Nightlife in New York City
New York City's best nightlife spots include 230 Fifth (No cover Sun–Thu; $15–$20 Fri–Sat), Battery Park City Parks Conservancy (Free), Bill's Place Jazz Club ($25-30), Blue Note Jazz Club ($35–$75 cover), and Bowery Ballroom ($20–$60).
Free for kids 0-8. The building alone is worth the trip to Sugar Hill.
898 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10032 · Thu-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 0–12
Half toy store, half theme park. Recent installations: Bluey's House, Slime Bar.
110 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011 · Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm · Ages 0–10
92 branches, all free. Baby Lapsit, Toddler Time, STEM workshops -- just show up.
476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Varies by branch, typically Mon-Sat · Ages 0–5
60+ branches, all free. The Grand Army Plaza building has a kids room worth seeing.
10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238 · Varies by branch, typically Mon-Sat · Ages 0–12
Hidden gem. Bluestone slide built into the hill. Splash pad. Sand pit. Free.
Warren St & River Terrace, New York, NY 10007 · Daily dawn-dusk · Ages 0–12
Play where the US Open happens. 34 courts open to the public Oct-Aug. $42/hr.
1 USTA Way, Flushing, NY 11354 · Daily 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
$150/year gets you pool, basketball, fitness rooms. Free if you're under 24.
430 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Sun 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Olympic-sized. Free. Summer only. Get there before 11 or forget it.
776 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Summer only: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
$29 student day pass. Bouldering, ropes, sauna, and a chess club.
23-10 41st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sat-Sun 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Free Thursday nights in summer. Walk, run, or jog a pro 400m track.
10 Central Road, Randall's Island, NY 10035 · Park open 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM; track by permit/event
4 dedicated courts on the Hudson. Permanent nets. Free with your own paddle.
353 West St, New York, NY 10014 · Daily dawn to dusk
Free yoga Tue/Thu mornings, free tai chi Wed. On the Bryant Park lawn. Just show up.
Bryant Park, 42nd St & 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Yoga: Tue/Thu 10am (May-Sep), Tai Chi: Wed 7:30am
Free sand volleyball on the Hudson. Bring your own ball. Summer pickup runs.
Riverside Park at W 100th St, New York, NY 10025 · Daily dawn to dusk (seasonal)
$22.50 public skate, $12 rental. Year-round indoor rink. Two full sheets of ice. The serious skater's rink in Manhattan.
61 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011 · Mon-Fri 5am-1am, Sat 5:30am-1am, Sun 6am-1am (public skate times vary)
$14-35 admission. NYC's only rooftop ice rink. Brooklyn Bridge views. Kids 5 and under free.
89 South St, New York, NY 10038 · Daily, sessions vary -- check theseaport.nyc
$5 late-night jam sessions Fri/Sat. Students half-price Sun-Thu 10:30pm set.
131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012 · Doors open 6pm nightly; sets at 8pm & 10:30pm
Jazz since 1935. Tiny wedge-shaped basement. No bad seats. Book early.
178 Seventh Ave S, New York, NY 10014 · Doors 8pm; sets at 9pm & 11pm nightly
Sets until 3:30am. BYOB beer and wine. $25 walk-in if there's room.
183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 · Mon–Thu 7pm–3:30am, Fri–Sun 2pm–3:30am
Dizzy's Club after 11pm: $10-20 cover, Central Park views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
10 Columbus Circle, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10019 · Box office Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; show times vary
Best-sounding room in New York. 575 capacity. No bad sightline in the building.
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002 · Doors typically 7–8pm on show nights
Chappelle, Schumer, Louis CK drop in regularly. $10 weeknights. Get there by 7.
117 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 · Daily 11am–3am; shows at 6:45pm, 8:45pm, 10:45pm, 12:30am
Comedy Central tapings happen here. Nicer seats than any Village club. Two-drink min.
208 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 · Wed–Thu 7pm–10pm, Fri–Sat 6pm–11:30pm
$5-$12. No drink minimum. Amy Poehler's theater. 25+ shows a week.
242 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003 · Shows Tue–Sat, typically 7pm & 10pm
Pay what you wish for NYS residents. Yes, $0.01 works. Rooftop bar has Central Park views.
1000 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10028 · Sun–Tue & Thu 10am–5pm, Fri–Sat 10am–9pm. Closed Wed.
60+ free concerts every summer. Just show up. Mavis Staples, Spoon, De La Soul in 2026.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, New York, NY 10021 · Jun–Aug; show times vary, typically 7pm. Gates open 1hr prior.
Hidden behind a phone booth in a hot dog shop. Resy opens 7 days out. Book fast.
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009 · Daily 5pm–2am
Burger, cocktail, and a movie -- all from your seat. Menus change with each film.
136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
No cover Sun-Thu. Empire State Building right in your face. Winter igloos.
230 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10001 · Mon–Thu 12pm–2am, Fri 12pm–4am, Sat–Sun 11am–4am
$5 shows available. On MacDougal St comedy row. No drink minimum on some shows.
99 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 · Shows nightly, first show typically 7pm
BYOB jazz in a Harlem parlor. Former speakeasy. 30 seats. Reserve ahead.
148 W 133rd St, New York, NY 10030 · Fri-Sat, shows at 7pm & 9pm
Free summer concerts, movies, dance, yoga along the Hudson River. Just show up.
Riverside Park, various locations, Manhattan · Jun-Sep, event times vary
Stand-up comedy combined with mini-golf. $15 shows. Chelsea waterfront.
210 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001 · Show times vary, check schedule