You may know Midtown Manhattan as a shopping and tourist hub, or even for its concentration of towering office buildings. But once the sun sets over the Hudson River to Midtown’s west, and the Broadway theater marquees light up, a whole other world emerges from the darkness. Whether you’re looking for after-dinner entertainment, or other kinds of nightlife in Midtown NYC, the area is one of the city’s most vibrant late-night destinations. Read on to enter this world of hidden speakeasies, after-dark eateries, and entertainment venues that cater to both locals and visitors seeking authentic Midtown Manhattan nightlife.
Hidden Bars & Secret Speakeasies
Madame George
Tucked away near Rockefeller Center, this hidden cocktail bar features live jazz and serves creative cocktails in a basement location on West 45th Street. The plush interiors feel super intimate, and the beverage menu will take you on a tour of NYC drinks through the ages. Madame George is open Tuesday–Saturday, 5pm til late, with a happy hour menu available from 5pm–7pm.
The Boardroom
Located in Midtown, tucked away within the modern food hall, The Hugh, this upscale speakeasy offers vintage cocktails and small bites in a sophisticated setting dotted with vintage black-and-white photographs. The sophisticated atmosphere makes it ideal for business meetings that flow over into the night. The Boardroom is open from 4pm–12am Monday–Thursday, and from 4pm–1am Friday and Saturday.
Wildcard
This Japanese-inspired cocktail bar occupies the second floor of a Midtown townhouse, featuring seasonal handcrafted cocktails with small-batch spirits and an extensive Japanese whiskey and sake menu. The Meiji Restoration-era décor creates a stylish escape from the bustling streets below. Wildcard is open from 6pm Tuesday–Thursday, and from 6pm–2am Friday and Saturday.
Nothing Really Matters
Part of the late-night scene in Midtown West, this lively spot offers bold, creative cocktails in a subterranean location accessed via a subway entrance at the corner of 50th Street and Broadway. The bar humbly calls itself “the greatest cocktail bar in the universe,” which seems like reason enough to check it out. Nothing Really Matters is open from 4pm–2am Monday–Saturday and from 4pm–midnight on Sunday.
ART Midtown
Most speakeasies are found underground, but at Arlo Midtown, you can enjoy late-night cocktails on the 26th floor. ART Midtown offers creative cocktails and other beverages, along with upscale bites and sweeping views of the NYC skyline. The rooftop bar is open from 4pm–11pm Sunday–Thursday, and from 4pm–12am Friday and Saturday.
Late-Night Dining
Rudy’s Bar & Grill
If you can call a free hot dog dinner, then Rudy’s Bar & Grill has you covered. The no-frills dive bar serving complimentary hot dogs with any purchase has been a neighborhood staple in Hell’s Kitchen since 1933.
La Grand Boucherie NYC
This little taste of Paris in Midtown serves French classics in a sprawling, Art Nouveau space along the Avenue of the Americas. The brasserie offers outdoor seating year-round (don’t worry, there’s a heated floor), and is open until 12am every day of the week.
Valerie
This sleek cocktail bar with elevated bites is conveniently located on West 45th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The modern American menu features classics like burgers and chilled seafood, and the kitchen is open until 11:30pm seven days a week. If you’re lingering over a craft cocktail or another beverage, the bar stays open until 12am on Sunday and Monday, and until 2am Tuesday–Saturday.
Korean BBQ Joints
Point your compass to 32nd Street so you can enjoy the 24-hour dining experiences of Koreatown. The area is packed with late-night dining options featuring tabletop grilling and endless banchan to keep your group happy.
Food Trucks and Street Carts
The Midtown area has many food trucks and street carts that service the throngs of office-goers who work in the neighborhood. The good news is, some of them stay open long past clock-off time to deliver quick, delicious street food dishes late at night. Just be ready to find a nearby bench or eat your food truck delights standing up.
Late-Night Entertainment
The Theater District doesn’t shut down when the curtain falls. Many venues transform into late-night hangouts where Broadway performers and theater fans gather after shows. You never know, your favorite cast members might just drop in for impromptu performances.
Don’t Tell Mama
For more than 40 years, this piano bar has been drawing crowds as well as Broadway luminaries. Don’t Tell Mama also features a restaurant and two cabaret showrooms. The restaurant is open until 11pm Sunday–Thursday, and until 12am on Friday and Saturday. But night owls can post up at the piano bar with cocktail music until 9pm and singing waiters/bar staff serenading the crowd until 2:30am. There’s also an open mic, if you’re feeling brave or simply love the spotlight.
So & So’s Neighborhood Piano Bar
Located in Hell’s Kitchen on 52nd Street (look for the blue door), So & So’s prides itself on delivering a night of high-low. Guests here enjoy nightly live entertainment, as well as a supper club-style menu for late-night eats, and a bar that feels like a dive in the nicest possible way. The bar is open from 5pm–12am Tuesday–Saturday, with live entertainment kicking off at 7pm on Wednesdays, and 8pm all other nights.
Comedy Village
Located on West 44th Street, Comedy Village is a well-regarded seven-nights-a-week comedy club in Times Square. Featured comics take the stage at different times, but you’ll often find shows here starting at 10pm, making it a great option for late-night entertainment in Midtown.
Broadway Comedy Club
Another live comedy venue in Midtown to add to your list, Broadway Comedy Club features a lineup of talent of all levels, with shows at times like 8pm, 9pm, and 11pm. You can also catch the hopeful next wave of comics at the regular Industry Room Audition Night.
Your Late-Night HQ
If your late-night-in-Midtown itinerary is getting jammed, and you decide to stay up later than usual, you may need a friendly place to get some rest. With its convenient location on West 38th Street, Arlo Midtown is a great home base for your night on the town. Your stylish room at the hotel will provide all the little things that make travel easy, and checkout isn’t until 12 noon, so you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on the sleep you didn’t get while exploring Midtown’s best late-night spots.
