Empire State Building
The 1931 Art Deco skyscraper whose 86th floor open-air deck remains the classic New York observation experience.
Example
The 86th floor deck is open air with the wind included, and the trade off is that the skyline you photograph cannot contain the building you are standing on.
Related terms
Landmarks
Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center's observation decks, prized for the head-on view of the Empire State Building and Central Park.
Landmarks
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The mirrored observation experience atop One Vanderbilt by Grand Central, part art installation, part skyline deck.
Restaurants
Keens Steakhouse
An 1885 Midtown chophouse famous for its legendary mutton chop and 45,000 antique churchwarden pipes on the ceilings.
Landmarks
Statue of Liberty
The 1886 copper colossus on Liberty Island, reachable only by the official Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery...
Pages that mention this term
- King Kong at the Empire State Building: What the Deck Really Shows
- Empire State Building: why the 86th floor beats the 102nd
- Top of the Rock: the Empire State Building photo is the whole point
- Edge at Hudson Yards: is the west side view worth the wind?
- A cruise around Manhattan: why the full loop wins on day one
- New York Travel Guide 2026: What to See, Costs and 3-Day Plan
- An Affair to Remember, With the Empire State as the Backdrop: Top of the Rock Proposals
- The 'Inception' Effect at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: Inside the Mirror Room That Owns the Feed
- Grand Central’s Whispering Gallery: Two Century-Old Quirks in a 20-Minute Visit
- Spider-Man's Manhattan: A Walkable Map of the Real Film Locations and Composite Shots
Frequently asked questions
Empire State or Top of the Rock?
Top of the Rock to photograph the Empire State in your skyline, Empire State for the open-air Deco classic and the movie history. Romantics pick the Empire State.
When should I go up?
Either the first morning slot or after 10 pm. Both dodge the lines, and the late-night city lights are the underrated version.
Is a late night visit worth it?
Yes. The building runs to well after midnight, crowds thin considerably and the city lights version of the view is the one most visitors never see.
