In addition to the office space and observatory, a number of restaurants and shops are located at the base of the Empire State Building. Current options include a Starbucks Reserve Restaurant & Bar, Tacombi, State Grill & Bar, Chopt, Chipotle, and Juice Press. AT&T and FedEx Express shops are located on the ground floor as well.
How to Visit the Empire State Building
There’s a variety of ticket options available for the Empire State Building observatory, but regardless of which option you choose, be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time on the building’s website. The 86th-floor open-air observatory, which you’ll likely recognize from movies and TV, is included in all ticket options, while an upgraded ticket will give you access to the 102nd floor observatory as well. Information on the wide range of experience options—which include express passes, all access tours, and more—is available on the ticketing page.
While long queues were once a given on a visit to the Empire State Building, the new exhibition spaces added in 2019 combined with the timed ticket system have reduced wait times drastically. “The millions of visitors who [have] come to the Empire State Building and have not visited since the winter of 2019 are amazed by our completely reimagined experience,” says Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “The $165 million renovation features a new, designated visitor’s entrance, 10,000 square feet of immersive digital and tactile exhibits that celebrate the Empire State Building over time, a redesigned 80th floor with additional exhibits, and a top-to-bottom redo of the 102nd floor observatory.”
Tourists who opt to stop by the 102nd floor will see the entrance to the 103rd floor as well, though it’s reserved for celebrities, athletes, and dignitaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Empire State Building so famous?
For decades, the Empire State Building was first and foremost famous because of its massive size. Especially in the first half of the 20th century, people simply weren’t accustomed to seeing tall structures in the way that we are now, so the building was quite the spectacle from the outside alone. To put things into perspective, before the 1,046-foot-tall Chrysler Building was completed in 1930 (a year prior to the Empire State Building), one would have to travel to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to see a structure over one thousand feet tall. Of course, the Empire State Building’s height also afforded it its impressive views. From the very beginning, its observatory was open to the public, offering the opportunity to glimpse New York far and wide to all.
