SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: the mirrored deck above Grand Central
SUMMIT is the observation deck at the top of One Vanderbilt, a tower that opened beside Grand Central Terminal in 2020. It is as much a walk-in work of art as a viewing platform, and it stands on top of a building worth an hour itself.
- What it is
- Monument
- Time to allow
- 2 to 2.5 hours
- Cost
- Ticket, station free
- Best time
- Late afternoon, into dusk
New York this week
Why SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is worth it
One Vanderbilt is 427 metres high to the tip of its spire, the fourth tallest building in the city. SUMMIT opened on its top floors on 21 October 2021. The main rooms, designed by the artist Kenzo Digital and called Air, are lined with mirror on the floor, the ceiling and the columns, and walled in glass, so that the city outside is repeated above and below you without end.
From here the Chrysler Building is two blocks away and almost level with you, close enough to count the eagles on its corners. The Empire State Building stands to the south, and Central Park shows to the north between the towers.
The way in is through Grand Central Terminal, which opened in 1913 and nearly went the way of the old Pennsylvania Station before the city saved it. It has forty-four platforms, more than any other station in the world, and a main concourse that is one of the great rooms of New York.
What to see
Air
Two floors of mirror and glass. On a clear day the sky is under your feet. At dusk the rooms turn gold, then fill with the lights of the city.
Levitation
Glass boxes that stick out from the side of the tower, with a clear floor and Madison Avenue more than three hundred metres straight down.
The terrace and Ascent
An open-air terrace on the top level, with a bar. From it a glass lift on the outside of the building climbs to about 370 metres: it is an extra.
The Main Concourse of Grand Central
A hall the size of a cathedral, under a blue-green ceiling painted with the constellations in gold. The brass clock with four faces on the information booth is where New Yorkers meet.
The Whispering Gallery
Outside the Oyster Bar on the lower level, a low tiled vault. Stand facing one corner and whisper: a person in the opposite corner hears every word.
How to do it well
- The floors are mirrors. Wear trousers or shorts, and flat shoes: thin heels are not allowed on the glass.
- Bring sunglasses on a bright day. The light inside is fierce, and the staff hand out shoe covers to protect the floor.
- Sunset slots cost more and sell out. An entry about an hour before sunset gives you day, dusk and night.
- The way in is from the main concourse of Grand Central, through the passage to One Vanderbilt. See the station first.
- People uneasy with heights find this harder than the other decks. The open-air decks of the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock have walls you can lean on.
Where it is
Address
45 East 42nd Street, beside Grand Central Terminal
Nearest station
Grand Central-42nd Street (4, 5, 6, 7, S), under the building
Museums and sights nearby
- Empire State Building750 m
- The Museum of Modern Art1.0 km
- The High Line2.3 km
- Central Park2.4 km
Distances are in a straight line.
Tickets and tours: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and Grand Central
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and Grand Central: common questions
- What should you wear to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt?
- Trousers or shorts, because the floors are mirrors, and flat shoes, because thin heels are not allowed on the glass. Sunglasses help on a bright day.
- Is Grand Central Terminal free to visit?
- Yes. It is a working railway station and anyone can walk in. The Main Concourse, the ceiling, the clock and the Whispering Gallery cost nothing. Only the guided tours are charged for.
- How long does SUMMIT One Vanderbilt take?
- About an hour and a half. There is no limit once you are in, and people stay longer at sunset.
- How much time do you need for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt?
- Allow 2 to 2.5 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.
What visitors say about SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Rating from Google
Things to do near SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.
- 8See the skyline from Top of the Rock750 m awayMonument, 1 to 1.5 hours, ticket
- 3Go up the Empire State Building750 m awayMonument, 1.5 to 2 hours, ticket
- 9See a Broadway show800 m awayShow, 2.5 to 3.5 hours, square free, ticket for a show
- 6Stand in front of The Starry Night at MoMA1.0 km awayMuseum, 2 to 3 hours, ticket
Artists to see near SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The museums nearest to here, and the most famous artists on show in each.
The Museum of Modern Art, 1.0 km away
Whitney Museum of American Art, 2.9 km away
Where to eat near SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in New York. Distances are in a straight line.
- Grand Central Oyster Bar4.2Oyster bar, Inside Grand Central Terminal100 m away
- Keens Steakhouse4.6Steakhouse, Herald Square700 m away
- Sardi's4.3Theatre restaurant, Theater District950 m away
- The Modern4.6Museum restaurant, Inside the Museum of Modern Art950 m away
Hotels near SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in New York. Distances are in a straight line.
- The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue4.6Five-star hotel, Fifth Avenue at 36th Street500 m away
- Waldorf Astoria New York4.4Five-star hotel, Park Avenue600 m away
- Lotte New York Palace4.4Five-star hotel, Madison Avenue at 50th Street650 m away
- Baccarat Hotel New York4.6Five-star hotel, West 53rd Street, opposite MoMA900 m away