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The neon lights and bustle of Times Square

Broadway. Times Square. Madison Square Garden. The name says it all: the Theater District is the entertainment hub of the city, and possibly the entire nation. The western half of Midtown Manhattan (to be distinguished from Midtown East), this is where you'll find Times Square, the streets packed with people taking in quite arguably the brightest entertainment district in the world. Despite its gaudy signage and superficial nature, a place where no local would want to be caught dead, it's hard not to be awestruck by it all. This is where the famous musicals of Broadway perform, where many famous TV shows are taped, and where the Knicks and Rangers play to sellout crowds.

It's easy to get distracted by Times Square; even in this city of giant skyscrapers and famed landmarks, the night glow of the Theater District overwhelms everything around it, making the rest of Manhattan look dark in comparison. It draws your attention away from anything else, much like a stage light focused on a theater set. But there is more to this area than bright lights and big-name shows, with revivified neighborhoods surrounding the core entertainment zone. To the south of Times Square lies the Garment District, center of New York's fashion scene, while to the north and west are more residential areas. West of Times Square is Hell's Kitchen, long the site of many smaller theaters and studios, less flashy than their counterparts on Broadway but no less active. There's much to see and do here — just try not to forget about the rest of Manhattan while you're here.

Understand

This district stretches from 31st St, through the heavily commercial West 30s up to 59th St (beyond which is Central Park), and lies west of 6th Ave. The West Side is home not only to the famed "Great White Way" (Broadway), but to the emerging business district centered on the now thoroughly Disneyfied Times Square. The Theater District centers on the outlandishly commercial "New" 42nd Street and heads up Broadway and 7th Avenues, melding to the west with the resurgent neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen and its commercial strip on 9th Avenue, and to the north with the newly-built Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. South of Times Square is the Garment District, where most of the city's showrooms and many well-known designers occupy the area between Times Square and Madison Square Garden, the famous sports arena located atop Pennsylvania Station. The area becomes increasingly residential as you go north or west, and more commercial to the east and south. Many of Manhattan's largest hotels (including the Hilton and the Sheraton) are located on 6th or 7th Avenue in this area.

Visitor information

  • 1 Official NYC Information Center at Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th St. (between 7th Ave. and Broadway, inside Macy's), ☏ +1 212 484-1222. M–F 9AM–7PM, Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM–7PM, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Multilingual FAQ stations, free WiFi, plenty of guides and maps, and the city’s only aboveground MetroCard machine. 

Get in

Theater District Map

By subway

The Times Square-42nd St. subway station is one of the major nerve centers of public transit in New York, with the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R and S (Grand Central Shuttle) lines all stopping there, while a pedestrian tunnel affords a free transfer to the 42nd St.-8th Av. station, which serves the A, C, and E lines. Nearby, though not connected to the Times Square-42nd St. station, the B, D, F, and M lines stop at 42nd St. and 6th Avenue.

South of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under 7th Avenue, the A, C and E lines run under 8th Avenue, the N, Q and R lines run under Broadway, and the B, D, F and M lines run under 6th Avenue, with all lines stopping at 34th Street, near Penn Station. Additionally, the 7 line runs southwest to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, adjacent to the Javits Convention Center. From outside New York City, Penn Station, located underneath Madison Square Garden, is the east coast hub of Amtrak services and is the regional hub for Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit commuter rail services. See the By train section on the main New York City page for more info. Also serving the neighborhood is PATH subway service to Hoboken and Jersey City, New Jersey, which runs under 6th Ave., stopping at 33rd St., 23rd St., and 14th St.

North of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under Broadway, with the 1 stopping at 50th St. and 59th St-Columbus Circle. The A, C, and E lines run under 8th Avenue, with the C and E stopping at 50th St., before the E branches east to head under 53rd St. to Queens, stopping at 7th Av, while the A and C lines continue north, stopping at 59th St-Columbus Circle. The N, Q, and R lines run under 7th Avenue, stopping at 57th St. (the ideal stop for Carnegie Hall), with the N and R lines also stopping at 49th St. The F train continues along 6th Avenue, stopping at 57th St., while the B and D trains head northwest, stopping at 7th Av./53rd St. and 59th St-Columbus Circle.

By MTA bus

Quite a number of city bus routes serve the area (see the MTA website for a map), but crosstown routes in particular can be subject to gridlock at peak times.

By long distance bus

Manhattan's main long distance bus station is the Port Authority Bus Terminal, between 8th and 9th Avenues between 40th and 42nd Streets. Connections are available on commuter buses to New Jersey and Rockland County, New York, and to long-distance routes through the country and to Canada.

By taxi

Taxis ply the area day and night but can slow to a standstill during rush hour, lunch time, and even mid-afternoon. However, if you need a taxi and are unfamiliar with normal taxi fares, do not hail anything but a yellow cab. Drivers of black limos who offer to pick you up may try to cheat you.

On foot

Walking is the way you can see the most, but even walking can be a problem, particularly on Broadway and 7th Av. between 48th and 42nd Sts. Large numbers of tourists are liable to be standing still and looking up every few feet, and of course, you may be one of them. But if you prefer to take a walk at a steadier pace, take a side street and walk on another avenue.

See

In Times Square, even the police station has a flashy neon sign on the roof
  • Times Square, Broadway and 7th Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 48th Streets. A place filled with video screens, LED signs, and flashing lights; a world wonder or a tourist nightmare depending on your perspective, the "new" Times Square is a family-friendly theme park of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels, as well as a developing business district. The lights and signs can be viewed anytime, but the most enchanting experience comes when one visits Times Square at night, as all the signs and screens are ablaze with color. Times Square is also well known for its famous New Year's Eve ball drop. Those looking for the seedy Times Square of years past will find it around the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and on Eighth Avenue to the west. 
    • 1 TKTS Booth, 1564 Broadway (at 47th St, at the north end of Times Square), ☏ +1 212 912-9770. Booth: tickets for evening performances Tu 2-8PM, M and W-Sa 3-8PM, Su 3-7PM; tickets for matinee performances W-Th and Sa 11AM-2PM, Su 11AM-3PM. A ticket booth selling discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows. However, the cheaper tickets aren't the only attraction, as the back of the booth is a large, red-lit glass staircase facing Times Square, which serves as a set of bleachers and offers an excellent opportunity to get above the street and just watch the crowds and flashing signs. Above the booth is a video screen with a live feed of the top step, giving you a chance to appear (if only briefly) on one of the many signs in Times Square. 
    • 2 One Times Square, 1475 Broadway (at 42nd St). Originally the second-tallest building in the world when it opened in 1905, One Times Square was constructed to be the headquarters for The New York Times, a function it would serve for less than ten years. The annual Times Square ball drop is performed from the roof of this building. And you can't miss the famous Dow Jones news and sports zipper (the first news ticker in the world) attached to its lower facade. 
  • 3 Discovery Times Square Exposition (Discovery TSX), 226 West 44th St. An exhibition hall that caters to traveling exhibitions that are deemed "too large, too expensive, too nondisciplinary or too commercial" for local museums. Discovery TSX has been home to Harry Potter: The Exhibition, CSI: The Experience, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, King Tut NYC: Return of the King, and Pompeii the Exhibit. 
On the flight deck of the Intrepid
  • 4 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86 (12th Ave & 46th St), ☏ +1 212 245-0072. Apr-Sep M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM; Oct-Mar Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. The aircraft carrier Intrepid is docked here and loaded with spacecraft and aircraft, including the very cool Blackbird spy plane and the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise. On the other side of the dock is a guided-missile submarine and a Concorde, both of which you can tour also, and some tanks. $16.50 adult. 
  • 5 Madame Tussauds New York, 234 W 42nd St, ☏ +1 212-512-9600. Get up close to over 200 lifelike wax figures of the biggest stars and icons in entertainment, sports and history. 

Do

  • 1 ABC Times Square Studios, 1500 Broadway (between 43rd and 44th Sts), ☏ +1 212 930-7700. Come here bright and early in the morning to be in the live audience of the network's famous morning news show, Good Morning America. Walkbys can view the show in progress from the studio's street level windows and catch up on the latest news scrolling away continuously on the building's lower two message zippers. 
  • 2 AMC Empire 25, 234 W 42nd St (subway to Times Square-42nd St), ☏ +1 212 398-3939. First showings begin around noon, last showings begin at around 11PM. This large multiplex cinema shows first-run, mainstream films on 25 screens. It also contains an IMAX cinema showing mainstream feature films. $6-$14. 
  • 3 Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W 44th St, ☏ +1 212 581-3080. This historic club (though not at the original location of W. 52 St.) — universally acknowledged as one of the top jazz venues in the city — features a great lineup of justly famous performers and has good acoustics. Expect to pay a fair price for that quality. 
  • 4 Carnegie Hall, 154 W 57th St. If you ask a New Yorker how to get to Carnegie Hall, you may get the answer "Practice, practice!" This elegant 19th-century hall, the closest we have to the great European halls, is New York's premier venue for famous recitalists and visiting symphony orchestras. The complex also includes the more intimate Weill Recital Hall slightly further east and Zankel Hall, in the basement of the side of the building facing 7th Av. near 56th St, a medium-sized venue used by jazz groups and classical concert pianists, alike. 
  • 5 Hudson Theatre, 145 W 44th St, ☏ +1 212 768-4400. This theater is over 100 years old and remains the third oldest theater on Broadway. Located right next to the Millennium Broadway Hotel, this NYC theater now offers wedding, event and meeting space in an elegant, historic setting. 
  • 6 Kramer's Reality Tour, 358 W 44th St (at the Producers Club Theater), ☏ +1 212 268-5525, toll-free: +1-800-572-6377, fax: +1 212 465-9327. Sa Su noon. For Seinfeld fans. Kenny Kramer, said to be the inspiration for the character Kramer, tells about the show, in a fun way. And guides on a tour to places seen in the show. Stop for photo outside the restaurant seen in the show. $37.50. 
  • 7 Wicked the Musical, 222 W 51st St, toll-free: +1-888-842-5835. An incredibly popular show which has been on Broadway for roughly ten years, Wicked is one of the highest rated shows that has ever hit Broadway. It's based on the Wizard of Oz, but told from the witch's point of view instead of Dorothy's. The show runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes. 
  • 8 The Lion King, 200 W 45th St, toll-free: +1-866-958-9179. The highest grossing stage production of all time, this musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film has won numerous awards and has been going strong since its premiere in 1997. This show runs about 2 hours and 40 minutes. 
  • 9 Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, ☏ +1 212 757-2323. This is one of the most respected comedy clubs in all of New York City, one that has played host to the likes of Joe Devito, Scott McFadden, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, and many others who have gone on to make it big in television. Tickets generally run for about $20 a night, and include a free pitcher of beer. Shows run up until as late as 11PM and are a great way for you to end your evening. 
  • 10 B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W 42nd St (between Seventh and Eighth Aves), ☏ +1 212 997-4144. A phenomenal place with one of the widest varieties of music in town, featuring cover bands and soul tributes which fill the gaps between big-name bookings such as Chuck Berry and Solomon Burke. Lately, the club has also shown an interest in extreme-metal bands such as Obituary and Dark Funeral and hip-hop acts such as the Lox and Kool Keith. For many shows, the best seats are at the dinner tables up front, but the menu prices can get pretty expensive and the food is not very good - best to stick to unmixed drinks and have only the simplest food, if necessary. On Sundays, B.B.’s has the Harlem Gospel Choir come in and has a buffet brunch. 
  • 11 Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (7th Avenue & 32nd Street; Subway:  A  C  E  or  1  2  3  to 34th St), ☏ +1 212 465-6741. Box office: M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; if event takes place outside regular hours, box office opens at least 1 hour before event start until 1 hour after event start. One of the world's most famous and busiest arenas, Madison Square Garden is home to the New York Rangers NHL team, the New York Knicks NBA team, the New York Liberty WNBA team, and the St. John's Red Storm college men's basketball team, as well as numerous concerts and entertainment events. In addition to most St. John's home games, the Garden also hosts three major college men's basketball events each year. At the start of the season, the Garden hosts the semifinals and finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off, a prestigious early-season event operated by the country's main college sports body, the NCAA. After the regular season, the Garden then hosts the Big East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in early March, which determines the conference's automatic representative in the wildly popular NCAA tournament. Finally, in late March, the Garden hosts the semifinals and finals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), a tournament that the NCAA operates as something of a consolation prize for teams that do not make the NCAA tournament. 

Buy

Macy's — "The World's Largest Store"
  • 1 B&H, 420 9th Av. (between 33rd and 34th Sts.), ☏ +1 212 444-6615, toll-free: +1-800-606-6969. Perhaps the best camera and photography equipment store in New York, this is the place to go for any of the cameras and camera accessories you might want. The selection is good and the staff is knowledgeable and willing to discuss things with you. It is owned and heavily staffed by Hasidic Jews, so it is closed on Friday nights, Saturdays, and all Jewish holidays except for Hanukkah. B&H provides its holiday closing schedule here. 
  • 2 Hershey's Times Square, 1593 Broadway (at 48th Street), ☏ +1 212 581-9100. You are able to purchase all types of chocolate goodies and Hershey-themed products at this store. A few dollars can also get you a personalized message scrolled across their zipper outside on the store's facade. Hershey stores are all over the country but this particular store is the largest Hershey's store in the world. It has three floors of pure chocolate, and Hershey's products. 
  • 3 Macy's, 151 W 34th St (between 7th Ave and Broadway), ☏ +1 212 695-4400. Billing itself as "The World's Largest Store" on the large signs outside, this is the flagship store of the national chain and covers an entire city block. Its holiday window displays are so popular that they usually have a corporate sponsor. One useful tip for visitors is to go to the Macy's guest center on floor 1 1/2 and they will give you a guest card that discounts virtually everything in the store by 11%. 
  • 4 Kinokuniya Bookstore, 1073 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave) (between 41st and 40th Streets), ☏ +1 212 869-1700. A Japanese book dealer, carrying a huge selection of Japanese reading material. It also sells a number of books by Japanese authors in English translation. It is also known as a source of excellent Japanese anime and manga, much of which is difficult or impossible to find anywhere else in the United States. 
  • 5 M&M's World New York, 1600 Broadway (at 48th St), ☏ +1 212 295-3850. Daily 9AM-Midnight. You can purchase all types of M&M goodies and M&M-themed trinkets here. 
  • 6 Midtown Comics, 200 W 40th Street (at 7th Avenue), ☏ +1 212 302-8192. M-Sa 8AM-midnight, Su Noon-8PM. An absolutely gigantic comic book store, one of the largest and most well-known in the country, with two full floors of comics, collectibles, manga, and back issues, as well as a very knowledgeable staff. Signings by giants in the comic book industry are a regular occurrence here and the store also sponsors the annual New York Comic Con held every October. Smaller locations can be found in Midtown East and the Financial District. (updated Feb 2015)
  • 7 Sephora, 1500 Broadway (between 43rd and 44th Sts), ☏ +1 212 944-6789, fax: +1 212 944-7503. Daily 10AM-Midnight. One-stop shopping for cosmetics. 
  • 8 Toys 'R' Us, 1514 Broadway (between 44th and 45th Sts), ☏ +1 646 366-8800. M-Th 10AM-10PM, F-Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-9PM. The name pretty much speaks for itself, though it's probably a lot bigger and more dazzling than the typical Toys "R" Us store back in your hometown. Browse through the many sections of toys, games, and electronics and take a ride on their indoor ferris wheel. The cars, based on toys, can carry several people and each round will allow riders to see each floor in the building. An attendant at the loading station will take a picture of you in the car before you go up — however, purchasing the photo is expensive so only do so if you really want to get it. 

Eat

Times Square can seem infested with glorified, tacky, and overpriced versions of chain restaurants like McDonalds, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Red Lobster, and Applebee's that you can find anywhere else in America. These restaurants are more expensive than their suburban counterparts (a Big Mac costs $6). However, there are better food options available in the area, especially if you get away from Times Square proper and explore other areas in the Theater District.

Budget

  • 1 Cranberry Cafe, 115 W 45th St (1 block from Times Square), ☏ +1 212 730-9495. Always open. A huge variety of sandwiches, pizza, sushi, and udon. Hot and cold salad bars. Sandwiches are $4-$6. Very popular with local workers, so it gets very busy at breakfast and lunch time. There is ample seating upstairs. 
  • 2 Poseidon Bakery, 629 9th Ave (between 44th and 45th Sts), ☏ +1 212 757-6173. Serves wonderful Greek pastries, savory and sweet alike. There is no place to sit, but the staff are very friendly and helpful, and you can have a delicious, cheap meal for takeout. 
  • 3 The Halal Guys, corner of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. M–Th 10AM-4AM, F–Sa 10AM-5AM. An extremely popular and affordable food stand that is probably the only Mediterranean stand in all of Manhattan that was actually given a name. This is the original location and since it started in 2008, it has begun a chain and opened 5 more throughout Manhattan and Bergen County, NJ. Delicious gyros, wraps, and falafel, and each dish comes with rice and pita bread. There's also an incredible white sauce that's worth trying. Note that if you want some on a weekend, you're going to have to get there early because there is guaranteed to be a long wait. Each meal costs about $7 with a drink being included. 

Mid-range

  • 4 Ariana Afghan Kebab House, 787 9th Ave (between 52nd and 53rd Sts), ☏ +1 212 262-2323, +1 212 262-0065. 11:30AM-10:30PM daily. Very good food, which of course includes kebabs, but also peppery Aush (a type of beany noodle soup), Badinjan Burani (a fried eggplant appetizer garlic and yogurt, served with bread), etc. Salads, which come with main dishes, have a dressing which includes mayonnaise. Ask for no dressing and put the green hot sauce on them yourself. About $20-30/person for a large 3-course meal with a non-alcoholic beverage. 
  • 5 Carnegie Deli, 854 7th Ave (at 55th St), ☏ +1 212 757-2245. Temporarily closed. This popular deli is a place some love and some hate. They serves enormous sandwiches -- each of which could easily feed two hungry people. There is a $3 charge for sharing the sandwiches. 
  • 6 Dos Caminos, 1567 Broadway, ☏ +1 212 918 1330. Su M 7AM-11PM, Tu - Th 7AM-12AM, Fr 7AM-1AM, Sa 7AM-1AM. Dos Caminos' fifth New York City location. Designed by Brooklyn-based company, hOmE, spaning two floors, and featuring a 40-seat mezcal and margarita bar on the street level and a guacamole bar on the subterranean level. Expanded menu of Chef Ivy Stark’s healthy Mexican dishes as well as a selection of 120 premium tequilas. $12-$24. (updated Sep 2015)
  • 7 Gazala Place, 709 9th Ave (between 48th and 49th Sts.), ☏ +1 212 245-0709. Sun-Fri: 11AM-11PM Sat: 11AM-midnight. Dependably delicious Israeli Druze cuisine. Their babaganush is categorically better than at most other places, with great smokiness. Their special meze platter, which is not on the menu but seems to always be available, is a fair deal at $20-something. The restaurant is a bit cramped, especially when you have to walk through the kitchen to the restroom, but for food this good at these kinds of prices this close to Times Square and helpful service, it's really worthwhile. Mezes: $5-$9.95; Soups: $4.50; Salads: $7.50-8:50; Breads and savory pies: $4.50-$5.50; Sandwiches: $3.50-6.00; Entrees: $8.95-$17.95; Desserts: $5.50-9.50. 
  • 8 John's Pizzeria, 260 West 44th St (just east of 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212 391-7560. Daily 11:30AM-11:30PM. A popular pizza option with a lovely and spacious atmosphere and brick oven, coal fired, thin crust pizzas. Whole pies, no slices. Many fans, however, observe that the pizza at this location is not nearly as good as at their original Greenwich Village location. Also, pre-theater, it can be absolutely mobbed, with wait times of an hour or more. 
  • 9 Ocha Sushi, 350 W 46th St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212 581-3198. Japanese restaurant with good sushi. 
  • 10 Vice Versa, 325 W 51st St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212 399-9291. Simple, but tasty Italian fare. $10-$25. 
  • 11 Westway Diner, 614 Ninth Ave, ☏ +1 212-582-7661. Real New York diner, excellent place for good value breakfast. Very good service. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 12 Wondee Siam, 792 9th Ave (between 52nd and 53rd Sts), ☏ +1 212 582-0355. Small restaurant, so expect to wait on line at peak hours (e.g., Friday and Saturday nights); generally considered to be one of the best Thai restaurants in Manhattan. Food ranges in spiciness from mild to very spicy, not always consistent with what you ask for, but staff are happy to provide extra dried red pepper flakes on the side. Consistently tasty food, especially if you stick with the items on the "secret Thai" menu card on the table and ask for everything to be "very spicy and Thai style, not sweet." Lunch specials: $7; soups and small salads: $4; fried rice: $10.50; yum (Thai spicy salads): $9.95-12.50; mains: $10.50-22; noodles: $9.50-11.50; side order of rice: $1.50-2; beverages: $2.50. 

Splurge

  • 13 Abigael's On Broadway, 1407 Broadway #4 (at 38th St), ☏ +1 212 575-1407. Su 4:30-10PM, M-F 12-3PM, M-Th 5-10PM. Kosher. The main restaurant is downstairs, where the quiet atmosphere is a nice break from the vibrancy of the area. Service can be slow, but it's great for a long, relaxed dinner to end off an exciting day. 
  • 14 Aureole, 135 West 42nd St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212 319-1660. 
  • 15 Barbetta, 321 W 46th St (between 8th and 9th Aves), ☏ +1 212 246-9171. 
  • 16 Blue Fin, 1567 Broadway (at 47th Street), ☏ +1 212 918 1400. Su M 7AM-11PM, Tu-Th 7AM-11:30PM, F Sa 7AM-12AM. Sushi bar, bar and lounge area, communal table and expanded private dining room options. mains $23-$46. (updated Aug 2015)
  • 17 Brasserie 1605, 1605 Broadway (between 48th and 49th Street; at The Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan), ☏ +1 212 315-6000. 
  • 18 Maze by Gordon Ramsay, 151 West 54th St (between 6th and 7th Ave), ☏ +1 212 468-8888. 
  • 19 Ruby Foo's, 1626 Broadway (at 49th Street), ☏ +1 212 489 5600. Su - Tu 11:30AM -10:30PM, W Th 11:30AM – 11pm, F Sa 11:30AM – 11:30PM. Pan-Asian Restaurant combines Chinese, Thai, & Japanese food. (updated Aug 2015)

Drink

  • 1 The Irish Pub, 837 7th Ave, ☏ +1 212 664-9364. Great place to drink after a long day at work. 
  • 2 McGee's Restaurant and Pub, 240 West 55th St (Between Broadway and 8th Ave), ☏ +1 212 957-3536. M-Sa 11AM-4AM, Su Noon-4AM. Lunch 11AM-4PM; Dinner 5PM-Midnight; Late night menu: 11PM-1AM. This is an unpretentious pub in the middle of a pricey neighborhood. The prices are very inexpensive for the neighborhood, and the pub also provides downright good food. Service is pleasant and helpful. Cocktails: $8-11; Happy Hour specials (5PM-9PM, Mon-Fri): $3-6; Beer of the Month: $4 pints; Pitchers of beer: $18-20; House wine by the glass: $6.50; Coffee drinks (with alcohol): $8-8.50; Appetizers: $6-15; Soups: $5-6; Salads: $8-14; Sandwiches: $12-16; Burgers: $12-17; Mains: $14-20; Desserts: $6. 
  • 3 The Perfect Pint, 123 W 45th St (at Broadway), ☏ +1 212 354-1099. Two-story pub off of Times Square with good Irish beers on tap and pricey entrées. Definitely not typical pub-grub, but the price matches. $15-25 per entrée. 

Sleep

PEnnsylvania 6-5000

The Hotel Pennsylvania only returned to its original name in 1992, but it has always maintained the city's best-known phone number, immortalized in song by Glenn Miller's band in 1940. The PE6 telephone exchange wasn't named after the hotel, though; they were both named after nearby Penn Station.

Budget

  • 1 Hotel Carter, 250 W 43rd St (between 7th and 8th Aves), ☏ +1 347 748-1309, fax: +1 212 398-8541, . Offering 700 lodging accommodations all with private bath. Close-up view of the ball drop at New Times Square. $99+. 
  • 2 Hotel Pennsylvania, 401 7th Ave (between 32nd/33rd), ☏ +1 212 736-5000, toll-free: +1-800-223-8585. Large hotel, landmark, near all the action in the area. As low as $99/night. Restaurants, café, fitness centre, meeting facilities for 10 to 1000. Pet friendly. There is a $4 charge for each piece of luggage stored and be warned, cleanliness is not a high point. 
  • 3 New York Inn, 765 8th Ave (at 47th St), ☏ +1 212 247-5400, toll-free: +1-888-465-1140, fax: +1 212 541-4596, . Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. Affordable lodging accommodations offering double standard bed, color cable TV, telephone, AC/heating and private facilities. Refrigerators, ironing and ironing boards are available upon request. Safety box is available at no extra charge. Free wifi plus one internet kiosk are available in the lobby. Dorms from $29, private rooms from $69. 

Mid-range

  • 4 Casablanca Hotel, 147 W 43rd St (between Broadway and 6th Ave), ☏ +1 212 869-1212, toll-free: +1-888-922-7225, fax: +1 212 391-7585, . Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. Boutique hotel just off Times Square. High-speed Wi-fi and complimentary refreshments in Rick's Cafe 24 hours a day including breakfast in the mornings and wine and cheese receptions in the evenings except for Sunday nights. $183+. 
  • 5 Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square, 114 W 40th St, ☏ +1 212-391-0088. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 6 Hilton Garden Inn, 790 8th Ave (between 47th and 48th Sts), ☏ +1 212 581-7000, fax: +1 212 974-0291. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. Completely remodeled in 2005 with flat-screen TVs, comfy bedding. Free wireless, business center and in-room fridge. $143-$400. 
  • 7 Hotel Mela, 120 W 44th St (between 6th Ave and 7th Ave/Broadway), toll-free: +1-877-452-6352, fax: +1 212 710-7399, . Luxury boutique hotel in Times Square. $161+. 
  • 8 GEM Hotel Hudson Yards, 449 W 36th St (between 9th and 10th Aves), ☏ +1 212 967-7206, fax: +1 212 967-7237. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $109+. 
  • 9 Salisbury Hotel, 123 W 57th St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212 246-1300, toll-free: +1-888-692-5757, fax: +1 212 977-7752. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. King and double-bed rooms. Standard rooms are much larger than typical as the hotel was originally designed as a suite hotel. $109+. 
  • 10 Sanctuary Hotel, 132 W 47th St (between 6th and 7th Aves), ☏ +1 212 234-7000, toll-free: +1-800-388-8988, fax: +1 212 382-0684. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. A Times Square-area hotel offering modern accommodations. $300+. 
  • 11 Travel Inn Hotel, 515 W 42nd St, ☏ +1 212 695-7171. 

Splurge

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Too many travelers spend all or most of their time in the Theater District and other largely non-residential areas of Midtown Manhattan. From the viewpoint of many New Yorkers, the "real New York" is elsewhere, in the residential neighborhoods uptown, downtown, and even a couple of blocks west of Times Square and the bright lights of the Great White Way. If you want to find out how New Yorkers live, work, and party and feel the pace of the city, go to neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, the East Village, Chinatown, Harlem, the Upper West and Upper East Sides, or just walk to 9th Av.

Routes through Theater District
Bronx ← Upper West Side ←  N  S  → Chelsea → Financial District
END ←  W  E  → Midtown → Flushing, Queens
Upper West Side (A & C) / Midtown (E) ←  N  S  → Chelsea → Financial District
Bronx ← Upper West Side ←  N  S  → Midtown → Downtown Brooklyn
Long Island City, Queens ← Upper East Side ←  N  S  → Midtown → Downtown Brooklyn
Hoboken ← Chelsea ←  SW  NE  → END
Jersey City ← Chelsea ←  SW  NE  → END


This district travel guide to Theater District is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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