The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a New York City tradition dating back to the 1920s, has become a must see tradition in our home since my kids were just babies. While yes you can watch the parade on TV, they’re something just so beyond special experiencing it live and in-person. The parade draws both local New Yorkers and tourists from around the country every year to see the iconic holiday spectacle. With a parade so huge and a crowd that’s even more enormous, you’ll need to know where to go to comfortably enjoy the parade. Whether you’re a long-time New York native or you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple during the Thanksgiving holiday, I have a few spots from Parade Brunch that make it comfortable and even more fun to watch this iconic parade.
Quality BistroÂ
We’ll start with Quality Bistro. This upscale bistro with a laid-back atmosphere offers a full Thanksgiving Day parade experience. A four-hour brunch buffet with an open bar and live entertainment makes for a family-friendly parade experience that both kids and adults can enjoy. While you’ll enjoy a premium restaurant experience with amazing food and drinks and the option to store your belongings and use their restroom while watching the parade, you won’t pay a premium price. At between $249 and $399, it’s one of the most affordable spots on our list.
Sarabeths – Central ParkÂ
Sarabeths is another excellent brunch spot for viewing the parade. Like Quality Bistro, It offers a four-hour brunch buffet and open bar with entertainment, including live music and televised parade programming. This is one of the premier brunch spots in NYC, and the lines often wrap around the building, so reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant offers some of the best food in the city. At between $349 and $499 per person, the ticket is a bit pricy, the food and atmosphere are worth it. Also like Quality Bistro, Sarabeths is not located directly on the parade route, so guests will have to leave the venue to experience the parade. However, the four-hour reservation allows for unlimited exiting and re-entry to the restaurant, making it easy to view the parade and come back for bathroom breaks or the live entertainment offered in the restaurant.
Rue 57
Up next is Rue 57. Between $549 and $1,100 per person, Rue 57 offers amazing food and drinks, and its premium dining directly on the parade route. Tickets will get you a four-hour brunch with unlimited eats and an open bar, along with family entertainment, live music, and a private outdoor viewing area directly on 6th Avenue. Be aware that because this is a fine dining establishment, guests will be asked to remain at their tables when not outside. If you have young children, this might not be an ideal situation. In addition, guests dining on the lower level won’t enjoy indoor views, but they will have access to the outdoor viewing area.
Residence Inn by MarriottÂ
If great views of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are your top priority, you won’t find a better spot than Residence Inn by Marriott – Bryant Park Lounge. This third-floor venue features 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the entire city block along 6th Avenue, offering the best views of the parade you’ll find anywhere. And they’re all indoors. Guests will enjoy a multi-course brunch buffet with bagels and pastries, continental entrees, and festive holiday desserts. It’s a general admission affair, with guests having open seating at any of the dining tables on a first-come, first-serve basis. There’s a ton of space, so it’s excellent for families with smaller children, and a price range of $549 to $849 per person makes it an affordable option to get the most amazing views possible.
Whether you have a growing family, you’re a couple without children, or you’re flying solo, these spots are the best of the best to enjoy the great food, atmosphere, and views of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Head to Parade Brunch to see all of the details to choose the perfect spot for yourself and your family and enjoy one of the most iconic holiday events in the entire country in style this year!
