Autumn in New York: a concept so romanticized that there has been music and movies written about it. That feeling when the heat retreats and the crisp air greets concrete. When couples who met sipping cosmos at rooftop bars are now strolling hand in hand in sweaters, dodging cars in pursuit of the coziness of a cafe. Sure, we can endlessly fantasize about this autumn that tastes of ambrosia in our memories, but how do we actually acquire it? Sometimes you just need to know the right places to visit. Here is our list of twelve magical places in New York City that will have you enchanted, spooked, and simply falling for fall this season!
**Note, while these activities would ensure a weekend full of autumnal bliss, they are open year-round and would be great to experience on any of your upcoming trips to NYC.**
Felix Coffee
Having six years of prior experience as a barista and as someone who also appreciates an Instagramable, aesthetically pleasing location, I’m very particular when picking which coffee shops to visit. In a city like New York with hundreds of options, you must excel at both coffee curation and appealing ambiance. Felix Coffee Roasting Co. does just that. Felix Coffee Roasting Co. has four locations across the city each offering their own spin on a fresh, cozy, cute atmosphere, with pink and turquoise hues. I visited the Park Ave location. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and made a delicious, well-balanced latte. This spot is clearly popular, so you may have to wait for a table or take your coffee to go.
Ford Foundation Indoor Garden
About a twenty-minute walk from Felix Coffee’s Park Ave location, featured in the photos above, is the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice atrium. While the Ford Foundation is focused on social good near and far, it begins right at their doorstep. Their free indoor garden provides an oasis for the public to enjoy greenery without having to worry about the elements of weather year-round. Stroll around and appreciate over forty species of plants, sit with your coffee, or bring a book. If you’ve been walking around a chilly New York, this is the perfect place to warm up. The Ford Foundation indoor garden is a bit of a hidden gem, so you’ll receive relaxing and uninterrupted respite here.
Manhattan Bridge
Did you even go to New York if you didn’t Instagram it? Well, yes, of course you did, but we’re partial to a good photo opt. One of the most iconic photo opts in all of New York is of the Manhattan Bridge, but you’ll actually be taking it in Brooklyn. I’m sure you’ve seen photos like the one above circulating on social media, but it’s nice to have one of your own. Plus the hues of the bricks and bridge are quite perfect for fall. To get this memento, head to the intersection of Washington and Front Street, or Water and Washington for a close vantage point. Be warned, while it may not look like it due to the dozens of tourists, this street is open to car traffic, so please be mindful and careful of your surroundings. Since you’re already in the area, I recommend walking just five extra minutes into Main Street Park. Here, you’ll get views without the crowds and even be able to see the Brooklyn Bridge as well.
Green-Wood Cemetery
When you started planning your next trip to New York, you probably weren’t imagining a visit to a cemetery, but let me tell you why you should. The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is the final resting place for some of New York’s most notable and historic residents, including Leonard Bernstein, William “Boss” Tweed, Louis Comfort Tiffany, DeWitt Clinton, and Frederick Augusto Otto Schwarz. Green-Wood Cemetery offers plenty of amazing events and tours, but if you’re on limited time, you can enter the cemetery for free and give yourself a tour of the property. There is no picnicking allowed, but I think you’ll find there will be enough to explore to make you want to keep moving anyway. From the Gothic Revival gate, the mausoleums around the pond, the Green-Wood Chapel, and simply the crunch of fallen leaves under foot, this is sure to be one of the most beautiful autumn walks you’ll ever take.
Harry Potter New York
If Harry Potter doesn’t provide fall vibes, I don’t know what does. Relatively new to the city, Harry Potter New York is a must-visit for any fans of the series. Unfortunately, they recently opted to close their VR experiences at this store, which was a major draw for many visitors. Nevertheless, this is still an immersive shopping experience that will entrance you. As you move throughout the store, merchandise is sorted by houses, books, sweets, games, and a whole section just for MinaLima (a personal favorite). You can get things personalized, pick out a wand, grab a butterbeer, and pose for photo opts.
Cauldron Bar
If you found Harry Potter New York intriguing, why not add alcohol to the equation? While not affiliated with the franchise, Cauldron Bar NYC will turn you into a student of witchcraft and wizardry. Perfect for friends or a date night, staff will guide you as you make your very own spirited potions (non-alcoholic option is available, and still delicious and fun). You’ll get to use wands, dry ice, and botanicals seemingly right out of Snape’s cupboard to complete your recipes. I did not think paying to make your own drink would be this fun, but it is! Cauldron Bar NYC now has two locations, the newly opened Cauldron NYC Flatiron and the original NYC Downtown. The Flatiron location looks as if it perfectly captures the desired ambiance of such a venue and may be easier to get to, whereas the downtown location is on a lively, cobblestoned street and also offers a magical afternoon tea. Pictured above is the downtown location, but you simply cannot go wrong. Their “autumn term” menu is curated specifically with flavors of the season in mind.
Roosevelt Island
While well-known to locals or those who frequent the city, Roosevelt Island is not on the radar of many tourists. Nestled in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, Roosevelt Island is accessible by a scenic, suspended tram for only $2.90. While you can also access the island by car, subway, foot, or ferry, the tram is an experience you should not miss out on, and with services running every fifteen minutes, it should be easy enough to fit into any schedule. Once on the island, you feel as if you’ve completely left the Big Apple, even though you’ll still have stunning, sweeping views of it. What qualifies this for a list of festive fall activities you might ask? Head to the southernmost tip of the island to Southpoint Park where you’ll find the ruins of the 1856 Smallpox Memorial Hospital. If the remains of the ivy-covered, Gothic Revival style building weren’t spooky enough (especially if you visit after dark), due to its time used as a hospital, it is thought to be haunted. For safety reasons, you obviously have to view the ruins from behind a fence. Those who like furry friends can also look for the friendly stray cats in the area. After a proper spook, head to the indoor-outdoor Panorama Room bar on the 18th floor of the Graduate Hotel. This swanky bar offers perfect night views of the city. If it’s in your budget, spend the night at the Graduate Hotel and ask for a room with a view of Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Then, have breakfast in their bright and vibrant lobby restaurant.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most renowned statues not just in the United States, but across the whole world. Therefore, it is one of the most visited landmarks in the city. Luckily, visiting in the fall means you’ll have a better chance of avoiding the crowds. Buy your tickets in advance directly from Statue Cruises. All Statue of Liberty tickets give you access to Ellis Island, but you’ll want to make sure that you are buying the correct ticket. Being afraid of heights, I opted for the Pedestal Reserve, which was still plenty high. On other tours, you can go all the way up to the crown or take a hard hat tour of Ellis Island to spots you aren’t able to visit without a guide. All tickets include the audio tour for Liberty Island and Ellis Island, which I highly recommend. Arrive early for your ferry and set aside several hours for this excursion. You’ll want to have time to enjoy the statue, grounds, and museum on Liberty Island before moving onto Ellis Island.
DON’T SKIP ELLIS ISLAND! After seeing the Statue of Liberty, you may be inclined to move on to your next activity, but Ellis Island is a worthy attraction with deep history. For more than twelve million immigrants, it was their doorway to a new life in the United States. For those who are fans of dark, haunted histories, Ellis Island was once, sadly, where some dreams never came true. With so many people traveling from all over the world, Ellis Island needed hospitals for incoming immigrants with infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. These buildings are able to be visited on the hard hats tour and are considered by many to be haunted.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
For a park that’s a bit off the beaten path, and not one many tourists take the time to visit, head to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. Located on Staten Island, a visit to these gardens provides you with an excuse to take the Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry is a completely free form of public transport that almost acts as a cruise. It gives you sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and the ocean as you shuttle across the bay. After disembarking, grab a ten minute Uber or Lyft to get to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. While the main gardens are free, I recommend paying just five dollars to get to enter the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden. They recommend buying in advance on their website to guarantee availability. These gardens are serene and beautiful and visiting in the fall ensures you’ll get some colorful foliage.
Central Park
Central Park photos for this New York City fall post courtesy of Emily and Ethan Smolinsky
If you liked the foliage of the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, you’ll be head over heels for the one and only Central Park. The backdrop of many film and television scenes, few places can encapsulate the feeling of a quintessential New York fall quite like Central Park. From the zoo, to Tavern on the Green, to just simply walking the trails, there is something for everyone here, and as an autumn connoisseur, I personally feel like there is no better time to visit. We have a whole blog on the do’s and don’ts of Central Park that you can find HERE.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
As many of the activities that made it on this list are outdoors, we needed to add one of New York’s classic can’t-misses that can give you another reprieve from the autumn chill. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met as it’s often referred, is the largest art museum in the United States. With art in all forms from around the globe perfectly curated into intentional, educational elegance, it would be easy to spend days here and still not see everything this museum has to offer. Some of my favorites were the Egyptian and Medieval art collections, but really, you can’t go wrong with whichever exhibits you choose to explore. Also consider going to the Met Cloisters. While further uptown and though I have yet to personally visit, the photos look absolutely amazing and I’m sure a visit would allow you to feel as if you had a mini European vacation during your trip to New York.
New York Public Library and Bryant Park
Another classic, don’t miss out on visiting the New York Public Library. Unlike potentially your neighborhood library, the New York Public Library is worth a stop even if you aren’t able to check out any books. Strolling through this massive, Beaux-Arts style building will give you all the light academia vibes you could ever desire. While the aesthetic alone may draw you here, consider taking one of the free docent-led tours (book ahead on their website). Or, follow a self-guided audio tour using their app and explore the exquisite exhibits on display. You’re at one of the world’s most iconic libraries, you might as well learn something! If one image comes to your mind of the interior of the New York Public Library, it’s most likely the Rose Main Reading Room. The only way to visit this room is by one of their guided tours or for quiet study. To qualify for quiet study, you must show them a book that you have brought with you, and photos are not allowed. Don’t forget to save some time to enjoy the lawn of Bryant Park, located right outside of the library. Now go start experiencing your perfect New York City Fall!
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