Hotels near Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Center is a complex of Art Deco towers, plazas and the famous sunken ice rink that comes alive each winter beneath a giant Christmas tree. Its star attraction is Top of the Rock, the observation deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, whose great advantage is that the Empire State Building stands front and centre in the southern view.

Three open-air levels look out over Central Park to the north and the Midtown forest of skyscrapers to the south. The plaza below is worth a wander for the Channel Gardens, the gilded Prometheus statue and the studios of NBC, with the recently added Beam experience for the brave.

Pro Tip: For photographers, Top of the Rock beats the Empire State Building because you can actually photograph the Empire State Building from it. Book a sunset slot well ahead, and arrive early to ride up before the light fades.