1
The Battery
1
Enter on State Street or Battery Place
Downtown Manhattan’s largest public open space, this 25-acre waterfront park is a hub of outdoor activity. It’s the site of open-air concerts, beautiful gardens and the Castle Clinton National Monument, along with the SeaGlass Carousel, a kid-friendly favorite.
2
Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place
2
230 Vesey St.
Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place is an upscale dining terrace featuring fast-casual concepts from 14 chef-driven eateries including Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar, Umami Burger and Dos Toros Taqueria. The 30,000-square-foot space provides seating for up to 600 guests and incorporates elements not seen in other "food halls"—including ceilings ranging in height from 14 to 17 feet with window walls offering expansive views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty.
3
Governors Island
3
Governors Island
Governors Island is a former military outpost—it played a role in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and the Coast Guard used it until the mid-1990s. Today the 172-acre island has blossomed into a recreational oasis just off the Lower Manhattan shore. A free seven-minute ferry ride brings fun-seekers to an idyllic setting where they can cycle (with their own wheels or a rented pair from Bike and Roll), picnic with a great view or enjoy free programming including art exhibitions, concerts and sporting events. The Hills, a topographic installation on the island, comprises four mounds; each offers incredible views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Meanwhile, much of the island's military architecture lives on as the Governors Island National Monument.
4
Island Oyster
4
Governors Island Ferry Landing
New York harbor was once a hotbed of oyster production, home to nearly 220,000 acres of reefs. Governors Island pays tribute to that bivalve legacy with this outdoor oyster bar and beer garden from Alex and Miles Pincus, the brothers, sailors and restaurateurs behind the popular boat bar Grand Banks. Eat sustainably harvested shellfish sourced both near (Long Island) and far (British Columbia), or dig into other seasonal fare like Black Angus burgers and grilled corn on the cob from Eleven Madison Park alum Kerry Heffernan. The 32,000-square-foot venue contains a waterfront bar, a separate white-marble oyster bar and four large, communal mahogany tables for sipping craft beers or warm-weather cocktails alfresco.