The Best Parks in New York City and Where to Eat Nearby
Whether you are visiting New York City for a few days or just looking for a relaxing day out, New York City parks are unfortunately sometimes overlooked. But there is actually a lot to do and a lot to see in these parks and best of all, most of it is free or it won’t cost you much. You can’t beat that! Here are the best parks in New York City and where to eat nearby.
Central Park
Central Park is one of the largest parks in New York City and there is just so much to do there. To name a few: concerts, relaxing on the lawn, biking, handball and so much more. Central Park is huge and there are a lot of restaurants nearby. If you are looking for fine dining there is Jean-Georges (1 Central Park W) and Tavern on the Green (Central Park West & W 67th St), a landmark in Central Park. There is also Shake Shack (366 Columbus Ave) on 77th Street on the west side, one of our favorites.
Prospect Park
Prospect Park is another large park in New York City that is just a subway ride away. Prospect Park has its own free concert series, Celebrate Brooklyn and they also have number of events on their calendar so it is sure to be fun for the whole family. It is a beautiful park where you can just relax and take in the scenery. If you are looking for something a little different for lunch, there is De Hot Pot, (1127 Washington Ave, Brooklyn) a Trinidadian takeout spot.
The High Line
The High Line is the most recent addition to the list. It is located on the abandoned elevated train tracks on the west side. As you stroll down the High Line, there are breathtaking views of the city on every corner. There is usually several food stands and food trucks all along the High Line and a few blocks away there is also Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave) which has tons of food options.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park also has breathtaking views of the city but from the Brooklyn side looking into the Manhattan skyline. Recently, DUMBO has become a great neighborhood for foodies. Luke’s Lobster (11 Water St, Brooklyn) recently opened nearby and you have to check out Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (1 Water St, Brooklyn) if you are ever in the area.
Bryant Park
There is so much you can do at Bryant Park, like Chess, Backgammon, board games, ping pong, a putting green, Kubb, an art cart and more! Best of all, like most on this list they are all free and open to the public seven days a week. For food in the park, there is the Bryant Park Cafe (476 5th Ave) and Bryant Park Grill (25 W 40th St).
Columbus Park
Finally, Columbus Park is a unique, historical park in Chinatown, where the locals hang out. Don’t be surprised is to see children playing basketball and soccer alongside musicians playing traditional Chinese songs. Nearby, there is our favorite dumplings spot Tasty Dumpling (42 Mulberry St) and our favorite Thai restaurant Pongsri (106 Bayard St).
