Serendipity 3 - Times Square
American restaurant · Midtown West ·
Whimsical decor, burgers, and famous frozen hot chocolate.
Whimsical decor, burgers, and famous frozen hot chocolate.
"The Times Square outpost of the 70-year-old restaurant known for quirky decor and desserts is not not a tourist trap, but it has its uses—particularly for exhausted parents who've just fled the M&M's Store and now need to feed their hangry children a.s.a.p. Expect average diner fare like burgers, mac and cheese, and potato skins, plus a psychedelic Funfetti palette of neon decor that'll keep the kids entertained. It’s essentially illegal to dine here without ordering a spectacularly plated sundae to share. Make it the classic-for-a-reason Frrrozen Hot Chocolate." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah
"The enormous, fancifully illustrated menu at Serendipity 3 Times Square feels like the restaurant equivalent of a Dr. Bronner’s label, or possibly the Magna Carta. On it, you’ll find a section called Guinness World Records. But ask them what makes the Golden Opulence Sundae $1,000, or the Quintessential Grilled Cheese Sandwich $214, and your inquiry might be met with a shrug. “It’s… made in a fancy way.” The rest of the food at this second location of a classic New York spot is still expensive, if not eye-poppingly so, and it's just fine. Expect diner fare like burgers, mac and cheese, and potato skins—like a Fuddruckers dressed up for a screening of Barbie. In close proximity to both tourist hotspots and the Theater District, this place is a reasonable choice for parents whose children are in need of a meal they’re all but guaranteed to enjoy (budget be damned). For everyone else, we’d hesitate to recommend it, especially considering that the genuine article is only about 15 minutes by subway. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick photo credit: Elena Vels photo credit: Elena Vels photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Pause Unmute Nestled in a brownstone on the Upper East Side, that first Serendipity 3 (the “3” is a reference to the three co-founders) is a quirky soda fountain-esque spot, filled with antiques and known for its extravagant desserts. In operation since 1954, it’s counted Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, and Cher among its loyal fans. The place is not not a tourist trap, but it’s also rightly beloved, particularly by children, and mostly because of its famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. What you’re really paying for at Serendipity 3, though, is Tiffany lamp-lit nostalgia, and this location’s efforts to achieve it synthetically fall short. Designed by the same architecture firm as Rice To Riches, the restaurant is in a hotel lobby, and the decor leans heavily on Warhol imagery, employing a shrooms-laced Funfetti palette of neon colors. Serendipity 3 has tried and failed to expand before—with closed locations in Boca Raton, Tokyo, DC, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and beyond. They’ve yet to recapture the whimsical allure of the original, and the Times Square outpost is no different. Food Rundown Frrrozen Hot Chocolate The famous sundaes here may be spectacularly plated, but the ice cream itself is average, with the notable exception of the classic-for-a-reason Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. It really does taste like hot chocolate, a neat little magic trick: crunchy, milky, but still robustly chocolatey. There’s a minimum charge of $18.95 per person at Serendipity 3, and at a steep $19.95, the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is no doubt the best way to hit that threshold. So long as you’re not planning to share it, which is, unfortunately, what we’d recommend. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick The Ultimate Potato Skins The flavors of the toppings all play nicely together, but the Ultimate Potato Skins could, ultimately, be crisper. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Serendipity Mac N' Cheese Stouffer’s-level creamy, but bland. (This is the most basic of five macaroni and cheese options on the menu, which include vegan truffle.) photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick Hamburger Served with a side of fluffy fries, the burger—which may or may not come with cheese, even if you ordered it that way—is juicy but underseasoned. photo credit: Molly Fitzpatrick" - Molly Fitzpatrick
"Expanding its Manhattan footprint, Serendipity 3 opened a second location in Times Square; the storied chain—founded in 1954—remains best known for its trademark Frozen Hot Chocolate and its mid-century celebrity lore." - Melissa McCart
"As the brand expands into Times Square, I'm struck by how the new outpost at 157 West 47th Street (inside the OYO Times Square Hotel) deliberately forgoes the original's old-school whimsy for a modern, playful 2024 reinterpretation: the team worked with architecture firm Wid Chapman and artist Allison Eden on glass-mosaic installations, revived select artifacts (like the antique clock and original stirrer designs), and installed a fireplace with glass flames as a loose homage. Joe Calderone, the creative director of four decades, says they needed more space because the UES location was always at capacity; the Times Square restaurant, opening August 20, will operate from breakfast through late night, carry most of the full menu (including foot-long hot dogs with Italian and Buffalo-flavored toppings — even with mac and cheese), add a couple of over-the-top items, offer cocktails in addition to the UES beer-and-wine options, and serve the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate in its many varieties (there are currently 13, including a vegan version)." - Emma Orlow
"A nostalgic dessert destination remembered for an over-the-top giant fried Oreo ice cream bowl that left a strong impression on first-time adult visitors to the city." - Susan Stapleton
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