The Park
Relax, dine al fresco, and enjoy our free programs and amenities
Hours
Open today
January – May
Daily, 7am-10pm
Open late with The Rink for holidays: January 14 - 16, 2022: February 18 - 26
June – August
Daily, 7am-11pm
September – October
Daily, 7am-10pm
November
Daily, 7am-10pm
December
Monday - Thursday, 7am-10pm (11:30pm from Dec 16 – Jan 2)
Friday - Sunday, 7am-11:30pm
New Year’s Eve the park closes early
Park hours are subject to change.
Management may close the park when conditions are considered unsafe for patrons as a result of weather or necessary maintenance.–
Directions
Bryant Park is situated behind the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Take the B, D, F, or M train to 42nd Street/Bryant Park.
Take the 7 train to 5th Avenue.
Driving directions to the park.
COVID-19
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, please adhere to these rules while enjoying the park:
Your Health and Safety
• If you are feeling sick, do not visit the park
• You are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering in the park
• Please use the hand washing stations that are provided around the park
Moving Around the Park
• Follow all pathway signs, and keep to the right on two-way paths
• Try to stay six feet apart from other park visitors
• Treat others with patience and respect
Programs
• Some events and programs have been canceled, or changed in size or location
• Masks or face coverings may be required to participate in some activities or events
Thank you! Your compliance will help keep the park safe for all to enjoy. Bryant Park is monitoring and adhering to local, state and federal guidelines regarding our operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note:
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public places where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
By visiting Bryant Park, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of COVID-19.
Restrooms
Open daily, 10am-10pm*
Staffed daily with piped in classical music, Italian tiles, automatic toilets and fixtures by top luxury brand Toto, and a changing station, you’ll feel safe and pampered inside our landmarked comfort station. Located on the northeast corner of the park by 42nd Street.
*Hours are subject to change
Hours
January – May
Daily, 7am-10pm
June – August
Daily, 7am-11pm
September – October
Daily, 7am-10pm
November
Daily, 7am-10pm
December
Monday - Thursday, 7am-10pm (11:30pm from Dec 16 – Jan 2)
Friday - Sunday, 7am-11:30pm
New Year’s Eve the park closes early
Park hours are subject to change.
Management may close the park when conditions are considered unsafe for
patrons as a result of weather or necessary maintenance.
Map + Park Areas
Bryant Park is a great place to stretch out, dine al fresco, and relax. It also provides a multitude of free and engaging activities for those looking for some challenging fun.
During these challenging times, we ask that visitors please maintain six feet of social distance and wear masks while in the park. Thank you!
Rules + Regulations
You are welcome...
- ○ to enjoy the park, including the lawn, when open
- ○ to spread blankets on the lawn, but not plastic material or tarpaulins
- ○ to enjoy the fountains and gardens – without entering flowerbeds or fountains, or picking flowers
- ○ to use a park chair or one seat on a bench designed for sharing
- ○ to walk your dog – on a leash and not on the grass – if you clean up after it
- ○ to take souvenir photos – commercial photography by Bryant Park Corporation (BPC) permit only
- ○ to deposit garbage in our trash receptacles, but rummaging is prohibited
- ○ to play in our free activity areas, but organized ballgames are not allowed
- ○ to use our designated bike racks - not park furniture - to secure your bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters
Park guidelines prohibit...
- ○ smoking or vaping
- ○ alcohol use outside the Bryant Park Grill, Bryant Park Café, and Fever-Tree Porch
- ○ disorderly behavior, unreasonable noise, or personal amplified music
- ○ sitting or standing on balustrades
- ○ performances, parades, or demonstrations, except by BPC permit
- ○ panhandling
- ○ feeding pigeons
- ○ commercial activity or selling goods, except by BPC permit
- ○ obstructing park entrances or pathways
- ○ riding bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters
- ○ personal property such as carts, furniture, tents, or other structures
- ○ drug use
- ○ open flames, as well as cooking and grilling
- ○ Patrons of Bryant Park are subject to the rules and regulations of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
History
From potter's field to reservoir to one of the world's busiest public spaces, Bryant Park has a rich and storied history.
Landscape Architecture + Planning
The grounds are maintained and planned with great attention to detail and present a private, estate- like feel. Any landscape is always in a process of change and evolution, and Bryant Park is no exception. During the past 20 years the grounds have continued to transform to create a more satisfying experience for park visitors, and also to accommodate the changing patterns of use. Over 10,000 seasonal summer annuals and 17,000 spring bulbs are planted each year, and new plants are introduced and tested every year.
The Horticulture Department has implemented many key design changes with plant material, pathways and other landscape elements to ensure that the park is a welcoming and beautiful refuge all year long. A custom gravel mixture is used on the paths, and there are over 200 planters and urns including five different types of architectural styles. The lawn is replaced every year after the winter ice rink. Click on the slideshow to view the harmonious relationships between the landscape and architectural elements, and to see how the landscape changes throughout the seasons.
Signature Plants
The most defining and important planting in the park is the monoculture of our hundreds of London Plane Trees (Plantanus acerifolia), situated in allées on the outer perimeters and planted over 30 years ago. The close planting of the trees encouraged the trunks to grow thin and tall as they reached for the sun. The linear pattern and unusual bark of the tree trunks make a dramatic architectural statement. The formal parterre design also incorporates alternating beds of English Ivy (hedera helix) and crushed gravel under the trees.
Although new plants are introduced and tested every year at the park, old favorites and successful plants always make their way back into the displays each season. Click on the slideshow below to view a selection of signature plants of Bryant Park.
Nearby Architecture
Facing onto Bryant Park from both 40th Street and 42nd Street are several noteworthy buildings of the kind that have long defined Midtown Manhattan as one of the architectural showplaces of the world.
Monuments
A guide to the monuments of Bryant Park
Design
The park strives to design public spaces, structures, furniture and objects with a respect for nature and the end user. Attention to detail and useful elegance are some of the qualities you’ll experience with as you discover the park.