Why You Should Do Late Nights at the Met Fifth Avenue

Late nights at the Met Fifth Avenue are truly spectacular!

 

The Met Fifth Avenue is a spectacular place to leave the chaos of the city behind. Stepping through its grand entrance will transport you to what feels like an architectural oasis. The building alone is magnificent, and the history that lies behind its doors is amazing. With wonderful permanent collections that would take days to view, as well as equally inspiring temporary exhibitions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers something for everyone (even if you don’t consider yourself an art nerd).

If you haven’t yet visited the Met, by all means, go. Go anytime your schedule permits. But, if you’ve been during daylight hours but not yet in the evening, you are missing out! The stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, so plan a nighttime visit. Here’s why you should take advantage of late nights at the Met Fifth Avenue.

Fifth Avenue is beautiful at night.

One of the advantages of visiting the Met is the location. Sure, Fifth Avenue is known for its high-priced apartments, but it’s also one of the loveliest streets in the city. In the evening, the view from the Met steps is stunning, and walking along Fifth Avenue, taking in the sights and sounds (it’s usually quieter at night) is a not-to-miss New York experience.

The Met Rooftop

You can see the most spectacular city view with a sunset – EVER…..And sip a cocktail while doing it. High above Central Park, the Met Rooftop Sculpture Garden affords incredible city views (some of the best in town, if you ask me), and you might also get to witness a crazy colorful sky in the background if you catch a sunset. The rooftop is usually open from early May until the end of October, weather permitting.

Besides mingling and taking in the Manhattan skyline and the park, during summers you can see the single-artist exhibition that’s hosted on the Met’s rooftop. Since 1998, works by artists like Roy Lichenstein, Frank Stella, and Jeff Koons have been on display. Last summer, the Bates Motel-inspired sculpture entitled, “Transitional Object (PyschoBarn)” by Cornelia Wilson captivated Hitchcock and Edward Hopper fans. In 2017, the exhibit is Adrián Villar Rojas, The Theater of Disappearance.

The Great Hall Balcony Bar.

I didn’t get to hang out in this bar on my last trip, but I plan on going back to the Met Fifth Avenue another night and will spend some time in the balcony bar. On weekend evenings, the bar provides live music, and of course, you can have a glass of wine or try a new libation and grab a snack. Plus, you get a dynamite view of the Great Hall. The bar is open until 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with last call at 7:45 p.m.

The Met Fifth Avenue takes on a new personality after dark.

I saw the museum in a new light (literally!), and I have to say that this trip was by far my favorite visit to the Met so far. I found walking through the museum at night really relaxing, and I was able to de-stress and disconnect from my worries and get caught up in the art and the moment.

And the art, of course!

Sure, its great fun to go to the Met and socialize, get a bite to eat and a cocktail, but the real reason for all of the above is to appreciate art. As I mentioned early on, you don’t have to be an art aficionado to enjoy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, either. The Met offers many exhibits from many periods in history, and you’ll never come close to seeing even half of it in a single visit, so choose one or two galleries and concentrate on those. Then go back another time.

My recent trip to the Met Fifth Avenue was with my friend Heather. We sipped a glass of wine while watching the sunset from the roof garden, and then caught Manus x Machina | Fashion in the Age of Technology in the Costume Institute, during its final weekend. This exhibit was fantastic (and huge) and took us about 90 minutes to walk through, and we could’ve easily spent another hour oohing and aahing at the fashion.

In case you didn’t know, the Met’s pay-as-you-wish policy is only for New York residents and college students from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who purchase tickets in person. For all other adults, admission price is $25 but that includes entrance to the Met Fifth Avenue, the Met Breur, and the Met Cloisters for three consecutive days. Seniors pay $17 and students pay $12. Children under 12 enter free.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave
New York, NY 10028

Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m.–5:30 pm, and late nights on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Be sure to check out the Met’s current exhibitions.

Have you done last nights at the Met?

“PsychoBarn” photos by Heather Harrison Moran.

What are your favorite exhibits at the Met? And if you want to know more about the neighborhood, here’s a guide to the Upper East Side.