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Finding public toilets in New York is not necessarily the easiest. However, when a pressing need arises, it is better to have a few addresses in mind! You will obviously find public toilets in all museums, bars and restaurants in New York. But if you’re wandering the streets of New York City and the break is urgent, here are some other ways to find free restrooms in New York:
1 / Starbucks coffees
- The American channel is a good solution in an emergency. Restrooms are generally free, although some Midtown cafes have their restrooms condemned because of the crowds. In the other cafes of the chain, no problem: the toilets remain accessible and free.
- At Starbucks, you don’t have to order anything to use the toilet, unlike in other chains where you usually have to ask for the key by showing your receipt.
2/ Les Department Stores
Department Stores are New York’s department stores. And, of course, they all have free public toilets for their visitors, whether or not you buy something.
Visit the complete list of department stores in New York, including these 3 practical and essential addresses:
- Macy’s, in Herald Square, a stone’s throw from the Empire State building. Address: 151 West 34th Street, between 7th and 6th Avenue.
- Bloomingdale’s, with one store in Midtown and one in SoHo. The addresses: 59th Street / Lexington Avenue and 504 Broadway in SoHo.
3 / Public libraries
Libraries are one of the best places to find free toilets in New York: it’s always well maintained and it’s peaceful because not many people. I particularly recommend the New York Public Library, at the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, in the heart of Midtown.
Know that there are 88 public libraries in New York and therefore as many toilets. Some addresses:
- Financial District: Battery Park City Library, in Battery Park. 175 North End Avenue, two steps from the One World Trade Center tower.
- Midtow : Grand Central Library. 135 East 46th Street, entre Lexington Avenue et 3rd Avenue.
- Roosevelt Island: Roosevelt Island Library. 524 Main Street, on Roosevelt Island. Close to the Roosevelt Island cable car.
- Greenwich Village: Jefferson Market Library. I also recommend the detour for the architecture of the place! 425 Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue), between 9th and 10th Streets.
- East Village : Tompkins Square Library. 331 East 10th Street, entre Avenue A et Avenue B, face au Tompkins Square Park.
4 / The lobbies of luxury hotels
- Luxury hotels very often have bars, restaurants and conference rooms. It is therefore very easy to find toilets accessible free of charge. To use them, however, I advise you not to disembark in a group in the hotel: be sure of yourself and behave like a customer.
- I advise you to opt for big international chains like Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental… The bigger the hotel, the more you will go unnoticed! However, avoid boutique hotels where a receptionist will greet you as soon as you step through the door.
5 / The churches
Surprising as it may seem, several churches in New York have free public toilets. This is particularly the case with these 3 very touristy churches:
- The very pretty Trinity Church, on Broadway, facing Wall Street, in the Financial District.
- St. Paul’s Chapel, the chapel used by relief workers in the September 11, 2001 attack. Besides the fact that this chapel is definitely worth a visit, you will also find free toilets. The address: 209 Broadway, between Vesey Street and Fulton Street.
- Riverside Church, a large church on the Hudson River on the Upper West Side. The address: 490 Riverside Drive, between 120th and 122nd Street.
6 / The toilets in Central Park
There remains one last place in New York where you risk being quickly annoyed if you do not know where to find the toilets: Central Park! Rest assured: New York’s largest park has 20 public toilets. They are indicated on the maps of the park but here are already 5 locations to know:
- Tennis House: in the middle of the park, at 94th Street. Open all year.
- Model Boathouse (Kerbs) Cafe: Corner of Conservatory Water and 74th Street. Open all year.
- Sheep Meadow Cafe: in the middle of the park, at 69th Street. Closed in winter.
- Bethesda Terrace: in the middle of the park, at 72nd Street. Closed in winter.
- Robert Bendheim Playground: at the corner of 100th Street and 5th Avenue. Closed in winter.
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