Places to Hang Out in NYC, From Indoor Forest to Rooftop

4.5 (265)

Mon – Fri, 11:00 – 18:00

320 East 43rd Street

Trees, ferns, flowers, and a quiet pond fill the pocket forest inside the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice. One of the free things to do in Midtown, it has lifts to every level, and entry brings security screening, an ID check, and a bag search.

4.3 (226)

Mon – Sun, 13:00 – 00:00 (+1)

299 Madison Ave #14, New York, NY 10017

Literary cocktails anchor this Midtown East rooftop garden lounge at 299 Madison Avenue. Gather by the fireplace in the Writer's Den, or step onto the wrap-around terrace for city views. Styled like an elegant penthouse, it opens daily from 1:00 PM to midnight.

4.4 (793)

Tue – Wed, 12:00 – 23:00; Thu, 12:00 – 00:00 (+1); Fri, 12:00 – 01:00 (+1); Sat, 11:00 – 01:00 (+1); Sun, 11:00 – 20:00

82 Prospect St

Over in Dumbo, Randolph Beer fills a sprawling industrial space with giant foosball, skeeball, and classic arcade cabinets. Foosball and shuffleboard are free, arcade games take tokens, and the game room opens at 4:00 PM Tuesday through Friday. Gastropub classics include vegan options.

4.2 (1,651)

Tue – Thu, 17:00 – 00:00 (+1); Fri, 17:00 – 04:00 (+1); Sat, 11:00 – 04:00 (+1); Sun, 11:00 – 00:00 (+1)

1412 Broadway, 25th Floor

Twenty-five floors above 1412 Broadway near Bryant Park, Elsie Rooftop offers a spacious terrace with skyline views and a glass-roofed atrium. The kitchen serves seasonal light fare, weekend brunch brings avocado toast and pancakes, and Saturday and Sunday turn 21 and over after 8:00 PM.