Madison Square
Geographic Boundaries
Madison Square is centered around Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre green space bounded by Fifth Avenue, Broadway, East 23rd Street, and East 26th Street. The historic Madison Square North Historic District, designated in 2001, extends north to East 29th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas). The surrounding neighborhoods include NoMad (NOrth of MADison Square Park) to the northwest and Rose Hill to the northeast.
Businesses, Stores & Retailers
The Flatiron District, which includes Madison Square, features boutique fashion retailers, tech showrooms, and specialty food shops along Broadway and Fifth Avenue. East 23rd Street and Madison Avenue host a mix of luxury boutiques, design studios, and artisanal bakeries. The area around Eataly NYC Flatiron offers high-end Italian gourmet products, while surrounding side streets feature independent bookstores and craft coffee shops.
Fine Dining Establishments
Eleven Madison Park, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, anchors the culinary scene near the park’s southeast corner. Nearby institutions include The Clocktower (modern British cuisine), Gramercy Tavern (seasonal American fare), and Cosme (contemporary Mexican). Madison Square Park’s Shake Shack remains a landmark fast-casual venue.
Historical Attractions
Madison Square Park itself traces its origins to 1847, when it replaced a potter’s field. The park housed the original Madison Square Garden (1879-1890) and its successor arena (1890-1925) near the current New York Life Building. The 1902 Flatiron Building at 175 Fifth Avenue became an architectural icon for its steel-frame triangular design. The Met Life Tower (1909), once the world’s tallest building, dominates the park’s northern skyline.
Architectural Landscape
Pre-war Beaux-Arts structures dominate the Madison Square North Historic District, including the Appellate Division Courthouse (1896-1899) at East 25th Street. Modern additions include One Madison (2010), a 50-story glass residential tower at 23 East 22nd Street. The Toy Center buildings (1920s) at 1107 Broadway exempline early 20th-century commercial architecture.
Transportation Infrastructure
Key subway lines include the 6 train at 23rd Street/Park Avenue South, N/R/W at 23rd Street/Broadway, and F/M at 23rd Street/6th Avenue. Citi Bike stations flank the park’s perimeter, while nearby bus routes include the M1/M2/M3 on Fifth Avenue and the M23 SBS crosstown service.
Zip Codes
Primary zip codes include 10010 (south of 25th Street), 10001 (west of Fifth Avenue), and 10016 (east of Madison Avenue). The northern edges near East 29th Street fall under 10016 and 10010.
Corporate Presence
Technology firms occupy converted loft spaces around Broadway, while financial services companies cluster near the New York Life Building. Creative agencies and architecture firms dominate smaller office buildings. Notable tenants have included Etsy’s former headquarters at 117 Adams Street (adjacent to the district) and publishing houses along Fifth Avenue’s “Publishers’ Row.”