New York at Night – The Best of the City That Never Sleeps

5 Best Things To Do in New York at Night

Enjoying New York at night doesn’t mean you have to dive into the clubbing scene (though by all means, do if that’s your vibe!) There’s plenty to do at night in New York, from sunsets and seeing the city light up, to dining out and cocktails. Here are my top five things to do in New York at night:

Watch Sunset in New York

New York City has to be the most iconic city in the world to watch the sunset. When you’re in New York, you’ll want to check what time sunset is and decide a location to watch from. If you leave your sunset spot unplanned, it’s quite likely you’ll find yourself caught up in the streets of NYC where the sunset is often blocked out by skyscrapers. 

My favourite spot for watching the sunset in New York was by Brooklyn Bridge. Not only do you have gorgeous views of Brooklyn Bridge, but because you’re across the water from Manhattan, you get those iconic views of New York City at night. The best spot is down on Pebble Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park to the right side of Brooklyn Bridge as you face the city. There’s a shingle beach and a row of stone seating. 

The sunset views of NYC from here are magical. You can see the city across the water, lights starting to flicker on. Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge are on either side, and Jane’s Carousel, a restored carousel from 1922, emits a golden glow at night. After sunset, you can take a ferry across the water from Dumbo in Brooklyn to Manhattan for just $2.75. I highly recommend taking the ferry back as it’s an amazing experience to be on the water ‘under’ the city lights.

Go Up the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock

The New York skyline at night has to be seen from the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. Whilst we know many people take a trip up both buildings, they are expensive to visit. We visited just the Empire State Building and loved it. However, many people prefer to visit the observation deck at Top of the Rock because from there you have views of the Empire State. Personally, I think there’s something ‘cool’ about having been to the top of the Empire State.

The best time to visit the Empire State Building is around 30-45 minutes before sunset. This ensures you’ll have enough time to catch the gorgeous light of golden hour (just before sunset and the best time to take photographs), the sunset itself and the city by night. The Empire State Building does have some museum-style information and indoor photo spots, so factor in time enough to see these ahead of golden hour.

The Empire State Building also has an indoor observation platform. You’ll take the lift automatically to the inside floor, but don’t spend too long here as the room is closed in and the windows are scratched and smeared, so the photos from here don’t look great. Instead, crack straight through and up to the open air 86th floor for the breathtaking experience of seeing NYC at night.

Visiting multiple attractions in New York? Get yourself a New York CityPASS and save 40% when visiting 5 NYC attractions. We visited the Empire State Building with our New York CityPASS, which gives access to the 86th Floor Observatory admission and entry to the 2nd Floor Museum. If you want to visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck as well, this is also included in the New York CityPASS (though we chose to visit the Guggenheim Gallery instead). 

Stay Late in New York’s Museums and Galleries

Weather not so good? Many of NYC’s museums and galleries open late into the evenings, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Check the opening times and days before you go, as New York’s museums and galleries are closed on different days of the week. Some of the best museums and galleries for night owls include:

• The Metropolitan Art Museum is open until 9PM on Friday and Saturday nights
• The Guggenheim Art Gallery is open until 6PM most days and until 8PM on Saturdays
• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is open until 7PM on Saturdays
• The International Center of Photography Museum is open until 7PM most days and until 9PM on Thursdays

Bonus Tip! The Metropolitan Art Museum ticket includes same day entry to the Met Cloisters. The Cloisters are highly worth visiting, but they close at 5PM and are not located next to the Met Museum. It’s a 45-60 minute journey between the Met Cloisters and the Met Museum. If you plan to do both (and I’d recommend you do!) you’ll need to plan your time accordingly.

Catch a Broadway Show

One of the best ways to experience New York at night is by heading over to see a Broadway show. Most of the theatres are located around New York’s Times Square which is a spectacular experience to see at night with the high rise billboards and bright lights. 

Classic Broadway shows include Chicago, Moulin Rouge, and The Phantom of the Opera. We went to see Hadestown, a modern telling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which felt hugely relevant to the current day. We thought the show was fantastic. 

Important Note! Broadway tickets can be bought online and I’d recommend buying in advance as seats sell out and the tickets we saw for sale on the day were even higher priced for the most-part. Broadway shows also start bang on time – if your ticket is for a 7PM show, it will start at 7PM. That means you should arrive at least 20 minutes in advance of the show’s start so you have time to collect your tickets and get to your seats.

Drink Cocktails

What’s a night out in NYC without a few cocktails? New York City is full of cracking cocktails bars – some requiring reservations and others allowing for walk-ins. 

The Ragtrader & Bo Peep Cocktail and Highball Store – We booked a table at The Ragtrader, but were able to walk-in later on after missing our slot. This cocktail bar is perfectly located just two blocks from the Empire State Building, making it an ideal spot to tag onto the end of a nighttime trip up to the top. The Ragtrader bar is located inside what was once an old garment factory with decor including fashion art prints and bunting made from rags. Make sure you get a seat inside where the ambiance is great. When it comes to cocktails, definitely order yourself an El Guapo – a sour cocktail with tequila, fresh cucumber, lime and agave syrup.

The Tippler – Located in the international foodie scene of Chelsea Market, The Tippler is an underground cavern beneath the market with creative cocktails and DJ nights. The bar is open until midnight on weeknights and until 1AM on Friday and Saturday nights, making it perfect for those wanting to stay out late in New York. Not to mention that Chelsea Market is open late, so make sure to jump inside for late night tacos at Los Tacos No. 1 (the best tacos in NYC).

Is New York Safe at Night?

New York is safe at night for tourists, and the city has relatively low crime rates. New York is actually considered to be one of the safest cities in the world, though as with all cities you should still exercise caution.

Most crime within New York takes place in Harlem, the Bronx and other boroughs that are unlikely to be visited by most tourists. However, even in the city it’s still important to be aware of pickpockets and keep your wallet in a secure place (not in your back pocket!) It’s also wise not to leave valuables unattended or to walk around with your camera hanging round your neck at night.

Much of New York is still buzzing and busy at night, but some areas are empty at night and it’s best to also avoid those quieter areas at night. Central Park is closed at night, and most incidents of crime in the park happen at night. New York’s financial district is also often deserted by night, making it less safe by night.

We found New Yorkers to be extremely friendly and always happy to help with directions. Before you head out at night, plan your route and know where you’re going to avoid ending up in quieter areas of the city and make sure to stick to well-lit areas that are busy by night.