MetLife Building
MetLife Building
4
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Midtown East
How to get there
- Grand Central • 2 min walk
- Grand Central • 2 min walk
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4.0
112 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
50
Average
37
Poor
2
Terrible
1
BhawaniPathania
Mumbai, India3,683 contributions
Nov 2015 • Business
Not the tallest or the most beautiful of NY buildings, but it still manages to impress. If you look at the Grand central station from the front, you will see the Metlife building towering above the Grand lady.
This building also houses and is named after one of the oldest and most respected insurance companies in US..Metlife Inc. You simply cannot miss the building if you are visiting the grand central.
This building also houses and is named after one of the oldest and most respected insurance companies in US..Metlife Inc. You simply cannot miss the building if you are visiting the grand central.
Written 21 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,492 contributions
May 2023
It's a landmark in my eyes because I always see the old Pan Am building in the middle of Park Avenue near Grand Central. There is a helipad on the top. It is classic mid-century design.
Written 13 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E K
New York City, NY26 contributions
Jan 2020
The Pan Am building is in the 'epicenter of Manhattan... of itself ...tall and elegant.... Surrounded by the Chrysler building...One Vanderbilt...and the Phillip Morris Building... In one sweep...it is the gateway to Grand Central Station... Walk through the neighborhood...and you don't quite feel you are in New York City....but there's no question that you are... This is a meandering stroll that opens you to all the adventures... And the Commodore and the Hyatt (formally the Vanderbilt Hotel)...Lexington and 42nd... Don't run...
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist21524
Ballston Lake, NY1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Business
From a retired MetLife employee, this is not The MetLife Building. It was the Pan Am building which the Met bought years ago and put their name on. The real MetLife buildings are located on 23rd to 25th street between Madison and Park Avenues. These buildings were sold years ago to make what else, Money! How a company can sell its history away I shall never know. Want to see some beautiful lobbies take a walk downtown.
Written 21 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,708 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
This 59-story skyscraper stands out like a sore thumb in Midtown Manhattan, towering above nearby buildings. It looks like a sentry behind the beautiful Helmsley Building, tiny in comparison at 34 stories. MetLife is not especially attractive. It features International-style architecture -- plain, massive and without ornamentation. But it makes the 100 tallest buildings in the United States list. And I regard it as a symbol of Midtown.
The structure opened in 1963 as the Pan Am Building. At the time, it had the world's largest commercial office space and the airline took up 15 floors. The roof was once used as a place for helicopters to set down, and I remember seeing many land there years ago. MetLife owned the structure for a while and put its name on the building, where it has stayed since and is brightly lit at night.
On my most recent NYC stay, I visited the main floor of the building. The space is big and simple with many shops and places to eat. It is worth a look if near Grand Central Station.
The structure opened in 1963 as the Pan Am Building. At the time, it had the world's largest commercial office space and the airline took up 15 floors. The roof was once used as a place for helicopters to set down, and I remember seeing many land there years ago. MetLife owned the structure for a while and put its name on the building, where it has stayed since and is brightly lit at night.
On my most recent NYC stay, I visited the main floor of the building. The space is big and simple with many shops and places to eat. It is worth a look if near Grand Central Station.
Written 11 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shishir_ag1
Mumbai, India127 contributions
Jun 2018 • Business
Excellent location next to grand central. Provides beautiful view. Had an opportunity to visit top floors where lot of Metlife history also resides. Lots of good eateries - my favourite being Godiva.
Written 10 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PushExplore
Singapore, Singapore4,953 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Well if you are driving on Park Avenue then this is one of the buildings you will see. It stands tall and is quite iconic in NYC.
Written 7 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rayrest
Fenton, UK7,984 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We saw this building whilst walking towards Grand Central Station on a visit. Yes, its an American skyscraper and is impressive and yes its hard to miss. However it is not very well known at all. Located close to Grand Central Station.
Written 25 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jg3arrow
Nice, France1,323 contributions
Sept 2015 • Business
This is, was and always be the skyscraper that Pan Am built. MetLife's name on it is a sad reminder of corporate America's lack of a sense of history or traditional. If you ever can get up to the penthouse bar, you will have one of the views of the skyline available.
Written 29 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLBFive
Staten Island, NY899 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
Passed their shop strolling through the Met Life building after visiting Grand Central Terminal. I have never been a Godiva lover, but that has all changed since I had their chocolate dipper ice cream cone. Can't stop thinking about it!
Written 17 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi jg3arrow, Do you recall what the penthouse bar was called in 1967? Thank you
Written 30 September 2021
Is there a way to go up the MetLife Building? Is there a visitor's pass? If I work for the MetLife, would that help me go up the building? Thanks!
Written 29 June 2016
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