We've all been there at one time or another. You're on the street, nature calls, and there isn't a public restroom to be found. You go to a fast food restaurant, but you're informed that you have to buy something to get the code to open the bathroom door. After paying two dollars for a bottle of water, you reach the door only to discover it's unlocked.

This exact scenario happened in 2021 to singer-turned-activist Theodora “Teddy” Siegel in a Times Square McDonalds. The experience inspired her to launch the Got2GoNYC TikTok and later Got2GoNYC Instagram accounts where she provides information about free and accessible public restrooms throughout Gotham. Siegel's social media accounts spawned a crowdsourced Google map which lists over 2,000 public bathrooms across the five boroughs.


Two Reliable Sources

While Siegel's map is extensive, it can only be opened in the Google Map app and requires a few steps for first time users. Figuring this out may be a problem if time is of the essence. Also, just because a restroom is publicly available, it doesn't mean that it's one you'd like to use unless you're desperate.

Savvy New Yorkers know that there are two reliable sources for clean restrooms open to the public, and they're everywhere; hotels and department stores. We've put together a list of 25 of our favorite clean public bathrooms by neighborhood with a little note on each location. Although the list is primarily made up of hotels and department stores, we came across a few surprises.


Midtown/Times Square

Bryant Park - Called “the Tiffany's of public restrooms,” this 315-square-foot Beaux Arts building recently underwent a $280,000 makeover and features classical music and fresh cut flowers daily.

Marriott Marquis Hotel - There are four spacious restrooms (two men, two women) on the fourth floor of this busy Times Square Hotel, which also serves as the lobby for the Marquis Theater. Unless you go during intermission on a matinee day, you're almost always guaranteed a stall.


Columbus Circle

Shops at Columbus Circle - Take the escalator to the second floor and head south. The restrooms are down a corridor on your left.


Upper West Side

Under Lincoln Center - At the outside entrance to the Koch Theater you'll see an elevator. Take it one flight downstairs and follow the signs.

Rubenstein Atrium - located across from Lincoln Center on 62nd and Columbus. Use the bathroom, then stop off at TKTS to pick up theater tickets.


Upper East Side

Ralph Lauren Flagship Store (72nd and Madison) - Take the elevator to the lower level. It's everything you'd expect from Ralph Lauren.

Bloomingdales (Lexington and 59th) - Inside the store that Warhol called “a new kind of museum,” you'll have your choice of bathrooms on three floors: the basement, third floor, and fifth floor.


Midtown/Fifth Avenue

Apple Store (at 58th Street) - Sleek, spacious, clean, and open 24 hours a day.

Trump Tower (at 56th Street) - Trump may be controversial but these bathrooms sure aren't! They're some of the cleanest and best-maintained loos on this list.

Bergdorf Goodman (between 57th and 58th) - With two locations across from each other on Fifth Avenue, you have options! Fresh flowers, great amenities, fabulous lighting!

Saks (at 49th Street) - This is a must-visit spot if you're seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and nature calls.


Hudson River Park 

Pier 86 - Intrepid (at west 43rd Street) - Far west Hell's Kitchen

Little Island - (at west 13th Street) - Far west Meatpacking District

Pier 45 - Christopher Street - Far west West Village

Pier 25 - (at N. Moore Street) - Far west Tribeca


Financial District

The Oculus - This brand new $405 million transit hub is bright, airy, and has beautiful clean bathrooms in the Westfield Mall section of the building.


Hudson Yards

Shops at Hudson Yards - You won't be able to climb the famous Vessel, but you'll find bathrooms on the second, third, and fourth levels of the mall.


Union Square

Union Square Barnes & Noble - Who says brick and mortar bookstores are dead? Perfect for a pitstop if you're visiting the Union Square Greenmarket.


Herald Square

Macy's - Ride the iconic wooden escalators in the world's largest department store. You'll find a bathroom on almost every floor.


Flatiron

Harry Potter Store - (22nd Street at 5th Avenue) - Slytherins and Gryffindors all agree that this theme store's restrooms are magic!
 
Eataly - (23rd Street at 5th Avenue) - The super clean and convenient restrooms located inside 50,000 feet of Italian specialty stores and restaurants will have you saying “grazie!”


East Village

The Public Theater (Lafayette Street) - You'll be able to use the bathrooms on the first floor as soon as the box office opens at 10 a.m. until the curtain falls in the evening.

The Strand - (East 12th and Broadway) Just in case you get lost in the world's largest second-hand bookstore. The bathroom is on the second floor.


West Village

Jefferson Market Library (Sixth Ave and 9th Street) - Public restrooms are in very short supply in the West Village. Come for the clean stalls, stay for the books.


Soho

Bloomingdales (Broadway and Spring) - Not only does this Soho outpost of Bloomies have a great bathroom, the wifi is so good, you can stream a movie!