Make a day out of 'Little Shop of Horrors' in New York

Discover NYC attractions and restaurants perfect for fans of this cult-classic horror comedy musical about a flower shop worker and a flesh-eating plant.

Gillian RussoAugust 20, 2024, 04:00

The musical Little Shop of Horrors may take place "downtown," but you need only go to Midtown to see the lush Off-Broadway revival. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's horror-comedy cult classic has only grown in popularity since its 1982 premiere, and this production, at the Westside Theatre since 2019, doesn't seem to be uprooting anytime soon.

Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour, a flower shop worker who makes a deal with a talking, flesh-eating plant for fame, fortune, and the love of his coworker, Audrey. It's a story suitable for most ages and will satisfy enthusiasts of plants, the macabre, and the silly alike. Check out our recommendations for more NYC attractions perfect for Little Shop of Horrors fans, and get tickets to go to Skid Row.

Get Little Shop of Horrors tickets now.

PlantShed

Pick up your own strange and unusual (or totally ordinary) plant at PlantShed, with two locations on the Upper West Side and four downtown. New York has tons of flower shops, but PlantShed also has an on-site cafe featuring a rotating menu of botanical beverages alongside the classics. Sip on a pre-show beverage and eat a snack in the company of lush plants — we promise none of them will try to eat you.

Address: Various locations
Price: $

New York Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Looking to go somewhere that's green? New York has over 1,000 parks and green spaces, but plant lovers should gravitate to one of the city's beautiful botanical gardens. The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden boast both indoor and outdoor conservatories, so even if it's cold outside, you can still see thousands of flowers and plants in bloom. Both also host light shows and special exhibits during the holidays.

Looking to stay in Manhattan? See greenery at the world-famous Central Park; Bryant Park, conveniently located near the Theatre District; the High Line, a park built on an old railway track; or Riverside Park, which is long but not wide and offers stunning water views.

Address: 2900 Southern Blvd. (NYBG); 150 Eastern Parkway inside Prospect Park (BBG)
Price: $

Seamore's

Suddenly... Seamore? The irresistible Little Shop pun is why we're recommending this seafood spot in this roundup, but the delicious menu is reason to recommend it anytime. Expect classic, fan-favorite fish dishes such as baja fish tacos, Maine lobster rolls, and miso-glazed salmon — plus options like chicken milanese and a smash burger for carnivores like Audrey II (the plant).

Seamore's has locations in the downtown Financial District, on the Upper East Side, and in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Address: Various locations
Price: $$

Winnie's Jazz Bar

Little Shop of Horrors features music that blends 1960s doo-wop, rock and roll, and Motown styles. If you're in the mood to hear even more of that, stop by this jazz bar for a pre- or post-show drink and bite. The venue hosts live music almost every night, including plenty of rock and doo-wop bands and jazz and classical musicians.

Address: 63 W. 38th St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Price: $$

NYC escape room

Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy, combining the frightful with the fun. Fans of that combination are also likely to enjoy an escape room, where you and your friends must solve puzzles to escape a haunted hotel, a jail, a bomb shelter, or another adrenaline-inducing location. Unfortunately, there isn't one where you must escape the tendrils of a bloodthirsty, supersized Venus flytrap — not yet, anyway.

Escape room centers are located in various NYC neighborhoods, but the closest ones to the Theatre District are OMEscape at 325 W. 38th St., Mission Escape Games at 265 W. 37th St., and Exit Escape Rooms at 247 W. 36th St.

Address: Various locations
Price: $$

Little Shop of Horrors

You've experienced NYC's green scene, grabbed some grub, heard some old-fashioned live music, and gotten your horror fix — now put it all together at Little Shop of Horrors, which has been blossoming off Broadway since 2019. The intimate Westside Theatre puts you right up close not only with the celebrities that perform rotating stints in the show, but with the fast-growing, impressively crafted Audrey II. Watch out for the snapping jaws!