You start 86 floors above Manhattan, looking out across the city from one of New York’s most famous landmarks. Not a bad place to begin a picnic.

From the Empire State Building Observation Deck, this self-guided Mystery Picnic takes you back down to street level, where clues lead you through Midtown to collect your picnic piece by piece from local food stops. Along the way, you’ll uncover stories behind the building’s fame, film moments, Art Deco details, and the human effort it took to build a skyscraper that still stops people in their tracks.

Each stop adds something new to your basket, from savory bites to sweet treats, with games and conversation starters woven into the route. No planning, no guessing where to go, and no awkward “what now?” moments. We’ve mapped the stops, built the clues, and lined up the food.

Your experience ends beneath the Empire State Building, where you’ll unpack your picnic spread, look up at the tower you just stood on top of, and enjoy New York from a slightly different angle. Still iconic, just with better snacks.