DOWNTOWN
Cool kids can explore indoor and outdoor public art, shopping, pop-ups and lots of inventive food between Canal & 14th street.
See our neighborhood map to plan, but leave time for fun discoveries in these funky streets.
TO DO
DeSalvio Playground
Spring Sreet &Mulberry StreetThis recently upgraded park has cool design, a big includes a big jungle gym with monkey bars atop rubber matting, lots of shaded seating area, a basketball court (with two hoops), checker board tables and sprinklers.
East Village/LES/Noho Street Art
Orchard Street between Delancey and E. Houston Lower ManhattanLook for lots of cool murals around this hip neighborhood, on walls, sliding metal gates and on the sidewalk. Current favorite include a I ❤️ NY mural at The Jones NYC (Great Jones Street & Bowery), a swing you can sit on among tulips at Bloomeffects (Bowery & Bleecker), a double-vision Mickey Mouse (Houston…
Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York
299 South StreetStep inside of Van Gogh painting projected onto the walls, floors and ceilings.
* Wander through three consecutive rooms that display the same moving images of famous works that highlight brushstrokes, detail, and color, illuminating the mind of the genius, accompanied by experimental electronic music. Explore more than 300,000 cubic feet of animated projections, tiered…
Museum of Ice Cream
558 Broadway at Prince StreetExplore a sweet pop-up with 13 interactive installations across 3 floors. Kid favorites include a three-story slide, hula hoops, a the game room with mini golf, jungle gyms and more and a rainbow sprinkle pool with a slide and platforms. All very colorful and photogenic. Look for prompts in each room for discussion and exploration…
Museum of Ice Cream Pinkmas
558 Broadway at Prince StreetExplore a pink ice cream winter wonderland of holiday-themed spaces and installations across three floors (with a giant slide). Enjoy holiday treats, festive games and engaging activations featuring interactive moments like crafting ornaments, decorating the MOIC trees, tasting festive treats and learning about holiday traditions and symbols from different cultures around the world. Hunt for…
Sloomoo Institute
475 Broadway between Broome & Grand StreetsThis interactive slime emporium is packed with sensory slime play.
* Walk & crawl through an obstacle course with a vat of slime, enter a glow-in-the-dark cove, take photos with slime-inspired art, play with a slime catapult and more.
* Make custom slime at a 150-yard-long DIY bar. Choose from a variety of bases, scents, colors…
Happy-Go-Lucky
32 Mercer StreetImmerse yourself in a fantastic multimedia environment. Explore colorful, photogenic rooms with optical illusions, glittering lights, a dazzling diamond runway and more. Take photos in a mirrored clamshell and play in a “Pink Sugar Pool.”
It’s a little hard to find – on Mercer across from Alexander Wang via an unmarked open door next to…
Tiffany & Co Pop-up
301 West 4th Street at Bank StreetA new brand new holiday pop-up takes visitors on a journey as a bird trying to find its rock. Explore bright diamond-and-star-covered rooms (including one hidden behind a bookcase). See jewelry in fantastical designs and Tiffany classics.
Aritzia Soho Winter Wonderland
524 Broadway at Spring StreetEnter a small winter wonderland in a clothing store with fake snow, trees, cute yetis, butterflies and more fun details.
Photo by bellajordan.23.
75 Years of David Bowie
150 Wooster StreetFrom music to fashion to art, explore the influence of one of the world’s greatest artists and creative pioneers in an experiential retail experience in his former neighborhood. Enjoy immersive audio, video and photography experiences featuring David Bowie and his artistry, exclusive retail drops and Bowie-centric programming.
SHOWFIELDS
11 Bond StreetThe self-proclaimed “most interesting store in the world” features cool direct to consumer brands and rotating interactive art exhibits & brand-pop ups. Find a hidden two-story slide behind a book shelf that goes to a rotating art installation.
The attached coffee shop has hot chocolate, pastries and healthy snacks. More sweets at the nearby
Subway Cookieway
91 Allen StreetGet your free 6 pack of Subway cookies at this pop-op with cute giant cookie jar & giant cookie photo-ops. Choose from 4 different variety packs.
Subway merch available for purchase; 100% of proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Metro New York (and donations accepted).
The Cocktailian Speakeasy @SHOWFIELDS NY
11 Bond StreetTravel back in time with experiential store Showfields and & enjoy retro gaming fun with Arcade1UP machines, complimentary cocktails, non-achoholic or spiked with tequila Fruta Pops, face and body painting by artist Humo Maya and dancing to sick beats by DJ Joey Greiner. Also find a hidden two-story slide behind a book shelf that goes…
TO EAT
Joe’s Pizza
7 Carmine StreetGet a classic NY slice to go at this Greenwich Village institution (established in 1975 ), still owned and operated by 75-year-old Neapolitan native Joe Pozzuoli.
Sebastian Brecht’s Obsessive Chocolate Disorder
63 East 4th StreetTry unique, small batch, handmade chocolates and pastries, made fresh every week in a small, quirky East Village shop with rotating art on the wall. The constantly evolving menu featuring unusual and delicious combinations of flavors and textures with fun names like bob’s dark passion, the pucker and looky cookie snookie was created by the…
Levain Bakery NOHO
340 Lafayette Street at Bleecker StreetEverything is baked on-site throughout the day at this Noho outpost of the legendary UWS bakery, from an array of rustic breads to the world-famous, super-gooey, six-ounce cookies in four flavors: Two Chip Chocolate Chip, Walnut Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip & Oatmeal Raisin (plus a gluten-free chocolate chip…
Dominique Ansel Bakery
189 Spring Street between Sullivan & ThompsonFrench bakery Dominique Ansel has delicious classic and post-modern pastries and specular seasonal desserts like hot chocolate with a blossoming marshmallow flower, frozen s’mores and milk in a chocolate chip cookie cup.
If you see a line down the block it’s probably for a cronut, the rightly famous croissant-doughnut hybrid pastry with flavors that change…
Cafe Gitane
242 Mott StreetThis bright, friendly French-Moroccan is known for its tasty avocado toast and couscous but we always get the all-day waffles. Table-service, expect waits during peak hours.
Shopsin’s
88 Essex StThis whimsical, family-owned restaurant features a legendary 900-item menu with dozens of wacky (and delicious) pancakes varieties filled with s’mores or mac n’cheese. Small seating area; expect waits on weekends (but lots to explore in the indoor Essex Market while you wait).
Ladurée Soho
398 W BroadwayEscape to Ladurée’s pastel Parisian wonderland, where the only stress is choosing among the 25+ colorful flavors, from salted caramel to strawberry marshmallow – plus chocolate covered macarons, gelato and more sweet treats.
Get your treats to go or dine on casual yet sophisticated French fare including salads, sandwiches and croissants in h ornate dining…
Stick With Me Sweets Bonbons
202A Mott St Soho/Tribeca/LESGorgeous bonbons in an array of colors and artisanal flavors taste as good as they look in this small Nolita chocolate shop.
Taiyaki
119 Baxter StreetUnicorn lovers can get their sweet fix with edible horns & ears in artisanal soft serve served in fish-shaped Japanese waffle cones. Smoothies in a mini unicorn pool float and seasonal creations like Christmas Tree and Easter Bunny cones also available.
Max Brenner
841 Broadway at East 13th Street Gramercy/FlatironThis huge cafe and store feels like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, with tubes of liquid chocolate criss crossing the spacious multi-level room. Salads, paninis, pizza, cocoa spiced waffle fries etc. available, but the real draw is the over-the-top desserts from marshmallow chocolate pizza to a syringe full of chocolate goodness.
Advance reservations recommended.
Monday-Friday…
Sour Patch Kids NYC
665 Broadway at Bond StreetCelebrate the 35th Anniversary of Sour Patch Kids with a Sweets Bar serving with waffles to cake shakes more crazy desserts featuring the candy (take-out only), create-your-own candy mix station, fun NYC-themed photo ops and limited-edition merchandise.
Masks & social distancing required (the store is spacious).
Daily 12 pm – 8 pm
Economy Candy
108 Rivington StreetAt this legendary family-owned LES sweets emporium, founded in 1937, shop over 2,000+ items, including chocolate covered graham crackers (with and without jelly), chocolate covered pretzels, jelly rings, bags of gummies, and unique candy bars you just can’t find anywhere else. Currently offering ‘Mystery Bags; only $10 for a whole lot of sweet, sour or…
Winter Garden at The Standard East Village
25 Cooper SquareHunker down in private alpine yurts, or outside (with heaters) among the twinkling evergreens, with raclette burgers, fresh oysters, brick chicken, spiked hot cider, gooey fondue, freshly baked beignets and more.
Museum of Ice Cream
558 Broadway at Prince StreetExplore a sweet pop-up with 13 interactive installations across 3 floors. Kid favorites include a three-story slide, hula hoops, a the game room with mini golf, jungle gyms and more and a rainbow sprinkle pool with a slide and platforms. All very colorful and photogenic. Look for prompts in each room for discussion and exploration…
Museum of Ice Cream Pinkmas
558 Broadway at Prince StreetExplore a pink ice cream winter wonderland of holiday-themed spaces and installations across three floors (with a giant slide). Enjoy holiday treats, festive games and engaging activations featuring interactive moments like crafting ornaments, decorating the MOIC trees, tasting festive treats and learning about holiday traditions and symbols from different cultures around the world. Hunt for…