For a city bursting at the seams with everything under the sun—restaurants, theatres, people, hotels, you name it—New York somehow manages to have an appalling lack of toilets.
I mean, seriously, it really makes you wonder if New Yorkers are born with bladders of steel.
As someone with what I like to call a “Kmart bladder,” I need to know that I’ve got access to a “restroom” (what Americans refer to as toilet) whenever I need it. But finding a public toilet in NYC has become harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
Remember when Starbucks used to be the go-to? Yeah, those days are long gone. Every year more and more are locked, I think this past trip I can safely say every single one was.
Times Square can turn into a real-life nightmare if you’re desperate for a loo in a hurry. Without buying something from a restaurant, your choices are slim to none.
Gone are the days of Barnes and Noble or a big hotel being a sanctuary for a desperate wee. It’s a literal hard core sport to pretend to be reading a non existent code from a non existent receipt in a dodgy burger place to duck into their loo before someone finds out you never should have been there. And don’t even get me started on subway station bathrooms. Although there are allegedly toilets in a handful of stations around the city, I’m convinced they’re just an urban legend at this point.
But fear not, my fellow toilet users. I’ve scoured the city and uncovered a few hidden gems. Like, did you know there are toilets tucked away in some Trader Joe’s locations. And Nordstrom Rack in Union Square – absolute lifesaver.
But here’s the real go-to for anyone who might need to go to the toilet ever on a day out exploring the city – got2gonyc. It’s an Instagram account dedicated to finding free bathrooms in the city. Check this out for updated codes to get into locked bathrooms and directions to hidden bathrooms. And if you’re interested, you can even scroll through toilet reviews, where you will find them rated for cleanliness and amenities. Plus, you can add their toilet map to Google Maps for easy access when nature calls.
So, next time you’re wandering the streets of NYC and feeling the urge, remember with a little insider info, you’ll never have to worry about getting caught short again! 🚽
I have no affiliation with got2gonyc, just think it’s a fantastic resource for someone like me who needs to go to the toilet a lot
