NYC Public Restroom Apps & Maps

Your smartphone is your best friend when it comes to finding a bathroom in NYC. Several apps are designed specifically for this:

• Sit or Squat: Sponsored by Charmin, this is a national public bathroom rating app for Android or iPhone. Take note: It asks for your personal information via Facebook prior to logging on.
• Got2Go Google Map: Generated by user input, this opens in Google Maps so you can find places near you.
• NYrestroom.com claims to have mapped every bathroom in NYC.
• Flush App: This free app shows nearby public restrooms with reviews so you can find the cleanest option in your vicinity (Apple and Google stores). It also notes disability access.

Department Store & Mall Restrooms

Big stores often have reliable, clean bathrooms that you can access without having to buy anything. Here are a few spots that are known for consistently clean restrooms:

• Macy’s Herald Square: The flagship Macy's at 34th Street has well-maintained restrooms on various floors, including a family-friendly lounge area.
• Bloomingdale’s (59th Street): Another shopping destination where you can find clean bathrooms, often located on upper floors away from the hustle of shoppers.
• Bergdorf Goodman: Known for having luxurious bathrooms.
• The Shops at Columbus Circle: This upscale mall has clean, modern bathrooms, including family-friendly spaces.
• Our team also likes chain stores Barnes & Noble, Crate & Barrel, J. Crew, and Apple Stores as reliable pit stops.
• Grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's also have reliable restrooms in NYC, although some may require asking for a code from customer service.

Public Parks with Reliable Bathrooms

NYC’s parks are an oasis, and many have upgraded their public restroom facilities in recent years. Here are some standout options:

• Bryant Park: One of the cleanest public restrooms in the city, complete with fresh flowers and classical music. Yes, you read that right! Bryant Park goes above and beyond.
• Central Park: With so many families visiting, Central Park has numerous restrooms, and many are surprisingly clean. For families, head toward the Heckscher Playground area, which has a restroom close to the playground itself.
• Washington Square Park: This busy downtown park has bathrooms that, while not luxurious, are generally kept clean. It’s a good option if you're hanging out near NYU or Greenwich Village.
• Find all the NYC Parks Department bathrooms on its map.

Museums & Libraries with Public Bathrooms

Not all museums offer public bathrooms without paying admission, but most libraries do. 

• The New York Public Library: The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Bryant Park has clean facilities, perfect if you’re in midtown.
• The Mid-Manhattan Library and Brooklyn Central Library are two other excellent options, offering clean facilities.
• American Museum of Natural History: If you're on the Upper West Side, this museum has clean restrooms, including a family-friendly bathroom with changing stations.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This iconic museum offers several restrooms. A family restroom is available on ground-level ones near the Uris Education Center.

Hotel Lobby Restrooms

Hotel lobbies are often overlooked, but they can be your secret weapon when finding a clean restroom since NY law requires them to have bathrooms open to the public. High-end hotels, especially in midtown or near tourist attractions, tend to have immaculate facilities. 

• Marriott Marquis in Times Square: This one’s a popular go-to. With so many tourists nearby, the bathrooms here are regularly cleaned.
• The Plaza Hotel: If you’re exploring Central Park or Fifth Avenue, pop into The Plaza. You’ll find clean restrooms on the lower level.

Food Halls & Grocery Stores

Since food halls have started popping up, you can find one in almost every neighborhood now and some grocery store chains also have restrooms. 

• Grocery stores with restrooms: Whole Foods & Trader Joe's
• Food Halls with public restrooms. Some ones to look for are Gotham West Market (Midtown West), DeKalb Market (Downtown Brooklyn), Empire Stores (Dumbo), Chelsea Market.
• Other chain restaurants and coffee shops with restrooms: Starbucks locations are generally a safe bet, though busier spots may not always be the cleanest. You can often find accessible, if basic, restrooms at McDonald’s, Pret A Manger, or Panera.

Subway & Train Station Bathrooms

Just thinking about entering a bathroom in a subway station gives me heart palpitations, but here are some reliable transit toilets.

• World Trade Center Transit Hub: Relatively new and convenient if you are in Lower Manhattan. 
• Grand Central Terminal: May have long lines, especially on the lower level. Head to the one near the NY Transit Museum Annex for an off-the-beaten-path option. 
• Moynihan Train Hall: Although train stations can have long lines and be sketchy, this newly remodeled station might be a safe bet. 

More Tips on Finding a Public Restroom in NYC

Most restaurants won't let you use the toilet unless you sit down to eat. Bars, however, seem to be much more sympathetic, especially during the daytime when you have a kid in tow. 

Here's an offbeat one: NYC hospitals. They're open 24 hours a day and used to strangers coming and going. We know walking through the Emergency Room doors seems like a last resort, but if your kids need to go that badly, you've got an emergency of sorts too. If the situation is critical, NYC police stations will reportedly allow you to use their facilities upon request.

To find more tips on navigating NYC with a family check out our NYC Travel Guide. 

Originally published in 2012.