Published on September 5, 2025
Observation decks person agelong been a cardinal portion of nan New York City skyline experience. Since nan early 20th century, visitors person flocked to iconic spots for illustration nan Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center to bask sweeping views of Manhattan. These decks person go much than conscionable vantage points; they correspond quality ambition, engineering excellence, and nan power of nan metropolis itself.
Fast guardant to modern times, and nan acquisition of visiting an study platform has evolved. While places for illustration nan Empire State Building and nan World Trade Center erstwhile defined nan skyline view, caller additions for illustration One World Observatory, nan Edge astatine Hudson Yards, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt person taken study decks to a full caller level. These modern spots blend stunning heights pinch interactive features, solid floors, skyboxes, and immersive art, making them an acquisition arsenic overmuch arsenic a view.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: A Fusion of Art, Architecture, and Views
Located atop One Vanderbilt, correct beside Grand Central Terminal, SUMMIT offers an unparalleled position of New York City. Standing astatine 427 meters, it’s nan city’s 4th tallest building. However, SUMMIT isn’t conscionable astir nan skyline—it’s astir creating an acquisition that goes beyond accepted study decks. From nan infinitesimal you measurement inside, nan acquisition feels much for illustration stepping into an creation installation.
My ticket, booked online nan nighttime before, was for 11:30 AM. It costs astir €40, though prices emergence person to sunset. Upon arrival, visitors queue up astatine their booked time, passing done information earlier being handed footwear covers and sunglasses to heighten nan experience.
The travel to nan observatory originates successful a acheronian corridor, mounting nan temper pinch LED lights and ambient sounds. Then, a mirrored elevator thrust whisks you up to nan 91st level successful conscionable 43 seconds—an exhilarating sensation of nan high-altitude escapade ahead.
A Space that Feels Like It Goes On Forever
When I reached nan observatory, I was amazed by nan space. Although I had feared ample crowds would make it crowded, nan expansive level provided plentifulness of room for visitors to move astir comfortably. One of nan highlights was nan overwhelming effect of mirrors placed passim nan space. Reflections of visitors and nan skyline stretched endlessly, creating an almost infinite consciousness of space. The design, called Transcendence, took 3 years to cleanable and offers a stunning ocular acquisition that gives nan belief that nan room ne'er ends.
The creation of nan abstraction evokes futuristic themes, pinch mirrors covering astir each surface, creating a consciousness of infinity. The level beneath my feet and nan ceiling supra seemed to widen endlessly, making it consciousness for illustration I was floating successful a surreal landscape.
The Affinity Room: A Playful Escape
The adjacent portion of nan acquisition was nan Affinity Room, a smaller yet captivating abstraction filled pinch floating metallic Mylar balloons. As they mildly drifted crossed nan room, visitors couldn’t defy playing pinch them, creating a fun, chaotic atmosphere. It was a playful, whimsical opposition to nan different sleek and high-tech environment, making it consciousness for illustration a elephantine playground astatine nan apical of nan world. Even though nan position extracurricular was breathtaking, nan balloons stole nan attraction of astir visitors, offering a uncommon opportunity to interact pinch nan abstraction successful an wholly caller way.
Glass Skyboxes: A Thrilling Perspective
After exploring nan main floors, I made my measurement to nan 2 mini solid skyboxes connected nan 92nd floor. These protruding boxes let you to look consecutive down astatine nan streets of New York, offering a heart-stopping position of nan bustling metropolis acold below. The skyboxes are strictly timed, pinch short queues forming arsenic visitors return turns for their 30-second opportunity to threat photos. It’s a speedy but exhilarating experience.
The 93rd Floor: Cocktails and nan Best View of NYC
On nan 93rd floor, nan acquisition continues pinch a barroom and an open-air terrace wherever you tin bask a cocktail (though nan value is mostly for nan view). The terrace offers immoderate of nan champion views successful nan city, including 1 of nan astir memorable vistas of nan Empire State Building.
SUMMIT: More Than Just an Observation Deck
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is much than conscionable an study deck. Designed by Kenzo Digital, it’s a blend of art, architecture, and technology. The interactive elements, on pinch nan mind-bending reflective surfaces and move installations, make it a photographer’s dream. From nan mirrored walls to nan shifting ray patterns, each sojourn offers a unsocial experience. It’s a spot wherever visitors tin prosecute pinch nan abstraction and nan views successful an wholly caller way, making it not conscionable a position but an acquisition successful itself.
While it whitethorn not transportation nan historical weight of landmarks for illustration nan Empire State Building, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt offers thing different—a high-tech, immersive escapade that blends creation pinch architectural marvels. And from its terraces, you get 1 of nan champion views of nan Empire State Building itself.