Tavern on the Green, Central Park – A Glamorous New York Icon on the West Side
Few names capture old-school New York glamour quite like Tavern on the Green. Tucked just inside the park at West 67th Street, this landmark restaurant has been part of the city’s story for generations — and its history is even more surprising than its sparkle suggests.
🐑 From sheepfold to legendary restaurant
Tavern on the Green began life in 1870 not as a restaurant at all, but as a sheepfold — the building that housed the flock of sheep that once grazed the nearby Sheep Meadow. When the sheep were moved out in the 1930s, the structure was transformed into a restaurant, opening its doors in 1934. From those humble, woolly beginnings it grew into one of the most famous dining destinations in America.
✨ A New York institution
For decades, Tavern on the Green has been the backdrop for weddings, celebrations and celebrity nights out, famous for its twinkling garden lights, festive decor and magical setting among the trees. After a major renovation it reopened in 2014, and it remains a beloved stop for a drink, a meal or simply a look at one of the park’s most photogenic buildings.
🎬 A movie and pop-culture favourite
Its glamour has made it a natural on screen. Tavern on the Green appears in classic films such as Ghostbusters and Wall Street, among many others — cementing its place in New York’s pop-culture imagination.
🚲 The easiest way to visit
Tavern on the Green sits just inside the West 67th Street entrance on Central Park West. A pedicab drops you right at its doors and carries you on to Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields and the Mall — the highlights of the park’s west side, all without a long walk.
✔ See the west side on the 1-hour Central Park pedicab tour from $30
✔ Compare all tour options on the Central Park pedicab tour page
✔ Ready to go? Book your ride here
📸 Best time to visit
🌇 Evening — the garden lights come alive after dark
🍽️ Lunchtime — a relaxed stop on a park tour
🎄 The holidays — when the festive decorations are at their most magical
🗺️ What’s nearby
Tavern on the Green anchors the park’s west side, so it pairs naturally with:
🐑 Sheep Meadow — the great open lawn the tavern once served, right beside it
🎵 Strawberry Fields — the John Lennon memorial, a short ride north
🌳 The Mall & Literary Walk — the grand elm-lined promenade
❓ Frequently asked questions
Where is Tavern on the Green?
Just inside the West 67th Street entrance on Central Park West, on the park’s west side.
Was Tavern on the Green really a sheepfold?
Yes — it was built in 1870 to house the sheep that grazed Sheep Meadow, and became a restaurant in 1934.
Can you just look at it without dining?
Of course. Even from outside, the building and its garden are among the prettiest sights on the west side.
What is the easiest way to get there?
A private pedicab tour brings you right to it and on to the nearby landmarks. Rides start at $30.
Glamorous, historic and unmistakably New York, Tavern on the Green is a perfect stop on a west-side pedicab loop. Book a Central Park pedicab tour from $30.