Expansion of Dining Options at Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is transforming available spaces into bars and restaurants as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leads the effort to enhance hospitality options at this historic rail hub.

This renowned Beaux-Arts landmark, a city icon for over a century, now features a venue that mixes fine dining with lighter fare.

Officials have been on the lookout for new areas within the terminal to showcase culinary delights.

A 95-square-foot elevator shaft, which has a door opening onto Vanderbilt Plaza, is set to be converted into a carry-out counter. Additionally, a closed Chase Bank ATM in the terminal’s dining concourse will be transformed into a new bar and café, according to the MTA.

David Florio, MTA’s chief real estate transaction officer, indicated that the goal is to diversify food and drink offerings to further establish the terminal as a prime destination for visitors and events.

Florio noted that the push for more eateries and bars at this 113-year-old site is inspired by the recent construction of large office buildings in Midtown East, which has led to increased foot traffic in the area, along with an already “thriving” restaurant scene within the terminal.

However, the MTA is facing a significant $300 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027, projected to escalate to $500 million in 2028. Experts suggest capitalizing on underused spaces within the terminal, which sees about 750,000 visitors daily, could help address this.

To that effect, a new 250-seat restaurant named Osteria Centrale is scheduled to open this fall, occupying a space that housed a Rite Aid for 25 years.

Florio mentioned that when an RFP was issued for that location, none of the existing pharmacies expressed interest in the 8,000-square-foot area.

Viz Group, the entity behind Osteria Centrale, has previous experience in the terminal, having launched Grand Brasserie in Vanderbilt Hall two years prior. Besides Osteria, they also manage a takeaway market called Mercato Centrale.

Osteria Centrale will be the fifth upscale dining option at the terminal, joining Paladino’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant and Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, which opened on the north and west balconies after the saloon closed seven years ago.

Paladino’s has also acquired space at the taxi rank on Vanderbilt Avenue, where an enclosed bar has been constructed, set to operate year-round.

The MTA is now looking to replicate this model next door with a seasonal bar to be run by the renowned Campbell Apartment Cocktail Lounge, following a recent request for proposals.

This historical space was established in the 1920s as a luxurious office for financier John W. Campbell.

Scott Gerber, the current operator and nightlife expert, informed that the lease for the Campbell Apartments will be renewed after 18 months.

He is likely to submit a proposal to run the upscale lounge, which would command an annual rent exceeding $1 million.

Gerber mentioned that opening an enclosed bar at the taxi rank would enable the MTA to raise rents for the outdoor area at Campbell Apartments.

As alcohol consumption trends downward globally, the rent increase is timely. Gerber has consequently expanded the bar’s food offerings and introduced live music to appeal to a wider audience, in addition to hosting more corporate events.

Likewise, Dolce Cipriani, situated on the west balcony opposite Paladino’s, has undergone a six-month renovation, reducing its bar size and adding a pastry showcase.

A spokesperson recently noted the menu now includes various salads and pastas, alongside classic cocktails.

Cipriani has introduced plush carpeting and white tablecloths while broadening its all-day menu.

In parallel, the MTA aims to establish a large bar and café in the lower-level dining concourse’s sidecar area, which has remained vacant for the past year. An RFP for this space is expected to be released in September, with plans to convert an adjacent shuttered Chase ATM into a cooking area, according to Florio.