The Center Magazine
Subscribe
Back to Stories

The Rockefeller Center Guide on Where to Eat Before or After a Broadway Show

By Emmie MurphyJun 14 2024
Share
Link copied to clipboard
Topics
Arts & Culture
Visiting Rock Center? Include Top of the Rock in your plans. Purchase your tickets online today!
Buy Tickets
Related Articles
Parent and child looking at the 2021 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Arts & Culture
12.2.24

How to Spend the Perfect December Day at Rockefeller Center

Arts & Culture
05.29.24

Illustrator Angelica Hicks Sets the Scene at Summer at The Rink

Events
05.22.24

What to Do in New York City in June

Events
05.10.24

The Rockefeller Center Guide to Wedding Season in New York

Events
05.3.24

5 Best Rooftop Venues in NYC

They say “there’s no business like show business,” that “everything about it is appealing,” and “nowhere could you get that happy feeling.” But what about dinner and a show? For us, that’s New York at its best. Just like the city’s panoramic food scene, Broadway has something for everyone, from adult dramas to pitch-perfect musicals. So why not pair those high notes with haute cuisine or a dazzling dance number with a delicious dish?

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite before a matinee or a five-course capstone to follow an evening show, these Rockefeller Center restaurants have you covered. Read on for where to eat before or after a Broadway show, and the play that makes the perfect pairing.

  • Two hands reaching for plates of food at 5 Acres at Rockefeller Center
  • Cast of the Broadway show "Illinoise" dancing on stage
    Photo by Liz Lauren

5 Acres

Add even more Illinois flavor to Illinoise. 5 Acres is a nod to chef Greg Baxtrom’s Midwestern roots. Named for his family farm in Illinois, the restaurant serves up creative American fare with a twist, like their Wisconsin cheddar burger and BLT focaccia bread.

It's also the perfect appetizer to Illinoise, a Tony-nominated dance-musical based on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 album. Directed and choreographed by Justin Peck, the play is a coming-of-age story that centers on a complex group of friends. And if you don’t have time for a seated bite, theater buffs can get something on the run from the 5 Acres to-go kiosk located at the Rink Level.

  • Two hands reaching for plates of food on a table at NARO at Rockefeller Center
  • Lindsay Mendez, Jonathan Groff, and Daniel Radcliffe performing onstage during "Merrily We Roll Along"
    Photo by Matthew Murphy

NARO

We love a new twist on something old. At NARO, traditional ingredients and techniques from Korean cuisine are updated for a contemporary crowd. Classic dishes like bibimbap are served alongside updated fare like Naengchae, a cold noodle salad. The menu is also peppered with inventive items like a lime, hibiscus, and rhubarb sorbet and an icy beef tartare.

Theatergoers can continue their tour of classics reworked for our times with the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along. Although the original play was a box office flop after its 1981 premiere, the revival has racked up seven Tony nominations and stars big names including Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez.

  • Various dishes and drinks on a table at Smith & Mills at Rockefeller Center
  • Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin performing onstage during the Broadway production of "Cabaret"
    Photo by Marc Brenner

Smith & Mills

Let the carefully crafted mood envelope you at Smith & Mills, a cocktails and small plates bar that originated in Tribeca. The restaurant offers lunch, dinner, and drinks at its Rockefeller Center location, and menu items range from West Coast oysters to a Mediterranean tuna sandwich. Its moody interior draws inspiration from the Bauhaus and Constructivism movements and includes notable details such as plush velvet banquettes and a stunning oblong bar.

If you want to continue your tour of atmospheric, German-inflected interiors, be sure to check out Cabaret, the latest revival of the storied musical starring Eddie Redmayne. Set in 1930s Berlin, the show explores the changing culture of the city in the face of the Nazi party’s rise. Reimagined by Tom Scutt, the theater and costume design nods to the decadence of pre-war Berlin, and details including a sculpted eye with a disco ball center create an immersive, cinematic experience.

  • Plates of food and cocktails on an outdoor table at Le Rock at Rockefeller Center
  • Ensemble cast of the Broadway show "Stereophonic" on stage
    Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Le Rock

The team behind the perennially cool Balthazar and the beloved bistro Frenchette know how to deliver on a meal. With Le Rock, their newest endeavor, they bring their signature brand of French cuisine to Rockefeller Center. The Art Deco-inspired interior is glamorous without being stuffy, and according to New York Times critic Pete Wells, ‘The menu has a sense of adventure for which you usually have to go downtown.’

Speaking of cool, is there anything more eternally hip than a 70s rock band? In Stereophonic, the most Tony-nominated play of all time, a rock band on the rise navigates impending fame while recording a new album. The play immerses viewers in the world of 1970s music and features an original score by Will Butler of Arcade Fire.

For a night out – or daytime lark – tap into your inner cool kid with a seat at both.

  • Three pairs of hands reaching for food on a table at Jupiter at Rockefeller Center
  • The six main cast members of "Six: The Musical" performing on stage
    Courtesy of Boneau/Bryan-Brown

Jupiter

Jupiter describes itself as a restaurant “meant to celebrate every mood and moment.” From big milestones to an evening out with friends, the restaurant woos every diner with its handmade pasta and a focus on the new generation of Italian winemakers.

Showgoers can enjoy a leisurely lunch or a quick bite at the bar before continuing the revelry over on Broadway. According to Variety, Six: The Musical “is a solid ‘10’ for joy.” Told from the perspective of Henry VII’s infamous six wives, the show is a lively production presented as a singing competition. When it comes to good vibes, Jupiter and Six are the queens of our hearts.

  • A vase of flowers, soft pretzel, and a glass of beer on an outdoor table at The Weather Room at Top of the Rock
  • Cast of the Broadway show "Hell's Kitchen" performing on stage
    Photo by Marc J. Franklin

The Weather Room

Perched atop Rockefeller Center, The Weather Room is an ode to New York. The new rooftop cafe offers a casual menu of pastries, sandwiches, and mezze plates while letting diners enjoy some of the best views in the city. Like the city that never sleeps, The Weather Room keeps all kinds of hours, and is open each day from 9am through midnight.

For a full-blown New York-centric day, Hell’s Kitchen and The Weather Room are the perfect pairing. The new play, featuring music by Alicia Keys, is a coming-of-age story of a 17-year-old living in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Hailed by Vulture as “the WE❤NYC of Musicals,” the work has landed 13 Tony nominations, including Best Musical.

Discover all of Rockefeller Center’s dining options — including Pebble Bar, Luke’s Lobster, and The Tipsy Baker — here.

Share
Link copied to clipboard
Back to all Stories
Topics
Related Articles
  • Arts & Culture05.29.24
    Aerial view of people sitting at tables and near the Prometheus statue at The Rink
    Arts & Culture05.29.24

    Illustrator Angelica Hicks Sets the Scene at Summer at The Rink

  • Events05.22.24
    Row of New York City buildings next to the water
    Events05.22.24

    What to Do in New York City in June

  • Events05.10.24
    A bride and groom at Top of the Rock
    Events05.10.24

    The Rockefeller Center Guide to Wedding Season in New York

  • Events05.3.24
    Two people sitting at a table at Radio Park at Rockefeller Center
    Events05.3.24

    5 Best Rooftop Venues in NYC

The Center Newsletter

Receive important seasonal news and updates, learn about store openings, and get special offers.

Learn More

How was your view from Top of the Rock? Share your experience!

Sign up for our newsletter

Subscribe Now

Follow Us

Download the free Audio Tour

Download the app from the apple app store
Get it on Google Play

Stay Connected

Stay connected with free Wi-Fi at Rockefeller Center.
@Rock Center Free Wi-Fi

  • Top of the Rock
  • Observation Deck
    Buy Tickets about Top of the Rock

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Map & Directions
  • News & Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Gift Shop
  • FAQs
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Executive Team
Tishman Speyer

45 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA NEW YORK, NY 10111
212.588.86011.877.NYC.ROCK
© Rockefeller Center 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED