Dining in and around the Theatre District in New York City has its perks. Not only are you close to most of the theaters but restaurants in the surrounding area know how to cater to showgoers, especially when it comes to timing. They won’t bat an eye if you need to be out by a certain hour, and their kitchens run a tight ship, efficiently turning out delicious plates.
The best part about the restaurant scene in Manhattan’s Theatre District is that it is extremely diverse, satisfying those who want an old-school New York experience as well as customers who want to sample some of the best wines and cocktails the City has to offer. From classics that have stood the test of time to a Japanese izakaya (a bar with a wide variety of snacks) and even a plant-based standout, these 12 restaurants are musts to check out before or after a Broadway show.
Sardi’s. Photo: Malcolm Brown
A taste of old New York: Sardi’s
234 W. 44th St., Times Square
Sardi’s has been serving the Theatre District for more than a century, and it’s still one of the neighborhood's most influential establishments. As you explore the restaurant’s four floors, you can survey the 1,200 or so caricatures of Broadway stars who dined or drank there. At the bar you might catch current performers grabbing a drink and a snack before or after a show, and it’s also a prime spot if you want a taste of Sardi’s without a full meal. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday. The menu includes staples like a turkey club, lentil stew and jumbo lump crab cakes. Don’t miss the signature cannelloni, stuffed with either meat or spinach.
Courtesy, Joe Allen
A menu with something for everyone: Joe Allen
326 W. 46th St., Hell’s Kitchen
Joe Allen is another longtime Broadway institution, and the low-lit, brick-walled interior is an excellent choice for pre- or post-theater dining. The restaurant has one of our favorite Theatre District traditions: rather than lining the walls with posters of Broadway hits, Joe Allen commemorates the flops, hanging artwork for those shows instead. As you get settled at the long bar or in the dining room, you may well see regular theatergoers stopping by one another’s tables to say hello. The menu changes often, sometimes daily, and the food is always outstanding. You might try a Cajun-spiced shrimp quesadilla or a curried tofu and vegetable stew, and you can never go wrong with the Joe Allen burger.
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Photo: Francesco Tonelli
The wine-lovers spot: Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
151 W. 51st St., Midtown West
Aldo Sohm might be the most famous sommelier in the world. Since 2007 he has been at Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin, a three-Michelin-star restaurant across the street from Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, which they opened together in 2014. While you’ll still experience world-class service in the wine bar, the space is more laid-back, meant to feel like a friend’s living room rather than a fine-dining establishment. Broadway goers come before and after shows, and it’s also a lunch and happy hour hangout for Midtown office workers. The wine list changes often, and the staff jumps at the chance to help you choose the perfect bottle or glass. Expect shareable plates of cheese and charcuterie, salmon rillettes and za’atar chicken skewers, as well as larger servings of vegetarian Bolognese and braised short rib sliders.
Dear Irving on Broadway. Photo: Ohad Kab
A late-night star magnet: Dear Irving on Broadway
1717C Broadway, Midtown West
Award-winning bartender Meaghan Dorman opened this outpost of her Dear Irving cocktail den in late 2024, and it’s been a welcome addition to the Broadway dining scene. Shows have hosted after-parties here, and you may well see actors unwinding with a cocktail in hand after curtain. Because the bar is open late (midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 1am on Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday), it’s a superb spot for an after-show libation. Dorman is famed for her Gibson with house-pickled red onions, but all the Dear Irving cocktails deliver. The bar also offers snacks and small plates.
Courtesy, Valerie
A group favorite: Valerie
45 W. 45th St., Times Square
This cavernous restaurant brings a taste of NYC’s golden age to Midtown dining with patterned wallpaper, high ceilings and gilded art deco flourishes. Valerie allows online reservations for groups of eight or more (up to a limit), and the upstairs loft can accommodate even larger parties. While it’s popular for pre- and post-theater meals, it also draws office workers who gather at the long bar for after-work drinks, lured by beverage director Marshall Minaya’s creative cocktail program. Start with one of the signature gin and tonics or a freezer door martini, complemented by snacks like harissa grilled octopus and pesto and prosciutto flatbread. The restaurant’s main courses include three signature burgers, house-made ravioli and king salmon bouillabaisse.
A beloved Japanese izakaya: Sake Bar Hagi
245 W. 51st St., Midtown West
Sake Bar Hagi is a Midtown standby (though it did relocate from its original spot a few years back) for Broadway goers, office workers and Japanese diners looking for a taste of home, and its meals are still delicious 40 years after it debuted. The narrow restaurant calls to mind the izakayas of Tokyo, with authentic food and drink menus to match. Chilled whiskey highballs and draft Japanese beer are always flowing, as is a wide selection of sake and shochu. As for the food, order from the selection of noodles, rice dishes, sushi, grilled meat and vegetable skewers, as well as delicacies like soft shell crab tempura and grilled yellowtail collar. Like all good izakayas, Sake Bar Hagi is open late, so you can dine before a show or stop by for a drink and snack afterward.
Courtesy, Charlie Palmer Steak IV
A classic New York steakhouse: Charlie Palmer Steak IV
6 Times Square, 4th floor, Times Square
The New York steakhouse is about as iconic as the Statue of Liberty herself, which is why dining in one is a must when visiting the City. Pair the occasion with a Broadway show and it’ll be an NYC night to remember. Housed in the Beaux-Arts Knickerbocker Hotel (where the martini is rumored to have been invented), Charlie Palmer Steak IV offers graceful dining amid Times Square’s bustle. If you imbibe, starting with a martini is a given; for food, make sure to get the warm seafood salad, which is prepared tableside. While you can order à la carte anytime, the three-course pre-theater dinner is a terrific option if you’re there between 4pm and 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Gallaghers Steakhouse. Photo: Daniel Krieger
Another classic New York steakhouse: Gallaghers Steakhouse
228 W. 52nd St., Midtown West
New York City is big, meaning there’s room in town—even the same neighborhood—for more than one headline steakhouse. Gallaghers has been around for more than 90 years, and its inner walls have seen a fair share of athletes, Broadway stars and Wall Street bigwigs at its tables. In the elegant interior, ideal for a pretheater meal, you can dine on all manner of steakhouse standards. As you walk in, peek at the dry-aging room, where beautiful hunks of beef get more flavorful by the day. Start with bites from the raw bar and apps like clams oreganata before tucking into a Caesar or 52nd Street salad, made with shrimp, bacon, string beans, onions and tomatoes. From there, go with the steak of your choice, each of which is grilled over hickory logs.
Courtesy, Virgil’s Real Barbecue
To get down-home barbecue: Virgil’s Real BBQ
152 W. 44th St., Times Square
If you don’t believe that the middle of Times Square has good barbecue, you simply haven’t eaten at Virgil’s, because then your mind will be changed forever. The massive two-story space has been open since 1994, and it’s a hit among families and Broadway goers who want a casual but tasty meal in the heart of town. The wings and hush puppies are favorites (we can attest to their greatness), and the pork spare ribs and Texas beef brisket will ensure that hunger doesn’t strike in act 2. Sides like collard greens with ham hocks, cornbread, and mac and cheese round out the barbecue experience.
P.S. Kitchen. Photo: Lanna Apisukh
For creative plant-based cuisine: P.S. Kitchen
246 W. 48th St., Hell’s Kitchen
Plant-based diners need not worry about finding a quality meal in the Theatre District. Although many restaurants on this list have a few vegan or vegetarian options, P.S. Kitchen presents a fully dairy- and meat-free menu. The casual but handsome dining room is perfect for all types of groups, be it couples, friends or families. Comfort foods like spinach artichoke dip and lasagna receive a vegan makeover, and the restaurant gets creative with dishes like the Buffalo maitake mushroom sandwich. And P.S. Kitchen donates 100 percent of its profits to charity, so you can feel extra good about eating here.
Din Tai Fung. Photo: Jason Varney
The dumpling paradise: Din Tai Fung
1633 Broadway, Midtown West
Din Tai Fung has locations all over the world, but NYC outpost, opened in 2024, is the first in the United States east of Las Vegas. New Yorkers and tourists alike have been excited about the chain’s arrival, to say the least. The first location dates back to 1958 in Taipei—and its version of xiao long bao, or Shanghai-style soup dumplings, which it began selling in 1972, has become the gold standard. That’s why you’ll see everything from preshow dinners to business meals taking place here at all hours. The handcrafted dumplings are a must order, of course, but the restaurant offers other classic dishes too, like noodle soup, shrimp fried rice and Shanghai rice cakes. Accompany it with something from the lineup of cocktails, milk teas and iced teas.
Courtesy, Victor's Cafe
The Cuban mainstay: Victor’s Café
236 W. 52nd St., Midtown West
When the Cuban couple Victor Del Corral and Eloina Ruiz de Ugarrio opened Victor’s Café in 1963, it was located on the Upper West Side. But thanks to its relocation in 1980, it has become a Midtown pillar. The restaurant is still in the family, with the third generation now at the helm. Classic Cuban food is always on the menu—Cuban sandwiches, ropa vieja (slow-cooked shredded beef) and lechón asado (marinated and slow-roasted pork)—as are refreshing rum cocktails like mojitos and the Hemingway daiquiri. If you want to get the party started or keep it going after a show, check Victor’s calendar of live music.
