A Hidden Upper West Side Rooftop Garden Opens Sundays, Then Pastries on Amsterdam

The Lotus Garden sits atop a condominium parking garage on West 97th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue, reached by an outdoor stairway. Hidden above street level, the rooftop features fish ponds, winding paths and cultivated plantings kept by neighborhood volunteers. It opens to the public only on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 PM between early April and mid-November, weather permitting. While there is no wheelchair-accessible ramp up the stairs, visitors can park strollers in designated areas near the entrance.

Patis Bakery sits at 676 Amsterdam Avenue near West 93rd Street, roughly a ten-minute walk south from the garden. The European-style kosher bakery is known for hand-laminated French-American pastries, fresh sourdough and coffee. Closing times on Sundays can shift across different seasons and sources, so dropping by in the mid-afternoon ensures a warm beverage and the fullest counter of baked goods.

Arrive close to 1 PM when the rooftop garden opens to enjoy an unhurried hour among the paths and ponds. The southward walk to Patis Bakery takes you through the quiet West 90s between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. Visiting the bakery around mid-afternoon pairs freshly baked pastries with coffee without worrying about closing times. The 1, 2 and 3 subway lines at 96th Street provide the most convenient transit connection nearby.