SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
An immersive observation deck that opened in 2021. Its 93rd-floor mirrored rooms and suspended glass box turn the Manhattan skyline into a kaleidoscope. It sits right beside Grand Central.
Summit occupies the top floors (91 to 93, about 330 meters up) of One Vanderbilt, a skyscraper completed in 2020 next to Grand Central Terminal, making it New York's newest and most design-driven observation deck. The experience unfolds in several areas. Air is a three-level mirrored space created by artist Kenzo Digital, with mirrors covering the ceiling, floor and all four walls. The Empire State Building and Chrysler Building repeat endlessly in the reflections, making it the most-shared scene on social media. Because the floor is mirrored, skirts are not recommended. Levitation is a fully transparent glass box suspended about 328 meters above the street, with views down Madison Avenue. Ascent is a glass elevator that climbs the outside of the building and costs extra. The top-floor Après terrace bar lets you enjoy a cocktail with a panoramic view of the Empire State Building, close enough to nearly touch. It is also the only high-rise vantage point in New York from which you can look level at the top of the Empire State Building. Adult tickets start at about 45 to 60 dollars, and Ascent adds about 80 dollars. Book time slots online. Slots 1 to 2 hours before sunset are the most popular and should be reserved more than a week ahead. Nearby, you can combine a visit with Grand Central Terminal, a Beaux-Arts railway station completed in 1913, where the ceiling constellation mural and the Whispering Gallery are worth seeing and entry is free. Add the Chrysler Building, the New York Public Library and Bryant Park for a half-day midtown itinerary. Getting there: take the 4, 5, 6, 7 or S subway to Grand Central-42 St. The entrance is on Vanderbilt Avenue at 42nd Street. Before entering, you must put on shoe covers to protect the mirrors, and families with children should watch for the glare off the mirrored floor. Those afraid of heights should skip Levitation. Tripods are not allowed.
Opening hours
09:00–24:00 (last entry 22:30; may close early on Tue and Wed)
Nearby sights
- Grand Central Terminal
- New York Public Library Main Branch
- Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Empire State Building
- Museum of Modern Art
- Times Square / Broadway
- United Nations Headquarters