SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT

The SUMMIT observation platform, perched 320 m high, is a new New York must-see. The One Vanderbilt Tower, which houses it, was built in 2020 right next to Grand Central Terminal. While there's no shortage of vertiginous observatories in New York, whether atop brand-new skyscrapers or iconic buildings, SUMMIT immediately found its place at the top of our list of favorites. Spread over three floors, its rooms offer a variety of immersive and interactive experiences. To begin with, there's Transcendence, with its kaleidoscope of floor-to-ceiling mirrors in which clouds and skyscrapers are reflected, so that the city gives us the impression of being infinite. In the Affinity room, hundreds of silver inflatable balloons reflect our own image and that of the skyline. To go upstairs, we take an escalator facing the immense Chrysler Building nearby. The multiple spaces, some of which feature art installations, communicate with each other, offering a play of reflections and transparency. Perhaps the highlight of the show is the Ascent (extra charge), a glass elevator that climbs the tower's outer facade to a height of 364m. The one-minute ascent faces the Empire State Building. A very "Instagrammable" experience, but one that will easily blow away even those who haven't come to take selfies.