MetLife Building
MetLife Building
4
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
How to get there
- Grand Central • 2 min walk
- Grand Central • 2 min walk
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Restaurants
10,000 within 5 kms
Attractions
1,676 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
112 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
50
Average
37
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,390 contributions
May 2023
It's a landmark in my eyes because I always see the old Pan Am building in the middle of Park Avenue near Grand Central. There is a helipad on the top. It is classic mid-century design.
Written 13 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland18,408 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
The Met Life building sits across the middle of park avenue. Located very close to grand central terminal. The building itself is not so pretty - but iconic.
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland18,408 contributions
Feb 2022 • Solo
The MetLife. Holding in New York is close to Grand central Station. It’s enormous and a great place to visit. Famous building.
Written 3 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E K
New York City, NY28 contributions
Jan 2020
The Pan Am building is in the 'epicenter of Manhattan... of itself ...tall and elegant.... Surrounded by the Chrysler building...One Vanderbilt...and the Phillip Morris Building... In one sweep...it is the gateway to Grand Central Station... Walk through the neighborhood...and you don't quite feel you are in New York City....but there's no question that you are... This is a meandering stroll that opens you to all the adventures... And the Commodore and the Hyatt (formally the Vanderbilt Hotel)...Lexington and 42nd... Don't run...
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland18,408 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
Great series of buildings in this area. These were all the original skyline buildings and lots of history. Was originally the Pan Am building.
Written 31 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark W
Boca Raton, FL2,732 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
The MetLife Building is one of the iconic pieces of real estate in Manhattan. Its fame derives largely from its location - on top of Grand Central Station.
Written 18 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist21524
Ballston Lake, NY1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Business
From a retired MetLife employee, this is not The MetLife Building. It was the Pan Am building which the Met bought years ago and put their name on. The real MetLife buildings are located on 23rd to 25th street between Madison and Park Avenues. These buildings were sold years ago to make what else, Money! How a company can sell its history away I shall never know. Want to see some beautiful lobbies take a walk downtown.
Written 21 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,689 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
This 59-story skyscraper stands out like a sore thumb in Midtown Manhattan, towering above nearby buildings. It looks like a sentry behind the beautiful Helmsley Building, tiny in comparison at 34 stories. MetLife is not especially attractive. It features International-style architecture -- plain, massive and without ornamentation. But it makes the 100 tallest buildings in the United States list. And I regard it as a symbol of Midtown.
The structure opened in 1963 as the Pan Am Building. At the time, it had the world's largest commercial office space and the airline took up 15 floors. The roof was once used as a place for helicopters to set down, and I remember seeing many land there years ago. MetLife owned the structure for a while and put its name on the building, where it has stayed since and is brightly lit at night.
On my most recent NYC stay, I visited the main floor of the building. The space is big and simple with many shops and places to eat. It is worth a look if near Grand Central Station.
The structure opened in 1963 as the Pan Am Building. At the time, it had the world's largest commercial office space and the airline took up 15 floors. The roof was once used as a place for helicopters to set down, and I remember seeing many land there years ago. MetLife owned the structure for a while and put its name on the building, where it has stayed since and is brightly lit at night.
On my most recent NYC stay, I visited the main floor of the building. The space is big and simple with many shops and places to eat. It is worth a look if near Grand Central Station.
Written 11 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shishir_ag1
Mumbai, India131 contributions
Jun 2018 • Business
Excellent location next to grand central. Provides beautiful view. Had an opportunity to visit top floors where lot of Metlife history also resides. Lots of good eateries - my favourite being Godiva.
Written 10 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
allanriley9
Mandurah, Australia776 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
right near Grand Central Station on 42nd St. This building, although very modern compared to the normal architectural gems in NYC, is very photogenic. It was originally built as the PAN-AM Tower
Written 15 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMETLIFE BUILDING: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about MetLife Building
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience MetLife Building:
- New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour (From RM 460.55)
- NYC Secrets of Grand Central Walking Tour (From RM 181.43)
- New York Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights (From RM 1,111.83)
- NYC Secrets of Grand Central Private Walking Tour (From RM 725.71)
- Midtown Manhattan Tour with Skip the Line MoMA Entry Semi-Private (From RM 586.80)
- Hotels near MetLife Building:
- (0.20 km) Fitzpatrick Grand Central
- (0.18 km) Club Quarters Hotel Grand Central, New York
- (0.19 km) Hotel Boutique At Grand Central
- (0.28 km) Library Hotel by Library Hotel Collection
- (0.09 km) The Yale Club
- Restaurants near MetLife Building:
- (0.01 km) Point Seven
- (0.01 km) Point Seven
- (0.04 km) Cucina & Company
- (0.12 km) Urbanspace Vanderbilt
- (0.13 km) Uncle Paul's Pizza