10 Top Restaurants within Walking Distance of Central Park

There are endless activities to do within Central Park, along with endless dining options. But at the end of the day, sometimes you just want to get outside of the park confines and dine at a sit-down restaurant rather than eating from one of the many vendors along Central Park's pathways.

There are dozens and dozens of eateries within a block or two of Central Park, from small delis and burger joints to incredibly high-end five-star restaurants. Here are 10 restaurants that are worth the walk from Central Park.

• 1. Robert Restaurant: Located on the 9th floor of the Museum of Arts and Design in Columbus Circle, Robert Restaurant offers spectacular views of Central Park. On Wednesday through Saturday nights, live jazz accompanies your meal. The restaurant also offers a Sunday jazz brunch. Main courses run from $29 to $39.

• 2. BG Restaurant: If you want to dine in the height of style and get your shopping done at the same time, this restaurant is on the 7th floor of the world-famous Bergdorf Goodman department store. It offers lunch, afternoon tea and bar food. Entrees range from $22 to $37.

• 3. Rouge Tomate: Diners who are more health-conscious will love this restaurant which features organic foods that are optimally prepared to preserve their nutritional qualities. The restaurant is huge, spread over two floors; it is located on E. 60th St. just off of Fifth Ave. Entrees range from $26 to $37.

• 4. Marea: Located on Central Park South just off of Columbus Circle, Marea means "tide" in Italian. It features regional Italian foods that are heavily influenced by the sea, such as oysters, clams and various fishes. Entrees range from $25 to $54. The restaurant also has a $97 prix fixe dinner with four courses.

• 5. Sarabeth's Central Park South: This restaurant, located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, offers al fresco dining for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Its brunch is very well known and can get crowded, but it is worth the wait. Dinner entrees range from $17 to $28.

• 6. Asiate: If you want sweeping floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park and the surrounding skyline, head to Asiate, located on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Columbus Circle. The restaurant features a wall of wine with 1,300 bottles. It has a three-course prix fixe menu for $90 or a tasting menu for $135.

• 7. Harry Cipriani: Located at 59th St. and Fifth Ave. in the Sherry-Netherland hotel, Harry Cipriani is almost an exact replica of the original Harry's Bar in Venice. It features Italian classics; entrees cost upwards of $35.

• 8. Shake Shack: At the lower end of the price spectrum, for some of the best burgers and custard shakes in New York City, head to the famed Shake Shack at Columbus Ave. and W. 77th St., right near the Museum of Natural History. The restaurant has an enclosed sidewalk café as well as a "Rec Room" where you can watch games. Burgers cost between $3.55 and $8.80. Shakes are $5.00.

• 9. The Leopard at Des Artistes: This restaurant on the Upper West Side on W. 67th St. serves Italian cuisine, and the décor is to match, with murals surrounding you as you eat. Prices here range from $28 to $45 for entrees.

• 10. Café Sabarsky: Located at Fifth Ave. and 86th St. in the Neue Galerie, a museum of German and Austrian art, Café Sabarsky is named for the museum's co-founder. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serves traditional German and Austrian food. Sandwiches cost around $14 with entrees around $17 to $24.

Many of these restaurants mentioned are very high end, so you'll want to dress the part and break out those teeth whitening kits ahead of time so you look your very best! Of course, these dining options are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more restaurants within a stone’s throw of Central Park that are sure to please.

— by Kathryn Sucich

Kathryn Sucich is a freelance writer. She also advises that if you do want to purchase new clothes or home teeth whitening solutions for a night on the town, there are also many shopping areas just outside of Central Park as well.