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Sunset

Golden Hour at the Empire State

A short, timed walk to catch the sunset glow on the city’s most famous skyline.

Best time: 16:52About 75 min

Timeline

  1. 16:07

    Don's Bogam

    Grab a quick bite of Korean barbecue at Don's Bogam. The generous complimentary side dishes are perfect fuel for the walk ahead.

  2. 16:27

    Madison Square Park

    Walk down to Madison Square Park. It is a short stroll from the restaurant. Find a spot near the edge to look northeast toward the Empire State Building. The park offers clear views of the landmark's upper floors and spire against the afternoon sky.

  3. 16:47

    Empire State Building

    Head up to the 86th-floor observatory of the Empire State Building. Arrive just before the sun dips below the horizon to see the city transform as the golden light fades into twilight.

  4. 17:12

    Ai Fiori

    End the evening at Ai Fiori. This Ligurian restaurant is nearby and offers a quiet, elegant setting for a post-sunset cocktail or dinner to decompress.

Local tip

The observatory can get busy. Check the route and ticket availability in advance. Don's Bogam is open late, but arriving early for your bite ensures you have time to stroll to the park without rushing.

Check before you go

  • Empire State Building hours: Mo-Su 08:00-02:00.
  • Don's Bogam hours: Mo-Su 12:00-24:00.
  • Ai Fiori dinner hours: Sun-Thu 5:30-9:30PM, Fri-Sat 5-10:30PM.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to New York City (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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