Tara Seeliger: Walk all the way to the top of the park where the street just ends and overlooks the river...the best benches to eat lunch on a sunny day.
Chris Pollone: An oasis in the urban jungle. Get a sandwich at Tudor Gourmet or some Halal at XPL food truck and grab some bench. Peaceful.
Gajtana Simonovska: Lovely, hidden gem. If I can't get a seat on a bench on the water across, I'll come here.
3. Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
6.7
Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza (btwn 1st & 2nd Ave), New York, NY
Plaza · Turtle Bay · 25 tips and reviews
IWalked Audio Tours: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is the largest public garden on the east side of Midtown. Check out the Katharine Hepburn Garden (who formerly lived nearby). The garden bench was a gift from her estate.
Gabriela Muñoz: This used to be one of Kurt Vonnegut's favorite places in the city -he lived around the corner on 48th St. He walked his dog Flour here and his widow marked his favorite bench.
Michelle S: Farmers' market on Wednesdays. Apple cider donuts from the rugelach people. Greasy, sugary, amazing.
5. Bluestone Lane
8.3
1120 Avenue of the Americas (at W 43rd St), New York, NY
Coffee Shop · Midtown East · 82 tips and reviews
kate k: Two rows of bench and stool seating, plus the outdoor pavilion seating for warmer months
Danley Hu: Amazing coffee and espresso. This has easily become my favorite coffee spot. Love their Iced Lattes. The almond croissant is a perfect treat. Though, when it gets busy, the staff is a little meh
Timelessnomad: Cold brew, soy milk, almond milk, and delish avocado toast. Nice location on the back of the ICP school. Premade salads and vegan baked goods! What!!!!
6. Pennylane Coffee
7.9
305 E 45th St (at 2nd Ave), New York, NY
Coffee Shop · Turtle Bay · 44 tips and reviews
Jeffrey Sellers: Beautiful, simple design fitting the Midtown East and diplomat crowd well. Seats about 15 between the communal, table, bench & coffee bar. Stumptown coffee served right. Pastries looked good too.
Dana Marie: Say hi to Sung! Try a pour over with the super unique Drop roasters coffee and chill at the communal table in this beautiful east side coffee oasis.
Maria M: Stumptown coffee? Yes please!!! This place might save UN peeps from horrible cafeteria coffee!!
9. The Sea Fire Grill
8.1
158 E 48th St (Lexington And 3rd), New York, NY
Seafood Restaurant · Turtle Bay · 55 tips and reviews
Cristina Dimou: Lobster Mac &cheese my 10yr old loved it. Ny strip great steak. Not a kid restaurant so I called ahead of time for them 2 accommodate. I will have to come back soon.Great dining area roomy a must try
The Wall Street Journal: The jumbo lump crab cake, topped with red pepper coulis, is a perfect first course. Read more.
Aolani Smythe: A plus restaurant! Good food Good service! Thumbs up! Definitely recommend!
Mingster C: Gourmet desserts galore! Cute benches and tables by the escalators if u just want to sit and chat. Payard, Lady M, billys, Luke's lobster, etc
James Williams: Fabulous! I've been twice and really love this place. Great for quick bites or lingering dinners. There is something for everyone. Great service, too.
The New Yorker: “This is a fancy food court, and it fulfills its function with gusto.” Indeed, it’s hard to go wrong with most of the selection, including their “startlingly delicious take on the ubiquitous cupcake.” Read more.
11. Monkey Bar
8.4
60 E 54th St (btwn Madison & Park Ave.), New York, NY
New American Restaurant · Midtown East · 77 tips and reviews
Margaret quigley: Wow. A slow Monday is worth a visit. Lots of great service. Flexibility w/ menu (I asked for 1/2 portin of a dinner SPECIAL. And they said YES. Lovely food as well
Eater: Cocktail maven Julie Reiner revamped the list and the bartenders. As has always been the case, the room is dark, romantic, and old school--a perfect place for fun rendezvous or a business drink.
Bergdorf Goodman: It's a BG New York City Secret! Victoria Beckham loves this uber chic and classic bar. Read more.
12. The Modern
8.3
9 W 53rd St, New York, NY
New American Restaurant · Midtown East · 197 tips and reviews
Anne Stava: Sit on the benches by the entrance and just listen.
Tablet Hotels: The Modern is a lovely spot without any of the pretension that can sometimes plague these types of restaurants. The setting - from the decor to the sculpture garden view, is possibly the best in NYC.
BLOUIN ARTINFO: Begin or end your MoMA trip at this award-winning restaurant, which showcases German artist Thomas Demand. Look closely - the forest is not real but created with 270,000 intricate paper leaves. Read more.
13. Rockefeller Center
9.0
Rockefeller Plaza (btwn W 49th & W 50th St), New York, NY
Plaza · Rockefeller Center · 848 tips and reviews
Peter Videv: Nice new round benches for hanging out!
Jon Morris: Iconic plaza, but can get very packed when the tree is up. Take a trip around the corner and go up to Top of the Rock, they have the best views in the city!
HISTORY: Covering 22 acres, Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings that was built during the 1930s.