The view at the 360 observatory. The cauliflower and the chicken dishes were yummy! The staff was friendly and patient. read more

One World Observatory - Uptown Martini - Observatories Near Me - New York, New York

Impressive. Expensive. My first trip to Manhattan so this was a definite "must do" for me. There was no line so we walked right in, bought tickets, and were on the elevator within minutes. Likely due to the weather - it had just started snowing (the first time in two years) when we entered the building. We each paid $55 plus tax ($125 for two of us). The light boards and information marquees walking to the elevators was very interesting and well done. The elevator is amazing! 23 mph!! To the top in 47 seconds. It was fascinating to see (depicted on the walls of the elevator as you go up) how the area has changed through the years. The short movie at the top, prior to walking to the observatory was also interesting. The observatory itself is large and we did not feel cramped or rushed in anyway. Stay as long as you like. The view wasn't amazing - simply because of the weather - but it was still incredible. Seeing Ground Zero from the top, and remember 9/11 was an incredibly emotional experience for me. read more

See all

This is a must when visiting! The grounds are beautiful and the building itself is amazing. We bought our tickets online and on the day of our visit everything went smoothly and quick. We purchased night tickets and on this particular day, it was very cloudy and it had been sprinkling throughout the day. It was our last night there so we still chose to visit. We walked on over, checked in, and went through security. They nicely let us know we might not be able to see anything due to the cloud coverage but we said it was ok. We made it on up with another couple and it was nice and quiet at the top. It was fairly empty and it looked like they were starting to close up for the evening. The clouds miraculously disappeared and we were able to see the entire city skyline. We were in AWE and the view was breathtaking. Seeing all the different lights, traffic, buildings, and boats at night was one of the prettiest sights ever. We were up there about 40 minutes and then we head back down. The view from the night is so much different then the day. Both I feel like are unique in their own way and beautiful. This observatory was beautiful, nicely kept, clean, and modern. I will be back! read more

Not sure why the One World Trade Center and One World Trade Center observatory are listed separately, but the reviews are essentially the same. Disclaimer: I never wanted to visit this spot because it's ultra touristy and I perceived it to be overrated, however my friend wanted to visit the "tallest building," and this is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere (number 7 in the world I think). I purchased the most expensive package, the VIP tour. For two tickets, this cost over 166 dollars. This included a 15 dollar credit for merchandise or food for each patron, as well as priority entry. The priority entry was great, and honestly the main reason I chose this option. I don't like waiting in lines. The rest was a total bust. Our guide, I will omit their name, was a very nice person. But they talked too much and too fast and the tour contained way too much technical information. For over an hour, the guide droned on about various buildings and businesses, and there was very little room for banter or questions. I feel like these guides must be on a timeline and have a specific script they are supposed to stick to. My companion asked why I didn't ask the guide to stop talking. What was I supposed to do? At the end, I really wondered if I should have just said, "We appreciate you, but I only purchased the VIP pass for skip the line access, and also thought it would be more than just naming random buildings at high speed." My friend was blown away by the views, but it was dampened by the blabbering guide. She was exhausted to the point I had to take her back to the hotel to take a nap. Me personally, I prefer the Empire State Building. Not as high up, but can't beat the 1920s decor, Art Deco fixtures, and the fanfare. Our tour was so early that we couldn't capitalize on the nicer restaurant (though the pickings were slim there too). We didn't want to wait in line at the overpriced grab and go cafe. We didn't want "swag" from the store. So the 15 dollar credit was a joke and a waste. I can appreciate what One World Trade Center and the observatory represents. It was well planned and is a beautiful building. But this is very touristy, with long lines. And the VIP tour is a waste of money when you look at value. I literally only did this for my friend, and even she was bummed at the overall experience. I tried to tell her, but sometimes you have to learn on your own . . . read more

One World Observatory - Observatories Near Me - New York, New York

See all

We ate at One Dine for the first time last weekend, and we will definitely be back. We had the pleasure of being served by Nicole during our anniversary dinner, and she was truly exceptional. From the moment we sat down, she offered thoughtful recommendations that perfectly matched what we were looking for. She went out of her way to add special touches that made our dinner feel personal and memorable, and her timing throughout the evening was flawless. Nicole was consistently attentive and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. She elevated our entire dining experience, and we left feeling genuinely cared for. Nicole is a standout professional, and we can't recommend her highly enough. She told us she's been there for 10 years, and her skills definitely showed that. Nicole truly elevated our experience. If you're lucky enough to have her as your server, you're in great hands. read more

See all

I would give it 4.5 stars not 4 but that's not an option. I purchased a 1 day pass with the guided tour. Overall, it was a great experience. The view is amazing. Going up on the elevator felt like going up on a roller coaster because it was so high. The staff in the observatory were fair. Not overly helpful but not rude. The guided portion of the tour ended up being just an iPad that would tell you where things are. Looking back, I would have opted out of this portion of the experience and stuck to the basic ticket. read more

See all

A fantastic experience and views - as long as you're not afraid of heights! We combined the tour with dinner and were treated to an amazing meal and sunset. Seeing the city in lights at night completed the experience. read more

See all

The views are amazing!! But I'm here to talk about the drinks at the restaurant bar! I'll start by saying they are $23 but were some of the best cocktails I've had and they packed a punch. I only needed one. The New World old fashion was amazing. I came for the yoga event and stayed for the drinks. SN: Up Up and Away Yoga was so great. read more

See all

How can you love a place that shouldn't exists. Kind of a weird paradigm. I wish there wasn't a One World, because we should have two towers ... but there aren't, so here we are with a place I shouldn't love because of the deaths that made it happen. Now that that's outta the way ... the views are cool. You can see everything! They try and up sell you on a tablet to know what's what in the city, but you can do that in your phone with maps. So skip it IMO. The 102 floor reveal is short, so take your pictures asap as they shuffle you down to 100 quickly. We got lucky and are in NYC during "off" season - no school breaks. Out time and day we're not crowded (even for a weekend). We got to look out of every window and could get close pictures of us and the skylines. We didn't buy the more expensive package but I can see the appeal of priority lines if it's a busy day. Priority lines work for going up and going down. read more

See all

The One World Observatory offers gorgeous views of the City. Given the lines, we expected that it would be packed - but we were relieved to find that there was plenty of space to maneuver. The staff did a really nice job of crowd management. To my daughter's delight, they had one of those machines that converts a penny into a printed penny, so bring a shiny penny and some extra coins for that. Below deck is also worth a visit. The oculus is stunningly beautiful and very insta-worthy if you're into that. There is also a Jamba Juice there if you need a smoothie. read more

See all

I loved the elevator ride that takes you to the top and shows you the his of NYC in just 60 second. The views were amazing and they gave us an iPad to identify what we are seeing. It has 3 floors of observation deck floors 102-100. read more

I went to most NYC observations. One World Observatory is one of my favorites. I was a bit skeptical about it is not open space on the roof like another place but actually it is better for late fall or winter because no wind and cold. You can walk around 360 degrees in control temperature. The view is also different then another building because it is almost at the bottom of Manhattan so you can see New York Bay, statue of liberty, both rivers, Brooklyn, NJ and midtown. If you buy a family pack ticket (4 or more) it is cheaper. A big group 10 or more even cheaper! I'm glad I checked the deal before buying the ticket. read more

See all

I only write bad reviews if I feel it is my civic duty to do so. This place is a straight money grab, tourist trap, etc. They draw you in with cool screens and graphics like "x amount of people have been here from Uzbekistan" or some other country. Fine, that was cool. But let me get into it: It's $50 to even get in the door and you BARELY get to see any views. First you wait in a long line to take the elevator up. There is a cool graphic in the elevator as it is all LED screens. However, the elevator opens and there is no view. Interesting. Then they guide you to another rooms, still no view. They begin to show a full video hyping up NYC and how great it is. At this point my friend and I are thinking "Okay, we already paid and just want to see a view. What are they trying to sell us on." After about a 2 minute video, what we thought was a wall lifts up and reveals a breathtaking view. Right as you are taking it in and beginning to think "wow this is so worth it" the screen comes flying down to block the view again. No word of a lie, you probably get 3 seconds of the view before the screen comes back down. Then, the usher you to the next room where there is light, so we are finally going to be able to see a view, right? Wrong. They have these little white, barely transparent tarps covering any meaningful view. Then, before you can pass you must talk to someone with a little ipad thingy who is trying to sell you an upgraded package. Upgraded package???????? I haven't even seen anything yet........ After we dodged this money grab, still seeing no view, you are required to cross a whole picture station of a green screen background. Everyone is waiting in line and I ask "what if we don't want a picture...." ... "Oh then go right on by!" I was infuriated by this point. After crossing the 7 seas, finally we get to see a view that was pretty cool, but not even CLOSE to being worth it. Go to the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock if you want a good lookout point for the city. read more

See all

Located in the financial district, this became sensation and an alternate to the empire state views. This is a little expensive, but we'll organize cleaner space and less crowded, but on a clear day, you get mesmerizing views. There are kiosks to purchase the tickets, and they have packages, but we took the basic package, which should be good enough. The staff is friendly and explained the entire process. The elevator ride was nice. My friends visited with me from the UK and didn't like this place, but i felt much better compared to Empire State on views perspective. We watched sunset and it was beautiful. So plan accordingly you can watch sunseet and then lights of newyork city. There are restrooms at both the ticket level and observatory level. There is a store in the observatory level to purchase souvenirs,travel needs, etc. This is one of the most beautiful places, and must visit areas if you like the entire view of New York. read more

See all

They let us in late after standing in the cold. People were mad and verbal about it. People rushed the line once we got in getting thru security. The company's layout is VERY unorganized w/ admissions. People were very confused on which way to go due to lack of direction and signage. Getting out was also a nightmare. People crammed in a line to zigzag in hopes to get on a packed elevator to exit. Beautiful views once up there if you can get passed people making out in the window seals. Not sure I'd go back. Spend the extra $$ for express entering and exiting. However....once in it was a.m.a.z.i.n.g read more

This place was really cool! They definitely build up to your experience on the observation deck! We enjoyed the video and unveiling of the view. We walked around and enjoyed all the sights. Thankfully the clouds cleared and we could see extremely well! We told the elevator operator when we went back down we wished we'd filmed the video and unveiling and he told us to go ahead and go back around to go up again! So nice! It's a trip having your ears pop in the elevator ride LOL! Thank you OWO! read more

See all

This place had me falling in love with NYC all over again. There are 3 levels of attractions: lower level, elevator, and the observation dock, and we enjoyed them all. We skipped everything tourist related but we had a great time hanging out and taking pictures. The cashier was super generous and she gave us a free latte when we brought two of them to check out. They offer 50% discount with a veteran ID which comes with a 20% discount for a plus one. My bf had to come in person for the discount. When you go, make sure to also reserve the basement tour separately which is the 9/11 memorial & museum... read more

See all

Maybe not a must do, but definitely a should do, especially if you're in the Financial District or visiting the 9/11 Memorial. Being so far south of midtown, One World Observatory offers a very different perspective than the other most popular observation decks, and that alone can make it worth the price of admission. The other nice thing about One World is that they are (I believe?) the only tower that offers a family discount, giving 20% off of groups of four or more. Thanks to previous Yelper's experiences, we were sure to prebook our tickets online to avoid the chaos and lines at the ticket kiosks as you enter. We booked "All Inclusive" tickets, which gave us access to the One World Explorer iPads up in the tower (a nice perk, but not at all necessary to enjoy the views), Priority Entry that let us skip the longer general admission security line, $15 credit for food/drink & souvenirs (which was enough for an alcoholic beverage for my wife and I, a soda for each of the kids and mug), and most importantly for us, flexible arrival, allowing entry anytime after 4:30 PM. One of the big highlights of the trip is the elevator, or, ahem, "Skypod" rides up and back. Going up you're treated to chronological recreation of the NYC skyline from the 1600s to present day, flying up higher and higher and the skyline grows over time. Coming back down you get a birds-eye decent of present day over the Financial District. As outstanding as this presentation is, the short movie shown in the See Forever Theater prior to admission to the observation deck itself is a total snoozefest and an obvious means of simply controlling the flow of guests entering. Once inside, you're treated to some truly spectacular views of the city, including a breathtaking POV of the Twin Towers Memorial fountains. The observation tower is entirely enclosed, which I know people have mixed feelings about. As someone who is not a fan of heights, I appreciate not being on an open deck. I know it's ridiculous, but it is what it is! There are a few dining and beverage choices ranging from grab and go to sit down full-service, all of which are fantastically overpriced, but let's face it, you're paying for the view. If you're in the area, I personally think its worth the trip up. read more

One World Observatory - Rainbow over NY from the 101st floor - Observatories Near Me - New York, New York

This place is ran terribly, if you come to New York City for one day I 100 percent recommend the Empire State building over those dumbies. if you don't have priority access you get screwed standing in side line for hours wasting your day away. Another thing to add you will get pissed off the entire time because the express payers just ruin your time also have to wait for others to take pictures to get down stairs. read more

This is not just a building; it's a symbol of resilience. The observatory is incredible, and the Oculus adds a modern yet peaceful touch. Don't miss the reflective pools outside--their serenity is unforgettable. I visited during a rainy day and man was the fog 10x better than a clear day! read more

One World Observatory - Observatories Near Me - New York, New York

Definitely one of those places you must visit while in New York City...located in Manhattan. It cost $59 to get to the top...well worth it. There is also a nice restaurant/bar when you get to the top. I went during lunch time after I visited the 9-11 museum and it was pretty crowded at the restaurant so I just sat at the bar. Great view of all parts of New York City. It's located right next to the 9-11 museum and North and South Pool. read more

Immaculate view of the city! We went up at night and although expensive it was very worth it for the 360 view all lit up. The elevator ride is extremely quick and surrounded by video screen which shows you how fast you're rising. You then enter a standing movie room with a brief film of the city followed by the wall raising and the first part of the view. Following that they do a few money grab things like take your picture and want you to rent a tablet to tell you about the buildings you are looking at. Some may be worth it to you but the views were good enough for us. After that you are on your own to roam around a room with 360 view as well as a shop, cafe, and bar. Everything is obviously very pricey but it was nice to have a cocktail and enjoy the view. It's definitely worth it for the view alone but make sure the weather is clear or you might miss seeing some things. read more

See all

From the perspective of a New York native, One World Observatory is a pretty good stop to get a view of the city. While the overhead views aren't necessarily unique, they are the best as the highest observatory in the city (so far). As a tourist, I'd imagine there's more fun to be had, and the merchandise will have more value-in my personal opinion, it tends to be on the overpriced side of things. The food, however, I'd recommend skipping out on; that's not to say that it's bad per se, but that their competition outside of the tower is just better, if you know where to look. Overall, it's probably a must-have experience and view of the city if you're a tourist; if you're from here, then you probably already know how to see if it's worth it: check the lines, and definitely (especially during the holidays) check the traffic! read more

See all

Of course you have to go here! The elevator ride alone is worth the trip. It takes you through the last 100 years in less than 45 seconds, then you go to the observatory, see a short video and they open the blinds to a beautiful view! If you can find a discount site, it's worth it. The cost to get in is either 50, 60 or 70 dollars. You get $5 or $15 to spend with the top two prices. There is a restaurant and cafe at the top, make sure to make reservations if it's a busy time. This is a beautiful building and wasn't too busy in the middle of the week. read more

See all

A very cool vantage point to see the scope of New York City. The best part was the iPads they have available. You can hold them up against the skyline and it will tell you about each building you can see. read more

I made a reservation for a special occasion while my fiancé and I were in New York. We were so excited to go to this restaurant, even though we didn't pay for the premium seats. We were fine just going to the restaurant and having the regular seats. After we walked over to the restaurant, we were told in the lobby that we need to pay $55 each to go up to the restaurant. Had I known this beforehand we would've never made a reservation at this restaurant. I have to say it really ruined our anniversary evening and it was really messed up that this was not explained before hand. If it's somewhere in some fine print, we certainly couldn't find it. I'm pretty disgusted by the fact that this happened and feel terrible for all the people that this happens to. The guard at the front explained the situation about the fee to us when we arrived. He told us folks who arrive are typically shocked by this and that this happens over and over and over every day. read more

Amazing views of New York City:) It's different than the old WTC. It won't be the same, but the windows have wider views:) The One WTC is a much more modern styled building beautifully designed:) Maybe someday they will add more to the observation deck extending outside on the top of the roof like the original one had:) read more

See all

The views are incredible!!!! The experience on the way up was worth it alone. There's a little coffee spot there too. Super good.

A really expensive meh experience. Compared to the observation decks at the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Plaza, One World Observatory is pretty underwhelming. Oddly, you can get iPads that allegedly show you what is what... but they don't work well and identify almost nothing. I definitely would not recommend this to anyone. read more

The people were really mean. One man (the manager) accused us of stealing! My bestie went to buy a water bottle after the man accused us of stealing, and the girl who was at the cash register was ignoring us, and then when she saw us waiting for a freaking water bottle she called, "next in line!" As we were obviously at the front waiting. Then my mom came over and said, "We are next in line." Then very rudely she said " oh" so then she asked us, "Do you have a ticket even though we did not need a ticket. Then I said we don't need a ticket, and she got all rude and said " well I was just asking!" read more

Well everyone I just can't give it 5 stars and that is simply because of what they are charging people to elevator up and walk around and snap some photos which of course you can do from the top of the Empire State Building. Somewhere among my pics you will see my receipt for 2 people is $141.54 with tax and that is beyond acceptable. I guess if you are a tourist and it's your once in a lifetime chance then I guess it's go for it but it seems just a bit high don't you think? read more

See all

Wonderful! Loved the glass to look out and how cool The elevator ride was to the 102nd floor! So cool! All of the views from the city were gorgeous! I loved the restaurant too! The wings were phenomenal and so was the chicken sandwich. Delicious and great service! We had one gentleman walk us upstairs through the elevator to the restaurant with our stroller. They brought me hot water for baby bottle and even took a photo of us. Wonderful and must go here and make sure you eat too! read more

See all

Always a good time here, we went here for the first time the observatory opened a couple of years back. We went last with the family and had a great time. Tickets have gotten expensive over the years, we found a decent deal on Groupon. Staff was helpful and I'd highly recommend going on a weekday vs going here on weekend read more

Super cool place. We went for a birds eye view of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks display. We were also able to see the fireworks from Staten Island and Jersey City. Getting to The One World Observatory was fascinating as the elevator displayed a video timeline of the area from the time of pre-colonial, industrial, to modern as were zipping up 102 stories in about a minute. We had access to three levels and a snack bar. Got there before the sunset and could see not only all of Manhattan but the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens along with New Jersey. Once the sun set the city lights turned on and it looked like a model display with moving cars - almost unrealistic because how high we were above the landscape. It's amazing to see fireworks explode literally right below you, which gives a viewer a 3 dimensional look of the entire display. Staff were super friendly and the observation deck(s) were super clean. Only drawback is there were no chairs to sit down as we had to stand for a few hours. Regardless, it's a beautiful modern building with the latest advancements in technology offering one of the best views of New York City. I highly recommend it. read more

See all

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on this trip, however, I was able to enjoy this amazing tower. Since I had a prepaid ticket, I was able skip the line. Well worth it. At the base of the tower, there's the history of the tower. The elevator takes a few minutes to the 102nd floor. The views are incredible.... all 360 degrees. I would highly recommend this observation deck. And yes, it's very touristy... so what. read more

See all

I love observation towers, and I had yet to visit this one, so on a recent trip to NYC, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out. Finding the entrance was a challenge, as the signage in the area isn't too clear. When we went to get tickets at one of the kiosks, an attendant said that we could buy tickets with a time for an hour later and still get in, so we did. (We did this because the tickets were $45 as opposed to $65 for an immediate entry time.) After a long line to go through security, you're shown to another line to wait for an elevator, and then a 47-second ride to the top. My ears popped a bit, so you may want to consider popping a piece of gum to chew before catching an elevator. There, we were herded into another room to watch an intro on the building before we were able to go to the observation area. By that time, I needed to use the restroom, but the only one available was by the gift shop, so I went there, and then we walked around the observatory level. There is a restaurant on the 102nd floor, but once we were on the 101st, I didn't see a way to do anything else. Also, unlike many observatories, this doesn't have any outdoor space. The views were nice, but it's hard to get a good picture without reflections from the glass getting in the way. And there's not much else to keep one's interest. This is one observation tower I probably won't go back to. read more

I personally think this city view experience trumps all of the others in Midtown. You get to see a view of everything, including the Statue of Liberty. This 360 view of the city allows you enough space to move about and take pictures without feeling rushed or crowded. The elevator ride up to the observatory goes through the timeline of the New York skyline and it's an experience in itself. There is a small movie area to view (my group went in but I did not). It's baby/toddler/child friendly. There's a restaurant 1 more floor up (we didn't go). There are bathrooms up at observation floor, if needed. They have these pads (iPads) you can walk around with, point the camera to the building/area you want to learn about, and it gives you a 'tour'. It's very cool! read more

See all

What an incredible experience! The journey starts on the elevator that has a video of the construction of NYC throughout the years. When you finally reach the observatory, the 360 degree views are incredible. So breathtaking! If you have a chance, do make reservations to eat at the restaurant, ONE Dine, up in the sky! The menu is limited, but I highly recommend the Steakhouse Burger which includes Gruyère cheese and port wine onions. A chefs kiss! Our waiter Haque was just fantastic! All in all, an amazing experience! read more

See all

The place is incredible but beyond expensive. Plan on getting your souvenirs somewhere else. The bar and "restaurant " are just a joke, don't even bother. They both have potential but the service is horrible, food is sad and people just sit there. read more

The overall design and idea behind One World Observatory is quite unique and very futuristic. Both the elevator and the presentation that they give as well as the entire theme of the building is so well organized and very modern. The view once you get up is spectacular and you get a really good look at the river below you as well as the streets and skyline of New York. It is a complete 360 view in which you can see the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River, the many skyscrapers in New York, as well as part of New Jersey and Coney Island. You can also see Ground Zero and Oculus beneath you. Compared to an outdoor observatory like the Edge or Top of the Rock, you obviously can't get as clear or up close of a view, but it is still a great experience. Once you get to the top, they offer iPads that you can purchase either online with your ticket by selecting full coverage or renting on the spot for $15. The iPads are pretty fun to play with at least from what I saw and show you the different buildings that you are looking at as you walk around. The staff are super fun and very enthusiastic and there are little cafés and restaurants at the top. I definitely recommend and checking out this observatory. The design is really unique and the view is great. read more

See all