
Big city moves can be a real headache, which is why New Yorkers trust Metropolis Moving to take care of it. Our professional movers handle the logistics, so you can focus on settling into your new Midtown adventure.
