Restaurants Near Union Square: Tapas at Boqueria Flatiron

Union Square has a way of filling an afternoon. You come up out of the subway, wander through the farm stands, browse the shops along Broadway, sit on a bench to people-watch, and suddenly everyone is hungry at once. If you are scrolling through restaurants near Union Square, Boqueria Flatiron at 53 West 19th Street is an easy pick: a lively Spanish tapas room a few blocks north-west of the park, and the very first Boqueria, opened in 2006.

Tapas are made for days like this. The table orders a few small plates, then a few more, and the meal grows with the conversation.

This guide covers the walk up from the square, what to order at lunch, brunch and dinner, how to plan around a Greenmarket morning, and how to bring a group.

Key Takeaways

• Boqueria Flatiron is at 53 West 19th Street, roughly a 10-minute walk north-west of Union Square Park.
• It is the original Boqueria, which opened in 2006 and is inspired by the tapas bars of Barcelona.
• Lunch centers on a Tapas Lunch (two tapas per guest, shared, with churros for dessert), and weekends bring a family-style Brunch Feast.
• Dinner offers tapas like Gambas al Ajillo and Secreto de Ibérico, plus three set menus that let the kitchen take the lead.
• Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, and bar seats are kept for walk-ins.

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1. Why Boqueria Stands Out Among Restaurants Near Union Square

The streets around Union Square are packed with places to eat. What sets Boqueria apart is the style of eating. Our kitchen takes its cue from the tapas bars of Barcelona, where friends crowd around small plates and order another round when the first one disappears.

That format suits a Union Square outing:

• Groups that split up can regroup. One friend was at the market, another at the bookstore, a third just got off work. Shared plates pull everyone back to one table.
• Appetites vary. Small plates let each person eat as much or as little as they like.
• It feels like an occasion without being stiff. The room is warm and energetic, and the menu is easy to navigate even if Spanish food is new to you.

Our location page describes this first Boqueria as the room that defined the modern tapas experience in New York, and it is still a favorite for people from Chelsea and Flatiron.

2. From the Square to West 19th Street

Union Square Park sits where Broadway meets Fourth Avenue, between East 14th and East 17th Streets. Boqueria Flatiron is at 53 West 19th Street, on the stretch between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. That puts us a couple of blocks north and a short way west of the park.

Walking. From the north end of the park, head up Broadway or University Place a few blocks, then turn west on 19th Street and cross Fifth Avenue. It is roughly a 10-minute stroll at an easy pace.

By subway. The 14 Street–Union Square station is a major transfer point, served by the 4, 5 and 6, the L, and the N, Q, R and W lines. That makes the square a natural meeting point for friends coming from all over the city.

By taxi or rideshare. On a cold or rainy evening, a quick ride saves your shoes.

Starting point	How to get to Boqueria	Rough time
North end of Union Square Park	Walk up Broadway or University Place, then west on 19th Street	About 10 minutes
14 Street–Union Square subway station	Exit to the park, then follow the walk above	A little over 10 minutes
Greenmarket stalls on the park’s plazas	Head north, then west across Fifth Avenue	About 10 minutes, plus time for one last stall
Anywhere nearby in bad weather	Taxi or rideshare	A few minutes plus traffic

Tip: meet at the park and book the table a little later than you think. Union Square slows everyone down.

3. A Greenmarket Morning, Then Brunch or Lunch

The Union Square Greenmarket is one of the great New York rituals. According to the Union Square Partnership, the market is run year-round by GrowNYC on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with well over a hundred vendors selling produce, meats, cheeses, wines and flowers on the park’s plazas. Walking the stalls is a feast for the eyes, and by the end of it most people are ready for a real meal.

On a weekday: the Tapas Lunch. Our Flatiron lunch menu is built around the Tapas Lunch, a set lunch where each guest chooses two tapas from a selection of our quickest small plates. Everything comes out to share, and churros con chocolate close the meal. Good picks from the lunch menu include:

• Patatas Bravas: crispy potatoes with salsa brava (a gently spicy tomato sauce), pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika) and garlic allioli.
• Croquetas de Jamón: creamy croquettes made with Serrano ham, served with quince purée.
• Gambas al Ajillo: shrimp sizzled in olive oil with garlic, brandy, a lobster reduction and a little guindilla pepper for warmth.

Prefer your own plate? The lunch menu also lists a Roasted Chicken Bowl and a Grilled Salmon Bowl on black rice with avocado, a Crunchy Cabbage Salad and a Strip Steak with salsa verde.

On a Saturday: the Brunch Feast. Saturday is a big market day, and our weekend brunch is a natural follow-up. The Brunch Feast is family style: the table picks two tapas and three brunch dishes to share, and churros arrive for dessert. Brunch dishes on the Flatiron menu include:

• Boqueria B.E.C.: mini scrambled egg sandwiches with bacon, Jamón Serrano and Mahón cheese (a mild cow’s milk cheese from Menorca), with house-made potato chips.
• Huevos Horneados: two eggs simmered in tomato sauce with chorizo and roasted piquillo peppers, served with grilled bread.
• Torrija: Spain’s answer to French toast, crispy and stuffed, with blackberry compote and maple syrup.
• Brunch Paella: bomba rice with chicken thighs, chorizo, sofrito and smoked paprika.

Add a glass of house-made sangría and the shopping bags can wait under the table.

4. Dinner After Shopping, a Show or a Long Day

Evenings around Union Square have their own buzz, with the after-work crowd spilling out and friends meeting on the park steps. The dinner menu at Boqueria Flatiron is made for a longer, more relaxed meal.

Start with the ham. Jamón Ibérico de Bellota is the prized cured ham from black Iberian pigs that roam oak groves and feed on acorns. Ours is aged 48 months, deeply marbled, rich and nutty. Order a plate for the table while everyone settles in.

Build out the tapas. From the dinner menu:

• Patatas Bravas and Croquetas de Jamón, the two crowd-pleasers almost every table orders.
• Gambas al Ajillo, best enjoyed with bread to mop up the garlicky olive oil.
• Seared Octopus with manzanilla olivada (an olive spread) and olive oil crushed potatoes.
• Secreto de Ibérico: the “secret” cut of Ibérico pork, richly marbled and seared, served with white romesco and shoestring potatoes.

Or hand over the decisions. Three set menus take the guesswork out of ordering:

Set menu	What it includes	Good for
Boqueria Essentials	A generous introduction to our guests’ favorite classic tapas and seasonal dishes	First-timers and anyone who wants the greatest hits
The Seasonal Selection	Dishes built around what is new this fall, with a choice of one meat, fish or paella	Regulars who want something fresh
Ibérico Celebration	Jamón Ibérico, Secreto de Ibérico and seasonal dishes, with a choice of one meat, fish or paella	Birthdays, anniversaries and big nights out

Finish sweet. Try Classic Churros with a dipping sauce, Crema Catalana (a Catalan custard with lemon zest and a crackly caramelized top) or Basque Chocolate Cheesecake.

Something to sip. House-made sangría comes as Tinta (red), Blanca (white), Rosada (rosé) and Sidra, a fall pour with Basque cider, apples and warm spices. There is also an all-Spanish wine list. Several gluten-free options are marked on the menu; mention any allergies before ordering.

5. Groups, Birthdays and Get-Togethers Near the Square

Union Square is where New Yorkers meet when a group lives all over the city. That makes Boqueria Flatiron a practical next stop for birthday dinners, team outings, reunions and visiting family.

Shared plates do much of the planning for you. Order a few tapas per person, add a set menu for the table, and the evening runs itself.

Your group	What to order	Why it works
Two friends after a market run	Pan con Tomate, Gambas al Ajillo, Crema Catalana	Light, bright and easy to linger over
Weekend brunch crew	Brunch Feast with Huevos Horneados, Torrija and Brunch Paella	Family style, with churros to finish
After-work team	Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Jamón, Angus Beef Sliders from happy hour	Quick bites that keep coming
Birthday table	Ibérico Celebration	A built-in sense of occasion
First visit to Boqueria	Boqueria Essentials	The classics in one go

For a more formal gathering, our NYC events page covers private and semi-private options, rehearsal dinners and family-style menus. We have also written a guide on group dining in Flatiron with more ideas for larger parties.

Book ahead for big tables. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, when the square and the surrounding blocks are at their busiest.

6. Visit Us in Flatiron

The park itself is a crossroads: market stalls, chess players, skateboarders, street performers and a steady flow of people heading to the subway. The NYC Parks page for Union Square Park has background on the park and its history, and the Union Square Partnership site lists what is happening in the neighborhood.

Head north-west and the mood shifts. Grand old commercial buildings line the side streets, Fifth Avenue runs up toward Madison Square, and West 19th Street feels like a real neighborhood block. That is where you will find us.

Before you go:

• Address: 53 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
• Menus: lunch, weekend brunch, dinner, happy hour, drinks and dessert, all on our Boqueria Flatiron location page
• Reservations: recommended, especially on weekends
• Walk-ins: bar seats are kept for guests without a booking
• Groups: private and semi-private events through the NYC events team

Leaving work near the square? The Flatiron happy hour list includes Pan con Tomate (toasted bread rubbed with tomato and garlic), Angus Beef Sliders, a Serrano Ham Grilled Cheese and mini martinis.

Conclusion

A good day around Union Square deserves a good meal at the end of it. Among the many restaurants near Union Square, Boqueria Flatiron offers something special: a short walk to West 19th Street, the room where Boqueria began in 2006, and a menu meant for sharing. Try the Tapas Lunch after a weekday market visit, the Brunch Feast after a Saturday at the stalls, or Gambas al Ajillo, Ibérico ham and one of our set menus once the evening gets going.

Take a look at the menus on the Boqueria Flatiron location page, then reserve your table and make Union Square the start of a great night out.

Frequently Asked Questions