Columbus Circle
Columbus Circle is one of New York’s newest retail, dining and cultural hubs. Completed in 1905, it forms southwest corner of the Central Park, where Eighth Avenue, Broadway, and 59th street connect. Here’s a guide for what to do in Columbus Circle.
Its focal point is a marble statue of Christopher Columbus, surrounded by an ethereal fountain from the same designers behind the iconic waterworks at Las Vegas’s Bellagio resort.
Things to see at Columbus Circle mainly reside in the towering glass buildings of Time Warner Center, where the Shops at Columbus Circle draw visitors and locals alike. The whole center, has become an enclave of luxury shopping and high-end bars and restaurants. Spend the afternoon perusing fashion-forward shops like Hugo Boss, Ted Baker London and Michael Kors. Then dine at one of Manhattan’s Michelin three-starred restaurants overlooking the city lights below.
At Thomas Keller’s Per Se, sample the chef’s tasting menu of seasonal specialties like Maine uni with squash and Hudson Valley foie gras with chocolate sauce. If your schedule doesn’t permit that much time, coffee and bread at Bouchon Bakery are just as satisfying. At Masa, chef Masa Takayama brings his premier Japanese shibui dining experience to New York City, where no menu and no choice is offered – guests simply sit back and enjoy the show.
Later you can enjoy Columbus Circle’s nightlife at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Try Dizzy’s, where up and coming jazz artists perform almost every night. Then finish the evening at chic, art deco-inspired Ascent lounge with a premium cocktail and stellar views of the city that never sleeps.
New to Columbus Circle is TurnStyle, an underground food hall and luxury shopping complex connected to the 59th Street subway station. Stop here for sweets from Dylan’s Candy Bar and more retail therapy before entering the station.
For more information, see the Shops at Columbus Circle website.
