Midtown is not only the center of Manhattan, but also the center of many visitor trips to New York. And while you might spend much of your time on the west side of Fifth Avenue -- where you’ll find Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center -- be sure to cross over to the east side to discover some of the city’s most architecturally stunning neighborhoods, and many top-tier restaurants.

Located just off of Madison Square Park near the Flatiron District, Tony May and Marisa May’s SD26 (19 E. 26th St. at Madison Ave., 212-265-5959; sd26ny.com) has quickly become a neighborhood favorite since moving to the neighborhood in 2009. (Tony’s San Domenico was a Central Park South staple for 20 years.) Setting a new standard for contemporary Italian cuisine, SD26 was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in New York, 2010.

Gramercy Park, between 21st & 23rd Sts. and bordered by Park Ave. So. & Third Ave., is best known for its small, fenced-in park, the last private park in the city accessible only to residents of surrounding buildings. Murray Hill is another residential neighborhood from 29th to 42nd Sts. bordered by Second and Fifth Aves. Jaiya (396 Third Ave. btw. 28th & 29th Sts., 212-889-1330; jaiya.com) is not only a great spot in the area for Thai food that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, it’s also where chefs come to learn about the startling flavors of lemongrass, coriander, and chili in Siamese cuisine.

The east side of Midtown is also home to some of the city’s most famous buildings and structures. Grand Central Terminal (42nd St. & Lexington Ave.) isn’t just the world’s most famous train station -- it’s also a midtown destination for shopping (with over 50 specialty stops), dining, public events, and tours. GCT is steps away from the Chrysler Building (43rd St. & Lexington Ave.), which, while not open to the public, remains the one of the world’s finest examples of 1930s Art Deco architecture and the second-tallest building in the city. The United Nations headquarters (First Ave. & 44th St.), built in 1949-50, is also nearby. The 56-story Chanin Building (42nd St. & Park Ave.) is one of the more well known, ornate Art Deco buildings in the city. Beautiful churches are also found in this area, including St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Bartholomew's Church, and St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

A landmark within a landmark, Grand Central Oyster Bar (Grand Central Terminal, Lower Level, 42nd St. btw. Lexington & Vanderbilt Aves., 212-490-6650; oysterbarny.com) has been doing business for over 90 years deep inside Grand Central Terminal. Its vault-like Gustavino glazed white tile ceiling, massive light trimmed columns, ship’s wheel lighting fixtures, expansive counter top eating area, old fashioned 23-seat Oyster Bar and warm, woody saloon -- complete with swinging doors, stuffed fish, portholes and nautical wall hangings -- mark it as a place from another era.

The staff at the stunningly beautiful Benjamin Steak House (52 E. 41st St. btw. Madison & Park Aves., 212-297-9177; benjaminsteakhouse.com) -- just blocks from Grand Central and the Chrysler Building -- is courteous, accommodating, and knowledgeable of a menu that includes everyone’s favorites. Sirloin, filet mignon, lamb and veal chops are all dry-aged in their own aging box, while seafood like Chilean sea bass, Norwegian salmon, yellowfin tuna, lobster, and surf and turf make for the best of both dining worlds.

With a history that is as rich as its decadent desserts, Serendipity 3 (225 E. 60th St., 212-838-3531; serendipity3.com) represents the Upper East Side exceedingly well as a longtime celebrity magnet (attracting the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol in the 1950s, and Beyoncé in the ’00s), and the original owner and founder, Stephen Bruce, continues to reinvent an outrageous whimsical world full of outrageous food, decadent desserts, and outlandish merchandise, located within a Tiffany-jeweled fantasy setting.