Timeline
06:17
Find a quiet bench or spot on the grass inside Tompkins Square Park. The park opens at 06:00, so you will have the space to yourself as you wait for the sky to change color.
07:17
Watch the sunrise. On 15 January the sun sets toward the WSW, but from this vantage point in the East Village, the early morning light casts a soft glow over the square as the city begins to stir.
07:47
Walk ten minutes to B&H Dairy for a classic New York breakfast. They open at 07:00, which is just fifteen minutes after the January sunrise, so you can enjoy hot coffee and a slice of cheesecake or a breakfast sandwich while the morning rush begins.
08:17
Return to Tompkins Square Park to let the energy of the neighborhood settle in. The morning light is now fully established, and the park is alive with early runners and dog walkers.
Local tip
B&H Dairy is a historic kosher dairy luncheonette. It gets busy quickly after opening, so head there straight after the sunrise if you want a seat.
Check before you go
- Tompkins Square Park opens at 06:00 daily.
- B&H Dairy opens at 07:00 on weekdays and weekends.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to New York City (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).