67th Street & Central Park West
New York NY

History & Renovation

Originally designed by Calvert Vaux, Tavern on the Green was built as a sheep fold in the 1880’s to house the 200 Southdown sheep that grazed in Central Park’s Sheep Meadow. Robert Moses transformed the building in to a restaurant in 1934, as part of his park renovation. Through the next few decades, Tavern underwent several changes in management, but the iconic view of the park, and the addition of a dance floor, outdoor seating, and lavish menu, kept prominent actors, musicians, and public figures coming back to the restaurant to dine, drink, and celebrate.

After a hiatus starting in 2009, the city searched diligently for a new operator to reopen the iconic restaurant in 2013. The city selected current owners and restaurateurs Jim Caiola and David Salama, previously of Philadelphia, who would bring a fresh, welcoming approach to Tavern. The duo renovated the restaurant with inviting décor and wood paneling reminiscent of the original sheep fold, and, with a seasonal menu more reflective of Greater New York, reopened Tavern on the Green in April 2014.

https://www.tavernonthegreen.com/history/

Horse carriages are associated with Tavern on the Green because both are located in Central Park, New York City, and the horse-drawn carriages are a common sight around the restaurant, often seen lining up near its entrance, creating a visual connection between the historic mode of transportation and the iconic eatery within the park's landscape; essentially, a visitor to Tavern on the Green is likely to see a horse carriage nearby during their visit.

The carriages are often seen near the restaurant's entrance, making them a familiar sight for anyone dining at Tavern on the Green.

Horse-drawn carriages were a common mode of transportation in the past, aligning with the old-fashioned, elegant aesthetic of Tavern on the Green.