SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt

SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt provides a multi-sensory experience with an unforgettable perspective of the New York City skyline.

After walking up from a luxurious sleep at 1 Hotel Central Park, I was a bit undecided on what I wanted to do before meeting William for lunch. When he made reservations for us to meet at Centurion New York at One Vanderbilt, the choice became clear: SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt.

When I arrived at One Vanderbilt, I quickly popped into the Epicerie Boulud to get a ham and cheese croissant and a cappuccino.

As I descended the stairs toward the line for SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt, I had no idea how much that light breakfast would come in clutch. Little did I know, I’d be standing in line for nearly 45 minutes.  By the end, I was glad I had fueled up. The wait was a small price to pay, though, for what lay ahead.

Transcendence 1

SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt is nothing short of a paradise for captivating visuals. The moment the elevator doors opened and I walked down the illuminated hallway, I was immediately enveloped in an experience unlike any I’d ever encountered.

The entire space is a masterclass in reflections, with walls, ceilings, and floors all carefully designed to create an endless cascade of mirrored images.

It was pure magic—an instant sense of awe that left me wide-eyed. The sheer scale and creativity felt like stepping into a surrealist dreamscape. Each step opened up a new, fascinating perspective, as if New York itself was playing tricks on the mind through this clever maze of mirrors.

After experiencing the Empire State Building during a previous visit – this felt like its more sophisticated successor. Yes, the Empire State Building is great for the history. But SUMMIT is outstanding for the art of defining space, towering above the Manhattan skyline.

Reflect

Reflect, to me, was fine. I’m familiar with Yayoi Kusama’s work – especially at the New York Botanical Garden. So, because this was in a hallway, I pretty much walked by after snapping a few photos.

Affinity

Affinity was my personal favorite room. I loved the silver balls bouncing up and down, with the occasional pop coming from an over excited child.

Transcendence 2

Air

Air was an easy to walk through experience. It was nice – but at this point I think I was getting visual fatigue. I will say – the video was really lovely, set against the backdrop of the floor to ceiling windows with the Manhattan skyline beyond.

Green Space

Green Space is the external, walkable area of the experience. As I walked around, the views of New York City skyline almost brought me to tears. It was visually overwhelming and incredible.

Overall, my visit to SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt was an unforgettable experience.  I’m genuinely satisfied to have checked off my New York City bucket list.

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