Sure, New York is a concrete jungle, but that doesn’t mean the jungle isn't full of cool places to work outside. Even if your landlord bolted and alarmed the door to your rooftop, you can still breath fresh air and soak up some sun while burning through emails. Here are our five favorite places to work in Manhattan's great outdoors:
Bryant Park
Yup, Bryant Park is wired. Actually, it was one of the first parks in the city to offer free wifi way back in 2002. I'm not sure I'd plan on using the network for a video conference, but there are access points scattered around the park. Regardless, this gem in the middle of Midtown's madness is a great respite, and offers some of the best people watching in the city. Snag yourself a table and chair early before they're all snapped up by the massive lunch crowd that descends on it every day.
Intelligentsia Coffee at the High Line Hotel
Intelligentsia Coffee has two locations in the High Line Hotel — one inside and one that's operating out of an old van parked in the hotel's front courtyard. Whichever you choose, head to either courtyard and you'll find tons of chairs, tables and umbrellas that you can work from. The hotel itself is pretty cool, and it's worth poking your head around.
Caffebene at 816 Broadway
Sure, it’s just a Caffebene, but for whatever reason, the location just south of Union Square has a huge, wood-covered backyard space. The best part is that, at least as of last summer, not many people even knew that it existed. Sure, that's bound to change, and we're not helping the situation, but until it does, this is one of our favorite secret summer hideouts.
Central Park
Don’t overthink it. Central Park has been a favorite retreat from the office since 1857, and remains the city's de facto go-to location for all things outdoors. The area south of about 70th Street can be busy, but if you have a cellphone plan that allows tethering, you'll have your choice of quiet spaces in the northern half of the park. If you don't, the city teamed up with AT&T to provide four free hotspots in the southern half of the park. They are located at:
- Just north of the Central Park Zoo
- Along the west side of West Drive at 65th Street
- Along the east side of East Drive at 69th Street
- Outside the Le Pain Quotidien that is just north of Sheep Meadow
Battery Park
There are two city-run wifi hotspots in the park and a ton of comfortable seating with views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. The Battery has the added benefit of being one of the few areas in the city completely devoid of tree cover and tall buildings, resulting in an abundance of sunshine. Sure, you'll have to venture into the Financial District to get there, but once you're past the bankers you're likely to find a surprisingly serene waterside park. Just don’t get beat up by the people selling fake Staten Island Ferry tickets to tourists. The wifi hotspots are located:
- Just south of the Castle Clinton Monument
- Just outside of Battery Gardens
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