Finding a Public Restroom in New York City

Updated: 5 febrero 2024

One of the most frequent questions our local tour guides are asked by our guests is "Is there a public bathroom near here?"

It isn't always easy to find a public bathroom in New York City, but they do exist and we know where they are!

In this post, we list places in neighborhoods you are likely to visit on your trip and also include a map of thousands of bathrooms in NYC!

At the bottom of this post, you'll find great advice on finding restrooms in NYC from members of our New York City Travel Tips Facebook group

Our group of over 225,000 members consists of locals, regular visitors, and newbies to the city who are happy to share their advice with others.

You don't need to join the group to get recommendations, suggestions and advice.

After you've read this post, check out the group for advice on all things New York City!

And don't forget, we always provide you with a free bathroom spot before the start of any of our free walking tours.

Related Posts:

New York Walking Tours

BATHROOMS IN POPULAR NEIGHBORHOODS

Here are restrooms in neighborhoods you are likely to explore during your visit to NYC.


Midtown Manhattan

  • Bryant Park on 42nd Street bet 5th & 6th Ave. Considered the nicest public bathroom in the entire city, as Katie shows in the video above.
  • New York Public Library at 42nd Street at 5th Avenue.
  • Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street and Lexington Ave. The restrooms are located on the Lower Level. Additional ladies and family restrooms are located in the Station Master’s Office on the Upper Level next to Track 37.
  • Grand Central Madison (an addition to the terminal). Enter at E. 47th Street and Madison Avenue, go down 2 levels from the street, and the restrooms are to the right of the ticket booths.
  • Macy’s at 34th Street and 6th Avenue 
  • Waldorf Astoria Hotel, at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Street
  • Moynihan Hall in Penn Station at 8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Street
  • Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenue

Bathrooms in Times Square

  • M&M Store at Broadway and 48th Street
  • Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway (on the 8th floor just past reception)
  • Hard Rock Cafe 1t 1501 Broadway and 43rd Street
  • Disney Store at Broadway and 45th Street (2nd floor)
  • The Gap at Broadway and 44th Street (lower level, an employee must open the door for you)
  • CitizenM Hotel at 218 W 50th St (downstairs)
  • Kimpton Muse Hotel at 130 W 46th Street

Public Bathrooms Near Rockefeller Center

  • Bergdorf Goodman at 754 5th Avenue
  • Saks 5th Avenue at 611 5th Ave. at 50th Street
  • Tiffany's on 5th Avenue and 57th Street (every floor, but the ground level floor has accessible bathrooms. Each has different decor and the toilet seats are heated!)

Lower Manhattan 


Central Park and Upper West Side

  • Central Park has multiple restrooms. See this map. We can't say they are as beautiful as the park, but they are clean enough.

Greenwich Village, Union Saure and Flatiron District

  • Washington Square Park
  • Strand Bookstore at 828 Broadway and 11th Street
  • Harry Potter Store at 935 Broadway and 22nd Street
  • Whole Foods on 14th Street between Broadway and University Place
  • Burlington Coast Factory 14th Street between Broadway and University Place

SoHo 

  • Bloomingdales SoHo at 504 Broadway
  • Nike Store at Broadway and Spring Street
  • REI SoHo 303 Lafayette Street
  • Apple SoHo 103 Prince Street
  • Soho Grand Hotel at Grand Street and West Broadway in the back past the front desk

Chelsea


Lower East Side

  • Essex Market 88 Essex Street at Delancey Street
  • Ludlow Hotel at180 Ludlow Street

PARKS

Most NYC parks have public restrooms, though they may not be open at all hours.

See the Park Department's website.


HOTELS

We cannot guarantee that all hotels will let you use the restrooms. But some will. It can't hurt to try.

If you walk in as if you are a guest, look for a restaurant or bar area. There will likely be a restroom nearby.

If you can't find one, ask at reception. Perhaps they will be kind and say yes.

Some hotels now have restrooms that require the keycard to the rooms so that only guests can enter.

See a list of many hotels in several neighborhoods in NYC from our post "Where to Stay in NYC".


FAST-FOOD CHAINS

Some Starbucks stores have restrooms and New York City is filled with them, so you should not have much trouble finding one.

You might have to wait in line, or you might have to purchase something if the place is not busy.

McDonald’s has clean, easy facilities and usually doesn’t require you to ask for a bathroom key.

Chipolte usually has bathrooms though you may need the code from a receipt. If you aren't buying anything, ask the people at the counter or wait by the door until someone comes out.

Ask at Five Guys. Some have restrooms.


DEPARTMENT STORES

Most big chain department stores like Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Crate and Barrel and TJ Maxx have bathrooms that you can use without making a purchase.

Large bookstores like Barnes & Noble also offer restrooms where you can just walk in or if required request a key.

Supermarket chains Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s supermarkets have restrooms. A code or key may be required.


TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

Here are some suggestions on finding public bathrooms in NYC from members of our New York Travel Tips group on Facebook.

While you should have no trouble in most hotels, here are some in Midtown that our group members know how to get to quickly -- including The Plaza!

It’s reassuring to know that these popular restrooms in Midtown Manhattan are nice!

Michael discovered some of the loveliest bathrooms in Lower Manhattan. The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place is worth seeing if you have time to kill near the World Trade Center.

Nestor has a genius tip!

If you have a gym membership with a nationwide chain, you should ask at any location in NYC if you can pop in to use the facilities.

You can also pop into our Travel Tips Facebook Group to search for other brilliant advice from the members of the group!

New York Travel Tips

MAP OF NYC PUBLIC BATHROOMS

This map is courtesy of the creator of Got2GoNYC, Theodora Siegel.

If you have any difficulty opening this map, follow the instructions from her Instagram post.


About The Author

Courtney Shapiro

Courtney is a lifelong New Yorker fascinated with the city’s history, culture and cuisine. She loves exploring the world, as well as sharing her travel expertise with others. She joined the Free Tours by Foot team in 2011, first as a guide and then as a writer. She has a law degree, a teaching degree and a worn-out passport. Her motto is “Have backpack, will travel”. READ MORE...
Updated: febrero 5th, 2024
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