Bar in New York City, United States
Bar 54
100Pearl PointsSky-high drinks, Times Square views, no hype needed.
About Bar 54
Bar 54 occupies the 54th floor of the Hyatt Centric Times Square, offering one of the most visually commanding cocktail bar positions in Manhattan. It works best for groups of four or more and first-time visitors who want the skyline as their backdrop. Book easily, arrive early on weekends for the best window seats.
Should You Book Bar 54?
Bar 54 sits on the 54th floor of the Hyatt Centric Times Square, and the view is the entire reason to come. For a first-timer looking for a drinks-and-skyline experience in Midtown, this is one of the most visually arresting options in New York City — floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Manhattan grid from an altitude that most bars in the city simply cannot match. If you are visiting New York and want to see the skyline from inside it rather than from a rooftop queue at sunset, Bar 54 is worth knowing about.
That said, book with clear expectations. This is a hotel bar in Times Square, which means the crowd skews tourist-heavy and the pricing reflects the address and the altitude. You are paying for the view first, the cocktails second. For groups of four or more, it works well as a pre-dinner drinks stop or a celebratory round — the format suits larger parties better than it suits a quiet two-person conversation. If your group wants a visual centrepiece and a Manhattan backdrop for a birthday or a first-night-in-New-York moment, Bar 54 delivers on that brief consistently.
Booking is easy. This is not a reservation-scarce situation like Angel's Share or Attaboy NYC, where timing and availability require planning. Walk-ins are generally possible, though arriving early on weekend evenings gives you the leading window selection. If your group is four or more and you want a specific table position near the windows, contacting the bar in advance is worth doing, but you are unlikely to be turned away at the door on a Tuesday.
For a deeper cocktail programme, Amor y Amargo in the East Village is a stronger choice. For neighbourhood character alongside good drinks, Superbueno in Greenpoint punches above its weight. But neither of those venues offers a view remotely comparable to what Bar 54 puts in front of you. If the skyline matters to your group, this is where to go. If the cocktails matter more, look elsewhere. See our full New York City bars guide for a broader set of options, or explore restaurants, hotels, wineries, and experiences across the city.
For comparison, skyline cocktail bars in other cities worth knowing: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu trades altitude for craft precision, Jewel of the South in New Orleans prioritises programme depth, and Julep in Houston leans into Southern whiskey culture. Bar 54 is singular in its format: the view is the product, and for groups seeing New York for the first time, that is a credible offer.
Quick reference: Easy to book, group-friendly, leading for first-timers and celebratory visits, arrive early on weekends for window seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bar 54 worth the price?
Pricing varies at Bar 54; confirm via check the venue's official channels.
Where is Bar 54 located?
Bar 54 is located in New York City, at 135 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036.
How can I contact Bar 54?
You can reach Bar 54 via check the venue's official channels.
Location
135 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
New York City, United States
Compare Bar 54
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Bar 54 | Easy | |
| The Long Island Bar | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
| Dirty French | Unknown | |
| Superbueno | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
| Amor y Amargo | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
| Angel's Share | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
What to weigh when choosing between Bar 54 and alternatives.
Also Consider
- The Long Island Bar, Notable alternative
- Dirty French, Notable alternative
- Superbueno, Notable alternative
- Amor y Amargo, Notable alternative
- Angel's Share, Notable alternative
How Bar 54 Compares
Against the serious cocktail bars in New York City, Bar 54 is not trying to compete on programme depth. Amor y Amargo in the East Village is the better choice if amaro-focused craft cocktails are your priority, the drinks are more considered, the room is quieter, and the price point is lower. Angel's Share in the East Village similarly outperforms Bar 54 on cocktail precision and atmosphere, but it is harder to get into and seats only small groups comfortably. For a first-timer who wants craft drinks over views, either of those is a stronger call.
For groups, the calculus shifts. Superbueno handles larger parties well and offers a livelier, more neighbourhood-driven experience at a more accessible price. Dirty French on the Lower East Side is a better option if your group wants drinks that transition naturally into dinner. But neither delivers Bar 54's altitude, and for a group that includes people visiting New York for the first time, the 54th-floor view has real pull that no downtown bar can replicate.
The Long Island Bar in Cobble Hill is the best option if your group wants a classic New York bar experience with strong drinks and no tourist premium. It is cheaper, less crowded, and more representative of how New Yorkers actually drink. But it requires a trip to Brooklyn and has none of the spectacle. The decision comes down to what your group is optimising for: if it is the Manhattan skyline at altitude, Bar 54 is the practical choice; if it is the best drinks for the money, head downtown or across the bridge.
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