New York City | 10 Ways to Travel Times Square Like a Local

I personally prefer suggesting Bryant Park over Times Square for people to spend more of their time sightseeing, especially since they’re right next to each other. In the winter they open an ice rink and shops that can be a lot of fun to browse. In the summer they have all sorts of fun dance events, live music, movies, Broadway performances and even weekly yoga in the park.

The New York Public library is also right in Bryant Park, which means free, clean bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. The interior of the library is full of beautiful architecture, which includes the famous reading room.

Recently the really good California coffee company, Blue Bottle, has opened up a cafe just across the street from Bryant park on 40th street. Coffee is an integral part of a New Yorker’s morning routine, and this coffee not only has the kick you need but tastes great too.

For those on a budget you can grab yourself a New York slice. Just be sure to hit the 99cent Pizza location next to the parking garage between Broadway and 7th Ave on 40th Street, because their slices are almost always fresh, making it one of the better locations. They only have cheese slices, but everyone in the area knows this spot and regularly stops in so they’re always making fresh pies.

Food Trucks can get pricey and street-meat carts messy, but my go-to street-meat truck in this area is usually parked between Broadway and Bryant Park. The chicken and rice, which is only $6, is my favorite, but there’s plenty to choose from. It’s easy on your wallet and filling for your stomach.  

Pocket size rice ball snacks from either Kinokuniya or Sunrise Mart, which are on either side of Bryant Park are another great option for a budget friendly and filling snack. There’s various little Japanese cafes and markets, but I’ve found these two options to be the better choices, and they even have a good variety of lunch-boxes if you’re looking for a bit more to eat.

Another nice hidden spot for taking a break and charging up is the courtyard next to Equinox gym between W 41st/W 42nd and Broadway/6th Ave. It’s quieter and less crowded than Bryant Park, and a nice place to take a breather.

Recently, they installed phone charging towers next to the benches, marked by the red lights, which can be incredibly helpful since smartphones die fast than we’d all like.

I’m not a beer drinker but The Pony Bar is the go-to bar for the beer connoisseur.  They have a ridiculous number of taps and they beer menu is always changing so you’ll never get bored. It’s also a place where a lot of people kill time as they wait for their trains or buses to New Jersey.  So, it’s a great place to mingle.

Not far from the Pony Bar is another recent addition to the area, Gotham West Market. The food hall is full of tasty options, but the one that really stood out was Ivan Ramen.

The owner, Ivan, is a New Yorker who not only immersed himself in the Japanese culture from a young age, but who also opened his own successful ramen restaurant in Tokyo where he lived and worked for a period of time.  Ultimately though, he made his way back to New York City, and established himself in the local food scene there.  Ivan is now considered one of the ramen experts in the United States, and, I’ve got to say, the food is amazing!  

Thanks to the growing number of people moving to Jersey, crowds are getting bigger at the bars around the Port Authority. Similar to The Pony Bar, Port Authority has bars that are good places for intermingling with locals, especially around happy hour, since that’s the time locals might enjoy a drink before hopping on their busses home to New Jersey.  

Generally the bars are nothing fancy but there’s all sorts of fun pubs and sports bars such as Mercury Bar and Deacon Brodies Tavern.  The great thing is that Port Authority is just a short walk from Times Square, but it’s also far enough out to ensure you get away from that tourist zone.