Sunset on the Hudson River in NYC: The Best West Side Spots, When to Go, and Dinner After

Every pier in Hudson River Park looks across the river toward New Jersey. That makes the stretch of waterfront from West 42nd to West 59th Street one of the easiest places in Manhattan to watch the sun go down without paying for it. Walking times below are from our door at 605 W 48th Street, at an easy pace of about 20 minutes a mile, and they don't count the wait to cross 12th Avenue. Hours and prices change, so we link each official site. We checked everything in November 2026.

When is sunset on the Hudson?

It moves a lot through the year. At West 48th Street the sun sets about 4:30pm in late fall and winter, around 7pm in mid-March and mid-September, and about 8:30pm in late June. In early November it's a little later than 4:30. Since the clocks went back on November 1, it sets before 5pm every day through December.

For the exact minute on your date, Edge's website shows the day's sunset time, and so does any sunset calculator. Get to the pier 15 or 20 minutes early to find a spot by the railing, and don't leave the moment the sun drops: the color over New Jersey often hangs on for a while after. For month-by-month weather and sunset on this side of town, see NYC rooftops in winter: the real weather.

Where to watch it, from closest to farthest

Pier 84 (West 44th Street) · about 8 min

Our pick for most nights. It's a long, west-facing pier, almost 1,000 feet, between the Intrepid and the Circle Line boats, with a sloping lawn, a fountain, a community garden and a dog run. In season, the boathouse there rents kayaks and paddleboards and runs classes. It's also the closest: walk west on 48th Street to 12th Avenue, cross, and head four blocks south along the river. For the park and the walk back, see dinner near Hudson River Park.

The Intrepid Museum (Pier 86) · about 6 min

The aircraft carrier museum sits right next to Pier 84, so the two make one afternoon. From October 1 to March 31 it's open daily 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, which means it closes right around sunset. Do the museum first, then walk out to Pier 84 as the light goes. It's closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and adult general admission was $38 when we checked in November 2026 (hours and tickets). After your visit: dinner near the Intrepid.

Clinton Cove and Pier 96 (from West 54th Street) · about 12 min

North of the cruise terminal, Clinton Cove is a run of waterfront lawns with a public boathouse on Pier 96. The volunteer-run boathouse offers free kayaking from late spring to early fall; the 2026 season has ended. On a warm evening the lawns are a good place to spread out and wait for the sun.

Pier 97's sunset deck (opposite West 57th Street) · about 13 min

The northernmost pier in Hudson River Park opened in October 2024 after a $47.5 million rebuild, and it has a deck made for this: a sunset deck with bistro tables and lounge chairs, looking over the river and the skyline. There's also a playground with a 26-foot rope climber, a sun lawn, a turf field and a granite slide, so it works with kids. It's the best seat on the river if you don't mind the extra five minutes' walk.

The High Line's north end (West 30th–34th Street) · about 15 min

The High Line says its northern stretch, the Rail Yard Preserve between 30th and 34th Street, has the park's only completely unobstructed views of the Hudson. It's been closed for restoration and is reopening in November 2026; when we checked, no date had been announced, so look at thehighline.org before you go. Until then, the nearest way up is at 30th Street, at Hudson Yards. Once it reopens, the 34th Street entrance is the only one on the High Line you can reach from the street without stairs or an elevator. The High Line is free and open 7am to 10pm through November 30, then 7am to 8pm from December 1, so winter sunsets fall well inside its hours. No dogs.

Edge at Hudson Yards (paid) · about 18 min

For the sunset from a hundred floors up: Edge is an outdoor sky deck on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, with a glass floor section. You go in through the Shops at Hudson Yards. When we checked in November 2026, general admission started at $42 plus a $2 fee, and prices vary by time. Edge's site also lists the day's sunset time (edgenyc.com).

From the water: Circle Line (Pier 83) · about 10 min

Circle Line's 2026 schedule from Pier 83, at West 42nd Street, includes a night cruise, Harbor Lights, along with its daytime sightseeing trips. Departure times shift with the season, so match one to the sunset on circleline.com.

A sunset plan for each season

• November to February. The sun sets around 4:30pm and we open at 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Watch from Pier 84, walk back up 12th Avenue to 48th Street, and you're at the table a little after five. Dress for the wind off the river. Up on our roof, the glass roof is closed and the room is heated.
• Winter weekends. Make it brunch first: Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4pm, with the last reservation at 3:30pm. Finish around four, walk about eight minutes to Pier 84, and you're there for the sunset.
• March and September. Sunset is around 7pm. Eat early, from 5pm, and walk down after; or watch first and book a later table. Last dinner reservations are 10pm Tuesday to Saturday and 9pm on Sunday.
• Summer. In late June the sun goes down about 8:30pm. Watch from the Pier 97 deck or Pier 84, then come up for a table at 9pm, or as late as 10pm Tuesday to Saturday. On warm nights the glass roof is open.
• Mondays. The piers are always there, but we're closed, so plan dinner for another night.

Getting to the river

• On foot. From anywhere in Hell's Kitchen, walk west to 12th Avenue; from our block on West 48th Street it's about 3 minutes. 12th Avenue is Route 9A, a wide road, and the Hudson River Greenway bike path runs alongside it, so cross at the lights and watch for bikes. On the way you may see a cruise ship in port at Pier 88, at the foot of West 48th Street.
• Bus. The M12 runs up 12th Avenue, and the M50 runs crosstown on 49th and 50th Street and stops at the Intrepid. Both stop at 12th Avenue and West 48th Street. A ride is $3.00 with a tap of a contactless card or phone.
• Subway. The closest is the C/E at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue, about 12 minutes east of our door; the river is a few more minutes west of us.

Planning a whole day on this side of town? Our things to do in Hell's Kitchen guide covers the rest of the neighborhood, with walking times.

Dinner after the sunset

When the light's gone, we're a few minutes up the street: Cantina Rooftop, 605 W 48th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenue. It's a Mexican restaurant and bar on the roof, with tacos, margaritas and a live DJ, open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm, plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4pm; closed Mondays. The retractable glass roof opens in good weather and closes, heated, when it's cold. Last dinner reservations are 10pm Tuesday to Saturday and 9pm on Sunday. Tables for 2 to 8 book online.