Saturday night, Grand Central Station, no luggage, no ticket, an empty stomach. Oh no, your worst travel nightmare has not come to fruition; rather, a posh night on the town is just beginning in one of Manhattan’s oldest and grandest settings. It is easy to become weary of travel centers, namely because we usually associate airports and train stations with hard chairs, stress, and cold linoleum. A re-examination of the iconic Grand Central Station in NYC, however, reveals more than an architectural gem: the culinary world within its marble walls thrives.

The lounge and restaurant Cipriani Dolci is a unique and chic way to enjoy the energy of departures and arrivals while above the fray. Perched alongside the marble railing atop a terrace-like dining room overlooking the main floor of the building, the location manages to be classical and trendy simultaneously. Hundreds of tourists and commuters form a frenzied cluster directly below, and yet it seems that diners and drinkers are in their own world of secluded tranquility. Enormous ornate chandelier fixtures surround the atrium. Design by Arturo di Modica, who sculpted the Wall Street Bull, and overhead stenciled astrological heroes gracing the ceiling add a magical touch to the whole experience. More importantly, the food is Venetian to perfection, and yes, you would like to see the dessert menu.

Across the room (which is more like the size of a stadium) is the ultra trendy Metrazur. For a slightly younger, more modern fix, this restaurant and lounge will certainly ease travel woes. Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. also holds court in the station. So, whether you’re coming from 86th Street or London, tourist or native New Yorker, impeccable food in truly matchless surroundings is well worth the hustle and bustle.

Grand Central Station
87 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
GrandCentralTerminal.com