Madison Square Garden – Experiences

One of Madison Square Garden’s most prominent features doesn’t actually have anything to do with the arena. The biggest contributing factor as to why Madison Square Garden is known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena” is because it’s located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Madison Square Garden is within walking distance of some of New York’s most iconic landmarks, including Times Square, the Empire State Building, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! It’s also directly above New York Penn Station, so traveling into and out of the city is a breeze.

New York City has tons more to offer you within a couple miles of the arena. That’s the beauty of visiting Madison Square Garden. Not only do you get to experience one of the best venues in the world, you get to spend time in the most popular city in America.

Planning a day in New York City is one of the easiest and hardest things to do. The sheer number of restaurants and attractions can make your head spin, but at the same time, more options is always better. We’ve handpicked some restaurants and attractions nearby Madison Square Garden that are worth checking out. But we urge you to do some research of your own. New York City is jam-packed with diverse restaurants and unique attractions. If you have plenty of time on your hands, expand your opportunities by exploring some of the other boroughs like Brooklyn or Queens.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

Morning in New York City, there’s nothing like it. As the sun creeps over the towering skyscrapers, you have America’s most beloved city as your playground. Any good start to the day includes a delicious breakfast. Those who like some variety in their morning meals will love Tick Tock Diner.

This 280-seat diner is actually the largest in New York City, so it’s a safe bet that they’ll have space for you. The kitchen is open 24/7, pumping out breakfast all day. Between the Benedicts, Belgian waffles, pancakes, brioche French toast, and eggs, you have a lot of choices. Tick Tock Diner also serves Greek, Italian, and Tex-Mex inspired dishes, so lunch and dinner are on the table as well. You can even order alcoholic drinks or creamy milkshakes.

On the off chance Tick Tock Diner doesn’t have a seat available, you have tons of other breakfast joints to choose from. Another great one near Madison Square Garden is Andrews Coffee Shop. Starting out in 1964 as a humble coffee shop and bakery, Andrews has evolved into a full-service restaurant that serves all three squares a day, plus dessert.

As far as breakfast is concerned, Andrews cooks up a variety of egg and omelet dishes, pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles, and some healthy and not so healthy smoothies. Fresh, house-made coffee is still a big part of the menu as well. Customers can order the regular house blend, espressos, cappuccinos, macchiatos, along with several other kinds of highly caffeinated goodness.

If you’re one of those people who don’t like breakfast foods, you’ll be happy to know that Andrews serves lunch and dinner all day. From brick-oven pizza, and hamburgers to quesadillas, pasta, and more, their menu is loaded with tasty meals.

Madison Square Garden

Once your belly is happy and full, it’s time to go adventure in Manhattan. Just a couple blocks away at Herald Square you’ll find the world’s largest Macy’s. Macy’s Herald Square  is the flagship store for the entire company.

This particular store encompasses 1.25 million square feet of retail space, making it the largest department store in the country and the second-largest in the world. Macy’s is already one of the best department stores around, but Macy’s Herald Square is in a league of its own. Shop until you drop as you browse the seemingly never-ending amount of clothes, shoes, bags, and more.

One rather big thing to note, if you are traveling to Madison Square Garden around Christmas time, Macy’s Herald Square is famous for its Christmas and holiday window displays. Every year touts a new theme and the store goes big. Expect to see animated elements and complex scenery that will blow you away.

Central Park is well worth visiting while you’re in New York City, but there’s a much closer, albeit smaller, park to Madison Square Garden. Bryant Park is just 9.6 acres, but it’s a charmer of a public park. The centerpiece is the recreational lawn area. Here, visitors can take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city while doing some cloudgazing.

Some other points of interest worth looking at are the monuments scattered around the park and the vividly beautiful flowerbeds overflowing with 100 species of shrubs and perennials. Bryant Park Grill and Café is nearby, and you can find a couple kiosk-style eateries as well. Ice skating is offered in the winter. Bryant Park is frequently hosting events throughout the year, so check their website to find out if anything will be going on during your trip.

 

Noon

As lunch time rolls around, the list of possible restaurants to eat at grows. One that should  be high on the list is Tír na nÓg. There are two locations in Manhattan: one near Penn Station, the other in Times Square. Both of these locations are viable since they’re only a few blocks from each other. Tír na nÓg is a restaurant that brings a re-imagination to traditional Irish cooking with a couple other twists added.

Their lunch menu features small plates like roasted pear, bacon and gorgonzola salad, and sashimi tuna wonton nachos. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, and flatbreads make up a sizeable chunk of the menu as well. For main entrees, you can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned shepherd’s pie or the ale-battered fish and chips. The horseradish-crusted salmon fillet and spaghetti with wild mushrooms and porcini cream sauce are two other tempting options.

Don’t write this next place off once I say these dreaded words: vegan restaurant. Yes, The Cinnamon Snail is a vegan restaurant, but the food is exceptional. Seriously, give it a try. The business started out in 2010 as the country’s first vegan organic food truck. As word spread, people came far and wide, searching for the red and white truck adorned with butterflies. Business started booming and now The Cinnamon Snail has a brick-and-mortar restaurant directly across the street from Madison Square Garden.

Madison Square GardenWhether this is your first foray into vegan food or you’re a seasoned expert, you can find something that piques your interest. Some highlights include the smoked sage seitan burger, gochujang-glazed crispy seitan, and basil grilled tofu banh mi. That’s just scratching the surface. Make sure to peruse the rest of the menu. And attention baked goods fans! The Cinnamon Snail also makes its own extravagantly flavored donuts, turnovers, and danishes.

New York City is full of museums, and some are more renowned than others. The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA, is one of the more popular ones. MoMA was founded back in 1929 and throughout its history has been integral to developing and collecting modernist art. If you enjoy modern and contemporary art, this place is for you.

Some of the styles of work you can expect to see are drawings, architecture and design, painting, photography, sculptures, prints, films, illustrated books, and even electronic media. Some of the exhibitions are rotated regularly, while others are permanent, able to be appreciated year-round. In addition to artwork, MoMA is a favored site for live performances and events.

Another interesting, yet entirely different museum that’s a big hit with tourists and residents alike is the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. USS Intrepid has quite the storied past. She was commissioned in 1943 and served in World War II and the Vietnam War. She also acted as an antisubmarine carrier in the 1950s and was the recovery ship for the Mercury and Gemini space missions, NASA’s first and second human spaceflight programs. Intrepid was decommissioned for the final time in 1974. Eight years later, she opened up as the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Living out her days at Pier 86 on the Hudson River, this floating fortress is a testament to the United States’ military prowess.

Guests are encouraged to explore every nook and cranny of the USS Intrepid. The museum ship showcases a diverse collection of aircraft like the F-3B Demon, A-12 Blackbird, and Space Shuttle Enterprise. Climb aboard the Submarine Growler where you will discover the control room and attack center, torpedo room, and the mess hall. After touring Growler, it becomes abundantly clear that life as a submariner is not an easy one. Exhibits focused on outer space and the aircraft carrier itself are some other notable focal points.

 

Night

There’s nothing like New York City at night. The nightlife is unparalleled and the lights emanating from the billboards are hypnotic. If you’re spending the whole day in the city, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be hungry by night time, especially if you do a lot of walking. For some of the best Korean barbecue around, try Jong Ro BBQ. Only a few blocks from Madison Square Garden located in Koreatown, Jong Ro BBQ is one of the highest-rated eateries in the neighborhood.

This joint specializes in the succulent, juicy goodness that is Korean barbecue. For the full experience, come with a group, particularly a hungry one. The menu is organized into a “Group Menu A” and a “Group Menu B.” Pick either three or four appetizers from a lengthy list and the main course allows you to select one platter or lets you mix platters. The focus at Jong Ro BBQ is obviously meat, but the kitchen caters to vegetarians and pescatarians as well.

Looking to go big for dinner? Than Niles NYC is exactly what you want. Only steps from Madison Square Garden, there aren’t many restaurants more conveniently located to Madison Square Garden than this place. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the glossy white-on-white décor. It’s bright, catches the eye, and gives the restaurant a sleek appearance.

By the look of it, Niles feels like it’s going to cost you a pretty penny, but that’s not the case. The prices are very comparable to other averagely priced restaurants; the food on the other hand is a notch above. Start off with a warm, hearty lobster bisque or a light orange and beet salad. The cheese plate for two and tuna ceviche are to die for, as are the prosciutto-wrapped poached pear and Caribbean grilled sea scallops. The main entrees will continue to impress with offerings like Chilean sea bass, grilled Angus ribeye steak, grilled rack of lamb, a ruby quinoa vegetable bowl, and more.

There’s a decent chance that your evening plans include attending an event at Madison Square Garden. However, if your event at Madison Square Garden was during the day and you’re looking for an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind attraction, look no further than the Theater District.

It’s fair to say that Broadway is very high up on the list of things New York City is famous for. You can’t miss an opportunity to go see a Broadway show, especially if you don’t get to New York often. Travel to Agrabah and soar through the air while you watch Aladdin, jam out to the killer guitar riffs in School of Rock, or learn the untold story of The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good in the sensational show Wicked. These are only a few examples of the many Broadway shows currently running.

Madison Square GardenPerhaps the most renowned aspect of New York City is Times Square. It’s just a couple blocks from Madison Square Garden. Everybody knows about Times Square, but not everybody knows about just how much there is to do here. Yes, this is the iconic site where skyscrapers are covered with brightly colored billboards, but there’s a lot more to do at Times Square than look up at advertisements.

Do you have someone in your family, or yourself, who’s a huge Disney fan? Stop by the Disney Store. Enter a world of chocolatey goodness at M&M’s World. Hit up the TKTS Discount Booth for tickets to an Off-Broadway show or other events. It’s not surprising to score tickets 20 to 50% off face value. Famous restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood can also be found at Times Square.

With so much to see and do, it’s clear that the old adage “there’s something for everyone” is fitting; not just for Times Square, New York City as a whole.