This post provides some advice on where to find public bathrooms in New York.
We include specific places in various neighborhoods you will likely visit when in NYC.
We even list a website with a great map of where to go when you have to go!
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:
BATHROOMS IN POPULAR NEIGHBORHOODS
Here are restrooms in neighborhoods you are likely to explore during your visit to NYC.
- World Trade Center in the Oculus building
- South Street Seaport
- Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street
- National Museum of the American Indian New York
- Castle Clinton in Battery Park
- Rockefeller Center has restrooms on the
Concourse Level - Times Square Try the citizenM Hotel at 218 W 50th St or the Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway
- Grand Central Station at 42nd Street and Lexington Ave. has public restrooms as does Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal.
- New York Public Library at 42nd Street at 5th Avenue
- Bryant Park on 42nd Street bet 5th & 6th Ave
- Lincoln Center in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Broadway and 60th Street
- Central Park has multiple restrooms
- Time Warner Center shopping mall at 10 Columbus Circle and 59th Street
- Macy’s at 34th Street and 6th Avenue
- Waldorf Astoria Hotel, at 301 Park Avenue (between 49th and 50th Street)
Greenwich Village has public bathrooms in Washington Square Park.
- Bloomingdales SoHo at 504 Broadway
- Soho Grand Hotel at Grand and West Broadway has restrooms all the way in the back past the front desk.
Want a preview of some of the bathrooms we list above? Here's a helpful video.
PARKS
Most NYC parks have public restrooms, though they may not be open at all hours. See the Park Department's website.
FAST-FOOD CHAINS
Starbucks stores are a popular choice, and New York City is filled with them, so you should not have much trouble finding them.
You might have to wait in line, or you might have to make a purchase if the place is not busy.
McDonald’s has clean, easy facilities and they usually don’t require you to ask for a key to the bathrooms.
Prêt-a-Manger, Au Bon Pain, or Cosi get busy during lunch hours and might require you to ask for a key.
DEPARTMENT STORES
- Most have bathrooms that you can use without having to be a shopper.
- Some supermarkets such as Wholefoods or Trader Joe’s might have restrooms, and you might be surprised how fancy they can be.
- Large bookstores like Barnes & Nobles also offer restrooms where you can just walk in or simply request a key.
