From April 3–12, 2026, the New York International Auto Show takes over the Javits Center and sends waves of visitors through Midtown and Times Square. After hours on the show floor and in the crowds, Ai Fiori in Midtown Manhattan becomes an ideal escape: refined Italian Riviera-inspired cuisine, a Grand Award–winning wine list and a sophisticated cocktail bar just far enough from the bustle.
Between April 3 and 12, 2026, the Auto Show draws corporate groups, luxury car enthusiasts, media and partners to the Javits Center. Days are packed with unveilings, client walk-throughs and press conferences. Once the show closes, attention shifts to Midtown and Times Square, where guests look for Manhattan restaurants near Times Square that feel more elevated than the obvious choices.
Rather than joining the loudest spots right off the main avenues, many Auto Show attendees prefer a quieter, more polished setting with serious food, strong wine options and a proper cocktail bar. The goal is to stay close to the action while enjoying the kind of experience that matches a luxury automotive brand or a high-stakes client meeting.
Midtown is where convention days naturally end: it’s home to major business hotels, corporate offices and most show-related dinners. Staying in this neighborhood means less time commuting and more time actually enjoying your NYC dinner.
It’s also where many upscale restaurants in NYC are concentrated, along with cocktail bars, skyline views and easy access to Times Square. For Auto Show visitors, the sweet spot is a restaurant that’s central and convenient yet calm, refined and well suited to both private celebrations and larger corporate groups.
Ai Fiori checks all of these boxes. Located on the second floor of The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue, it gives guests a composed, modern dining room above the street – close enough to Times Square and Midtown hotels to be practical, but with a very different, more relaxed energy.
Ai Fiori – “Among the Flowers” in Italian – showcases modern interpretations of French and Italian Riviera cuisine. The menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients and dishes inspired by land and sea: elegant crudos, vibrant vegetable preparations, signature pastas and composed seafood and meat plates.
The restaurant is entering a new quality restaurant chapter, led by founder Ahmass Fakahany and Executive Chef Lauren DeSteno. The focus is on a playful, celebratory spirit: technically precise cooking, but warmer and more shareable, designed for guests who want to linger, taste multiple plates and mark an occasion after a big day at the show.
The redesigned space, especially Bar Fiori, evokes relaxed glamour with dusky lighting, subtle nautical details and staff in chic cream jackets. It feels like a Riviera lounge where guests can toast a successful unveil, host clients or debrief the day over cocktails and plates from the kitchen.
Wine lovers will find one of the most serious lists in the city: Ai Fiori’s Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning program features over 1,000 selections, ideal for corporate hosts and collectors who expect the same level of excellence in the glass as on the showroom floor.
If you’re planning fine dining Midtown NYC after the Auto Show, a classic evening at Ai Fiori might start with aperitivo at Bar Fiori – perhaps a martini or a cocktail built around Italian spirits – followed by a progression through crudo, a signature pasta such as Trofie Nero or Tagliatelle Royale, and a main course of seafood or meat.
For corporate groups, Ai Fiori offers a range of private and semi-private spaces, from an imperial table to wine rooms and semi-enclosed areas. These settings are ideal for brand dinners, executive meetings or celebratory closing nights after the show, with tailored menus and a service style that balances formality and ease.
If you’re simply looking for a cocktail bar New York guests will remember, Bar Fiori is a destination on its own. You can keep the evening more casual with cocktails, shareable plates and conversation about favorite concept cars, without committing to a full tasting menu. This flexibility makes Ai Fiori one of the standout options among Manhattan restaurants near Times Square for both business and leisure guests.
Yes. Ai Fiori is located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, inside The Langham, New York. It’s a convenient choice if you’re staying near Times Square or in central Manhattan and looking for upscale restaurants NYC offers within easy reach after the show.
Ai Fiori serves modern French and Italian Riviera cuisine, with seasonal ingredients and a balance of crudos, vegetable dishes, pastas, seafood and meats. It’s well suited to luxury auto enthusiasts and corporate hosts who want a polished yet welcoming dinner.
Absolutely. Ai Fiori hosts a wide range of business events and offers several private and semi-private spaces. It’s an excellent setting for client dinners, team celebrations and product-adjacent gatherings after days at the Javits Center.
Yes. Bar Fiori is designed as a flexible cocktail and lounge space, perfect for a post-show stop with drinks and shareable plates, whether you’re with colleagues or friends.
Given the expected demand from April 3–12, 2026, it’s strongly recommended to reserve in advance, especially for prime dinner times and for any private or semi-private space you may need.
