Going to Madison Square Garden with your team is bound to be an unforgettable experience. It’s a truly epic venue in both history and stature, so being there will make you and your team feel like you’re all at the center of the universe. They don’t call Madison Square Garden “The World’s Most Famous Arena” for nothing!
If you’re looking to make your team’s trip to Madison Square Garden even more special, why not make a whole day out if it? Madison Square Garden is centrally located in Midtown Manhattan, so there’s plenty to see, do, and, of course, eat right nearby.
Since you won’t have to worry as much about how to get around, planning your trip should be relatively easy. To make things even easier, we’ve put together this list of our favorite team-friendly attractions and restaurants located within walking distance of Madison Square Garden. Take a look and see if there’s anything in particular that you think might be up everyone’s alley.
Things to Do
Macy’s Herald Square
Chances are everyone on your team has been to a Macy’s before, but have they been to the world’s largest Macy’s? If not, a visit to Macy’s Herald Square is a must while you’re in New York City. It’s located only a couple blocks from Madison Square Garden anyway, so you might as well.
In addition to being the largest Macy’s in existence, Macy’s Herald Square is the company’s flagship store and has been in its current location at 34th Street and Broadway since 1902. It’s also the second-largest department store in the world after all this time, believe it or not.
Given its noteworthy age and size; 1,250,000 square feet, to be exact; there’s a lot more to this Macy’s than just shopping. Highlights of the store include antique wooden escalators that have been in operation for almost 100 years, a variety of dining options, and if you’re in town during the Christmas season, the world-famous window displays. 151 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
OMEscape
If you and your team are up for a challenge, put your problem-solving skills to the test at OMEscape. This immersive, high-tech escape room is one of New York City’s most popular attractions. There are three rooms to choose from OMEscape, each with its own unique theme.
For those unacquainted with the escape room craze that’s been sweeping the nation, the concept is simple: players are locked in a room and must figure out how to escape within a set time limit by finding clues and solving puzzles.
The time limit varies from escape room to escape room, but most have a 60-minute time limit put in place. They’re a little more generous at OMEscape, providing players with an extra 10 minutes. Is 70 minutes enough time for you and your team to break free? Drop by OMEscape to find out! 325 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is, without a doubt, one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks. It’s also located less than a 10-minute walk from Madison Square Garden, so you should at least stop by for some fun group photos either outside or in the building’s ornate, Art Deco-inspired lobby.
If you really want to wow your team though, take them up to the Empire State Building’s two observation decks. There’s one located on the 86th floor and another on the 102nd. From either observation deck you and your team will be able to spot Madison Square Garden and other New York City landmarks like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park.
Aside from being located on different floors, the only difference between these two observation decks is that the one on the 86th floor is open-air and the other is not. So if anyone on your team has a fear of heights, you may want to stick to the observation deck on the 102nd floor instead. 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
Midtown Comics
If your team is obsessed with all things superhero, a shopping spree at Midtown Comics should definitely be in order. This legendary comic book store has been around since 1997 and is located in the bustling heart of Times Square. With two other Manhattan locations as well as an e-commerce website, Midtown Comics is considered to be the largest comic book store in the U.S.
The walk from Madison Square Garden to Midtown Comics should only take about 10 minutes. You’ll know you’ve arrived once you see a black, three-story building with windows covered in pictures of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and the Hulk. Walk inside and you’ll find two floors worth of comic books, collectibles, apparel, and more. 200 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
It’s no secret that New York City is home to some weird attractions, but there are perhaps none weirder than Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. As the largest Ripley’s in North America, this off-kilter museum features a collection of more than 500 rare artifacts, such as a meteor, shrunken heads, antique torture devices, and other oddities.
There’s more to Ripley’s that just that though. They’ve also got fun games like Smash Dash, a two-player game that puts your reflexes to the test, and Ripley’s Relic, an interactive adventure where players must solve a series of intricate puzzles to escape. Your team will love their baseball-themed exhibit, which features everything from Babe Ruth’s uniform to a clump of Ted Williams’s hair. 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
Gulliver’s Gate
Enter a miniature world right in the heart of the Big Apple at Gulliver’s Gate. There you’ll find scaled-down versions of more than 25 cities from five continents. Amidst these shrunken cities you’ll discover interactive features, such as ski lifts, trapeze artists, and drawbridges, which you can set in motion with the turn of a key.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Gulliver’s Gate is their rendition of New York City. It allows you to see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks from an entirely new perspective, including Grand Central Terminal, the 9/11 Memorial, the New York Public Library, and more. To put things in perspective, it took 16 model makers a whopping 358 days to create the New York City exhibit.
At the end of your globe-spanning journey through Gulliver’s Gate, you can step into a full-body scanner and have a miniature version of yourself created by a state-of-the-art 3D printer for an additional cost. Then either take it home to keep as a fun souvenir or have it added to one of their displays for you to look for next time you visit. 216 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Places to Eat
The Pennsy
You don’t have to venture far from Madison Square Garden to find good food. All you and your team have got to do is head to The Pennsy, a high-end, chef-driven food hall conveniently located next to Madison Square Garden and above Penn Station.
Being that The Pennsy is a food hall, there are a variety of options to choose from. The six vendors housed within the 8,000-square-foot space specialize in everything from pizza to sushi. There’s also a bar with a sizeable selection of beers, wines, cocktails, and more.
If there’s anyone in your group who’s in the mood for something sweet, they can experience just how good vegan desserts can be at The Cinnamon Snail. This vendor got their start in 2010 as a food truck feeding hungry folks on the streets of New York City and has since gone on become one of The Pennsy’s most popular purveyors. 2 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10121
Virgil’s Real BBQ
Real-deal barbecue? In New York City? Believe it. Virgil’s Real BBQ is as authentic as it gets. They’ve been bringing a taste of the South to New York City since 1994, with a menu that’s got all the classics.
On the menu at Virgil’s Real BBQ you’ll find barbecued meats like pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and spare ribs along with sandwiches, burgers, salads, sides, and more. They’ve also got a variety of starters too, including can’t-miss crispy hush puppies served with maple syrup butter.
Getting to Virgil’s from Madison Square Garden should only take a little over 10 minutes, but since it’s located in the heart of Times Square, you could also stop by after visiting attractions like Ripley’s or Gulliver’s Gate. 152 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
The Meatball Shop
It’s no secret that kids love meatballs, so a meal at The Meatball Shop is sure to please everyone on your team. As you can tell by their matter-of-fact name, meatballs are what they specialize in at The Meatball Shop. These aren’t just your everyday, run-of-the-mill meatballs however. They make them out of everything from spicy heritage pork to succulent Maine lobster.
You can order your meatballs “naked,” with Parmesan, focaccia, and your choice of sauce, or make it a bowl for a few dollars extra. Bowls come with your choice of one, two, or three sides, such as spaghetti, roasted broccoli, and mashed potatoes with butter and chives.
The Meatball Shop’s menu also features starters, salads, and sandwiches. They’ve also have a handful of dishes called Baller Plates, which are a great option for those who don’t want to worry about coming up with a custom meatball and side combo. 200 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Junior’s
Junior’s has been an Empire State institution since the 1950s. Cheesecake is their claim to fame, so don’t even think about going there and not having a slice. One bite is all it will take for your taste buds to fall in love. Their cheesecakes come in a variety of flavors, ranging from strawberry to Brownie Explosion, but purists will probably tell you to stick with the plain one.
Cheesecake isn’t the only thing worth having at Junior’s however. Their menu features all sorts of deli standards, such as sandwiches piled high with meats like corned beef and pastrami, matzo ball soup, and potato pancakes. They’ve also got plenty of kid-friendly favorites, including burgers, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta, and more. 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10019
It’s clear that you don’t have to venture far from Madison Square Garden in order to visit some of the best attractions and restaurants New York City has to offer. You can’t get much more centrally located than Midtown Manhattan. After all, the venue is just steps from Macy’s Herald Square and the Empire State Building, two of the city’s most famous landmarks.
That being said, don’t feel bad if you and your team don’t get to visit every stop on your list. If anything that just means you’ll have an excuse to come back to New York City again sooner rather than later.