Parks and the outdoors in Manhattan

Parks and the outdoors in Manhattan

1. EatGramercy Flatiron

   11 Madison Park

   Has one of the most beautiful rooms of any restaurant in New York. Long well-liked for its upscale American cuisine and helpful service, it has in the last few years been graced with a new chef who has been getting rave reviews from many quarters. Call ahead for reservations.

2. SeeCentral Park

   Arsenal

   A picturesque brick building that actually predates the park. It was built in 1851 to serve as a munitions supply depot for the New York State National Guard, and was designed to look like a medieval fortress, with battlements overlooking the area. Today the building holds a refreshment stand and a small art gallery with rotating/seasonal exhibits.

   Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM·Free

3. EatGreenwich Village

   Babbo

   The most famous of the restaurants formerly owned by Mario Batali, and especially well-known for its pasta tasting menu. Reserve a month in advance or stand on line before opening time (5:30PM on weekdays and 5:00PM on Sundays) to try to get a seat at the bar or one of the tables kept open for walk-ins. Babbo is one of the hardest restaurants to get a reservation at in New York, which should indicate something about its popularity. Do not expect a cheap meal, but this is one you don't have to dress up for.

4. EatChinatown

   Banh Mi Saigon Bakery

   This is in back of a jewelry and gem shop; no kidding! Both the Banh Mi Saigon (pork) and Banh Mi Ga (chicken) sandwiches are fantastic. Get them to go and eat them in a nearby park such as the one on the corner of Spring and Mulberry, a few blocks north and one block west. Note: Do not confuse this place with Saigon Banh Mi So at 369 Broome St, which serves sandwiches that are fine but nowhere near as good.

5. SeeFinancial District

   Battery Park

   At the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is a waterfront green space, named for the artillery batteries which were installed here to protect the settlement of New York when it was under Dutch, then British rule. In the lead-up to the War of 1812, was constructed as a fort to protect the city, and is now operated as a small museum. There are several memorials in the park, including, a public art piece originally housed on the World Trade Center site which survived the events of September 11 and was moved to Battery Park. Ferries departing to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (see below) depart from here.

   Free

6. SeeCentral Park

   Belvedere Castle

   Sitting on Vista Rock, one of the highest points in the park, the castle provides excellent views of Central Park, particularly to the north. It is a popular spot for photography and contains a visitor center and a nature conservatory. Just below the castle to the north is Turtle Pond, a small, swamp-like pond holding various fish, frogs, insects, and birds.

   Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM·Free

7. SeeCentral Park

   Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

   One of Manhattan's favorite meeting points, the centerpiece of this Terrace is the Angel of the Waters fountain, dedicated in 1873 and an enduring icon of the park.

8. SeeFinancial District

   Bowling Green

   A small park at the foot of Broadway which is the oldest public park in the city and is the site of the Charging Bull sculpture created after the 1987 stock market crash. Bowling Green is also the origin point for the Broadway ticker-tape parades; if you walk up Broadway, you can view plaques in the sidewalk honoring the people or events celebrated in these parades.

9. BuyFinancial District

   Brookfield Place

   formerly World Financial Center

   Shopping, dining, events and the Winter Garden all open to the public.

10. SeeFinancial District

    Brooklyn Bridge

    From its intersection with Park Row (just east of City Hall) you can walk (takes about 20-30 minutes each way), bike, or drive across the historic and iconic bridge to Brooklyn. The view from the bridge is quite lovely, with excellent views of Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn and good views of Midtown and the New York Harbor in the distance.

    No toll

11. SeeGramercy Flatiron

    Bryant Park

    Located behind the Main Library, this shady park is an excellent spot to relax and get some good views of the surrounding skyscrapers. The park has free wireless internet, a children's carousel, several food and drink kiosks, and seasonal shows such as Fashion Week.

12. EatGramercy Flatiron

    Bryant Park Grill

    New American food in elegant dining room behind the public library, with a view over the park.

    11:30AM-11PM daily·$30 for mains

13. EatChinatown

    Cafe Hong Kong

    This restaurant was opened in 2013 by personnel from the defunct South China Garden, which used to be around the corner on Mott St. The portions are large and the food is delicious. This is in the estimation of many people the best Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown right now, and best to go to with at least a couple of friends and a big appetite, so that you can share a few dishes. If you like chicken, get the garlic fried chicken, which is one of their standout dishes.

    11AM-11PM every day·Appetizers: $3-6; Soups: $3-9.95 (the $9.95 ones serve 4); Salads: $6-7 (except Lobster Salad: seasonal price); Sandwiches: $2-5; Mains: $7.50-28, plus some seasonal-priced ones, but clustering between $12 and $16 for mains not based on rice or noodles; Lunch specials: $6.95 (11AM - 4PM)

14. EatUpper East Side

    Café Fledermaus & Café Sabarsky

    Café Sabarsky is in a beautiful room with wood furnishings on the ground floor, across from Central Park, and Café Fledermaus has tiled floors and is inspired by the Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna but is in the basement and has no view; however, the two cafes have the same lunch/dinner menus. These cafes are not cheap, and part of what you're paying for is the location and the decor/atmosphere, but you also get value, in the form of genuine Viennese cuisine and pastries. These cafes are a good option if you're visiting the Metropolitan Museum and prefer to eat something nearby that's better than the merely OK food at the Met's Snack Bar. You may have a significant wait for a table at peak hours, but it's worth a try.

    Mon Wed 9AM-6PM, Thu-Sun 9AM-9PM, closed Tue·Breakfast (9-11AM): $3-20 for single dishes; $28 for a prix fixe menu, $38 with a glass of Sekt; Cold beverages: $5-13; Viennese coffee specialties: $6-8; Savory dishes (11AM to closing): $16-32 (less expensive ones are soups); Sausages: $14-20; Hot beverages: $8-12; Desserts: $7-13; Salads: $18-28; Sandwiches: $19

15. DoUpper East Side

    Carl Schurz Park

    Home of Gracie Mansion, the Official Residence of the Mayor of New York, Carl Schurz Park also boasts wonderful views of Hell Gate and the East River. Compared to other New York parks, Carl Schurz is extremely quiet, given that the surrounding area is almost exclusively residential. The park features two bustling dog parks, two playgrounds, a sports court, multiple fields of grass to rest on on a peaceful spring day, and a boardwalk with beautiful views of Roosevelt Island. This is a great destination for any visitor sick of the overwhelming crowds elsewhere in the city.

    Daily 6AM-midnight·Free

16. SeeCentral Park

    Central Park Zoo

    Small and gem-like, New York's "oldest, newest zoo" opened in its current guise in 1988, although animals in various zoo incarnations have resided here since the 1860s. This zoo is fairly small and doesn't have as many large animals as you might expect, but this zoo does include sea lions, snow leopards, penguins, polar bears, monkeys, red pandas and exotic birds in pleasant exhibits. Next door is a children's zoo, covered in the cost of admission, which has a barnyard animals you can pet, a duck pond, and lots of play areas for kids.

    Nov-Mar: Daily 10AM-4:30PM, Apr-Oct: Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM-5:30PM·$15.95/adult, $12.95/senior, $9.95/child, children under 3 free

17. SeeFinancial District

    City Hall

    On a triangular city block between Broadway, Park Row and Chambers Street sits City Hall, a gorgeous gleaming white building completed in 1812, which still hosts the mayor's office and the New York City Council chambers. The building itself is fenced off and only accessible by tour, but there is a lovely park surrounding the building, with plenty of shady trees and a pleasant fountain just to the south of the building. Just north of City Hall and on the same block is the, a gorgeous government structure and the legacy of Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed, who used the courthouse project to embezzle large sums of money from the city budget and was convicted in a courtroom in this building.

18. SeeFinancial District

    City Hall Station

    The original subway station, and quite a marvel to witness--the chandeliers and ornate tiling are a sharp contrast to the nearby Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station. There's one catch, though: it's been closed since 1945. However, you can see it by staying on the downtown 6 train after its last stop Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; it will turn around in the old station. This is the one place in the system where this is allowed, and the announcements reflect that. The Transit Museum (in Downtown Brooklyn) offers occasional tours as well, which allow you to actually walk around the station, but you must be a museum member and a US citizen, making this an impractical choice for most visitors.

19. SeeGramercy Flatiron

    Clock Tower Building

    formerly Metropolitan Life Home Office building

    A lovely building with a tall clock tower just across Madison Ave from Madison Square Park. The first 11 stories were completed in 1893, with the clock tower being added in 1909.

20. SeeChinatown

    Columbus Park

    An excellent place to relax and people-watch. Early in the mornings, people practice their tai chi there. If you're interested, some of these people might teach you a little bit of it. At times, a group of women practices traditional Chinese fan dances. Also, there are usually basketball tournaments in the summer you can either participate in or watch. In the afternoon when school is out, many adolescents hang out in this park.

21. SeeCentral Park

    Conservatory Garden

    A six-acre garden which is Central Park's only formal garden, representing Italian, French, and English landscape styles, with formal plantings and numerous sculptures.

    8AM-dusk·Free

22. SeeGramercy Flatiron

    Consolidated Edison Building

    This landmark building, constructed as a 19-story tower from 1911-1914 and enlarged to 26 stories in 1929, is still visible from some distance away. Its greatest claim to fame is its clock tower, with a loggia above the clock and just below the roof that is beautifully illuminated at night, often in blue but sometimes in another color or changing colors. You can recognize it because the lights are partially blocked by four pillars on each side. This remains the headquarters of ConEdison, so the interior is not a tourist attraction but you can walk around the exterior, and the upper reaches of the tower are very easily viewable by looking east from Union Square Park.

23. SeeCentral Park

    Dairy

    Built in the 1870s as a dairy farm, with a structure designed to resemble a country church. Today it is a visitor center and gift shop for the park, housed in a beautiful structure. Next door is the Chess & Checkers House, another visitor center and the volunteer headquarters, with a number of chess and checkers tables under a shady pergola.

    Daily 10AM-5PM

24. SeeUpper West Side

    Dakota Building

    This massive apartment building has been (and is!) home to many celebrities. Probably best known was the former Beatle John Lennon, who was gunned down outside the building on December 8, 1980, by a crazed fan. Lennon had been living at the Dakota with his second wife, Yoko Ono, who still resides in the building. A memorial to the former Beatle exists nearby in Central Park. The building has become a popular place of pilgrimage for many who admire Lennon.

25. EatMidtown East

    Delegates Dining Room

    Located on the 4th floor of the UN General Assembly, this high-class dining hall lets you eat alongside delegates, ambassadors, and celebrities at the heart of international politics. The menu changes every day, providing a unique international buffet every day as you sit with a gorgeous view of the East River. Reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. Do note that with security concerns, you'll be escorted to and from the dining room. Dress attire is business casual.

    11:30AM-2:30PM·Buffet $34.99

26. SeeUpper West Side

    Deutsche Bank Center (formerly the Time Warner Center)

    Has the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for dining, drinks, and Chihuly chandeliers. It also has a small, ultra-high-end mall with luxury shops and Botero sculptures. In the basement is a large Whole Foods Market, and there is seating for eating their prepared food and salad bar items (cheaper than eating in a restaurant). Or better yet, on nicer days, pick up a prepared meal to go and venture across the street to Columbus Circle or Sheep's Meadow in Central Park for a nice outdoor meal.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-7PM

27. DoCentral Park

    Diana Ross Playground

    A large wooden climbing structure, toddler swings, and a water-spray feature, at the base of Summit Rock - the highest natural point in the park.

28. SeeLower East Side

    East River Park

    This park is a little rough and ready, but there are nice views from the Promenade, and if you are in the neighborhood on July 4, this is where you want to go to see the fireworks if you can't get invited to someone's roof and are too late to get onto the elevated FDR Drive. Just make sure your view isn't blocked by a tree.

29. SeeEast Village

    East River Park

    Most of this park is on the Lower East Side (and indeed the part of the East Village this far east is often also still called the Lower East Side or Loisaida), but the portion of it in the extreme East Village contains one or two baseball diamonds, some basketball courts, a playground or two and a well-tended path along the river that provides very worthwhile views in good weather. Popular with joggers, cyclists, picnickers, ball players, kids, and people taking a stroll.

30. SeeFinancial District

    Federal Hall

    On this site on April 30, 1789, George Washington stood on a balcony overlooking Wall Street and was inaugurated as the first president of the United States. The old building on the site had been used as New York's city hall and had hosted some of the first congregations of the colonies in the lead-up to the American Revolution, such as the Stamp Act Congress. After the revolution the building, now Federal Hall, briefly housed Congress, the Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices before the national capital moved to Philadelphia. The current building dates to 1842 and was used first as a Customs House, then later the US Sub-Treasury (millions of dollars of gold and silver were kept in the basement vaults). Today the building is maintained by the National Park Service as a museum dedicated to the history of the site. Guided tours of the building are available, or you can just walk in and look up at the rotunda and view some of the artifacts, such as the bible Washington used in his inauguration ceremony.

    Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM. Free guided tours Mon-Fri at 10AM, 11AM, 1PM, 2PM and 3PM·Free

31. DrinkChelsea

    Gallow Green

    Although Gallow Green is closed during the winter months, it is without a doubt a place you want to visit while it's open. It's a garden restaurant and bar in the McKittrick Hotel. Definitely for the hopeless romantics.

    Mon–Wed 4–10:30PM; Thu Sun noon–10:30PM; Fri Sat noon–12:45AM

32. SeeUpper West Side

    General Grant National Memorial

    Grant's Tomb

    General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife are buried in this imposing mausoleum, the largest tomb in North America. If you come when it is closed, you can still see the impressive facade, but coming during open hours gives you the opportunity to view the murals, the tomb and various documentation inside. Across Riverside Drive, there is a viewpoint to look across the Hudson River, a museum, gift shop and restrooms.

    Fall/Winter/Spring Wed-Sun 10AM-4PM, Summer Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM·free

33. SeeEast Village

    Grace Church

    A lovely neo-Gothic Episcopal church, seemingly inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Free guided tours every Sunday at 1PM, or just walk past and look. Of course, there are also masses, and a concert series is given, too.

34. SeeGramercy Flatiron

    Gramercy Park

    A private park open only to immediate area residents and guests at hotels on the perimeter who have access to keys to the gate. However, anyone can walk around the park, look in through the fence and look at the beautiful old buildings across the street from it on every side.

35. EatGramercy Flatiron

    Gramercy Tavern

    Thought of as Danny Meyer's flagship restaurant, serves upscale American food at higher prices than 11 Madison Park. Expect to pay over $100/person for dinner in the main dining room. The tavern is more informal and more moderately priced. Gramercy Tavern is known as one of the more difficult reservations to obtain in Manhattan.

36. SeeCentral Park

    Grand Army Plaza

    A public square at the southeast corner of the park which marks one of the primary entrances to Central Park. The square is named for the Union Army of the Civil War and sports a gilded bronze statue of Union General William Sherman and the Pulitzer Fountain, which is crowned with a bronze figure of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit.

    Free

37. SeeMidtown East

    Grand Central Terminal

    Walk in and see the main concourse, a cavernous room often filled with people and elegantly detailed, with arched windows, a lovely clock, and an astronomical ceiling.

    5:30AM-1:30AM·Free

38. SeeCentral Park

    Great Hill

    One of the highest points in the park, the Great Hill is a hilltop meadow surrounded by stately elm trees and serves as an excellent place to picnic.

39. SeeCentral Park

    Great Lawn

    At the center of Central Park, the Great Lawn is a large clearing with lawns and ballfields, perfect for ballgames, sunbathing, and picnicking. Just to the east of the Lawn is the Obelisk, a 71-foot tall structure which is the oldest man-made object in the park, having been erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, around 1500 BC.

40. SeeMidtown East

    Greenacre Park

    One of New York's many "pocket parks," Greenacre is a small plot of green space and an excellent place to relax, with a nice waterfall in the back, plenty of seats and tables, and lots of shade, plus a small tea shop.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Manhattan (CC BY-SA 4.0).