Getting to Gramercy Park for Dinner: Subway Stops and Walks

The fastest way to reach dinner near Gramercy Park is the 6 train to 23rd Street, then a short walk south and east. If you are coming from the west or from Brooklyn, transfer at 14th Street–Union Square and walk north.

Distances here are map-based approximations. Check the MTA’s service status for your travel date at mta.info before you leave.

Quick answer: three ways in

• 6 train to 23rd Street. Closest to the north side of Gramercy and the Park Avenue South corridor.
• Any Union Square line to 14th Street–Union Square. The largest hub nearby. Walk north on Park Avenue South or Irving Place.
• 6 train to 28th Street. Useful if your night begins on the Flatiron edge and you want to walk south.

Where Gramercy Park sits

Gramercy Park is a gated, private park between East 20th and East 21st Streets, with Gramercy Park West and East along its sides. Irving Place runs from East 14th Street up to the park. Park Avenue South runs a block or so west and carries the 6 train below it.

Those few streets define the neighborhood for a diner. Everything else is a short walk from one of them.

The 6 train at 23rd Street

The 23rd Street station on the Lexington Avenue line (the 6) sits at Park Avenue South. From there, Gramercy Park is a walk south of about three blocks and a short stretch east along East 20th Street.

For most people arriving from the east side or from uptown, this is the cleanest route. Check street signs at the top of the stairs, and confirm exits on the MTA’s station map, since layouts can change.

Union Square: the biggest hub

The 14th Street–Union Square station connects the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W lines. It is the easiest transfer point if you are coming from Brooklyn, Queens or the west side.

From the station, the walk north to Gramercy Park runs along Irving Place or Park Avenue South. Expect roughly a ten-minute walk, depending on pace and weather.

If you plan to eat before the walk, Union Square Fork’s guide to restaurants near Union Square Park, edge by edge is a good companion.

From the L train

The L runs along 14th Street and stops at Union Square. From there the walk north is the same as above. If you are arriving from Williamsburg or Bushwick, that single stop is usually the whole transfer.

From the west side

The 1 train reaches both 14th Street and 23rd Street. From either, plan a crosstown walk or a short transfer. Allow extra time at rush hour.

Walking: how far is it

Manhattan streets run roughly twenty to a mile. Fourteenth Street to 23rd Street is nine blocks, around half a mile, or about ten minutes at an easy pace. Union Square to Gramercy Park is a few blocks shorter.

These are rough numbers. Crosswalks, weather and crowds all change the walk, so build in a buffer if you have a reservation.

Timing your arrival

Allow extra time at the evening commute and on weekend nights, when service changes are common. If the table is held for only a short window, leave earlier than you think you need to.

For a longer evening, our block-by-block guide to eating on Park Avenue South maps the corridor between Union Square and Gramercy Park with cross streets and stops.

A note about the park itself

The park is private and open to keyholders, so it is not a meeting point for a group unless one of you holds a key. Pick a nearby corner or the station exit instead. We explain the access rules in is Gramercy Park open to the public.

Plan the way home too

Late-night service on weekends can change. Look up your return train before dinner, not after.

Frequently Asked Question

Which subway stop is closest to Gramercy Park?

The 23rd Street station on the 6 line is the closest subway stop to Gramercy Park for most people, with 14th Street–Union Square a longer but better-connected alternative. From 23rd Street, the park is about three blocks south and a short walk east. From Union Square, expect a walk of roughly ten minutes north. These are approximate map-based figures, so check the MTA’s current service notes and your route in a maps app before you go.

Go with a plan

Choose your entry point by where you start, leave a buffer, and confirm train service on the day. Then pick a restaurant, book it, and check its current hours before you travel.