Best Bars & Restaurants in Times Square
Blinding. Loud. Maximum NYC.
The world's most famous intersection—blinding lights, Broadway marquees, and organized chaos.
What Makes Times Square One of the Best Neighborhoods in NYC
“40 million tourists a year can't be wrong — but the locals eat elsewhere”
Times Square is the neighborhood every New Yorker loves to hate and every tourist loves to love. The screens are blinding, the costumed characters are unregulated, and everything costs twice what it should. But there's a reason 40 million people come here every year — standing in the middle of it at midnight, surrounded by light and noise and absolute human chaos, is one of the most purely New York experiences there is. Just don't eat here.
Times Square is the place every New Yorker avoids and every visitor has to see at least once. The LED billboards, the costumed characters, the wall-to-wall tourists—it's sensory overload. But here's the thing: the Broadway theaters surrounding it are genuinely world-class, and if you know where to look, there are actual good bars and restaurants hiding in the chaos. Hotel rooftop bars offer views of the neon madness from above. TKTS sells discount same-day Broadway tickets. The energy at midnight on New Year's Eve (or any random Tuesday) is unlike anywhere else on earth. Just don't eat at the Olive Garden.
Seeing a Broadway show and then getting the hell out to eat literally anywhere else
Walk two blocks in ANY direction from the lights. The food gets 10x better and 3x cheaper.
Times Square is known for
Local lingo: “Nobody from New York eats in Times Square. Except maybe the halal carts. Those are legit.”
What to Do in Times Square
Browse by vibe. Every category, personalized to this neighborhood.
Drinks & Nightlife in Times Square
Best bars, cocktail lounges, rooftop bars, dive bars, and late-night drinks in Times Square. Happy hour deals, speakeasies, wine bars, and where the locals actually go after midnight.
Food in Times Square
Best restaurants and places to eat in Times Square. From brunch spots and cheap eats to fine dining, pizza, sushi, and the holes-in-the-wall you won't find on TripAdvisor.
Casual & Social in Times Square
Best coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, and chill hangout spots in Times Square. Great for working remote, catching up with friends, or pretending to read while people-watching.
Live Entertainment in Times Square
Live music, comedy shows, jazz clubs, karaoke bars, and performances in Times Square. Open mics, ticketed events, and the kind of nights that become stories.
Activities & Experiences in Times Square
Fun things to do in Times Square — escape rooms, bowling alleys, art classes, arcades, pop-ups, and interactive experiences that don't involve staring at a menu.
Outdoor & Fresh Air in Times Square
Best outdoor spots, parks, rooftop bars, patios, waterfront walks, and gardens in Times Square. Fresh air, skyline views, and places to actually sit outside without a reservation.
Date Night in Times Square
Best date night spots in Times Square — romantic restaurants, intimate cocktail bars, cozy wine bars, and vibey spots that do the heavy lifting so you don't have to.
Group Hangouts in Times Square
Best places for groups in Times Square — sports bars, beer gardens, karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, and spots that can actually fit your whole crew without a 2-hour wait.
On New Year's Eve 1907, the first ball drop happened at Times Square — it was a 700-pound iron-and-wood ball covered in 100 lightbulbs. The current ball weighs 11,875 pounds and has 2,688 Waterford crystals.
Neighborhoods Near Times Square
Explore what's nearby. Every neighborhood has its own vibe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Times Square
Everything visitors and locals want to know.
What People Say About Times Square
Real feedback from visitors and locals.
We skipped the tourist spots and spent the whole evening in Times Square. Three bars, great food, and the kind of night that just happens when you're in the right neighborhood.
Found an amazing little spot on a side street that we never would have found on Google. Times Square rewards you for wandering — don't plan too hard, just walk around.
We come to Times Square every time we're in the city. The food is consistently great and the vibe is just different from the more touristy neighborhoods. It feels real.
Date night in Times Square was perfect. Cocktails at a low-key bar, dinner at a place we found on Moodap, and a walk through the neighborhood after. Couldn't have planned it better.
Brought the whole group here for a birthday and we had the best time. Bounced between a few spots — no covers, no dress codes, no attitude. Just a solid night.
I used to overlook Times Square but it's quickly become one of my favorite neighborhoods. The restaurants punch way above their weight and it's never as crowded as downtown.
Find your perfect Times Square spot
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