Need a Midsummer Break? Book a Downtown Staycation

It’s that time of the year: the Summer Doldrums are sinking in, and you need a new scene for a minute. But if a trip out of town isn’t in the budget (or PTO bank), playing tourist in your own city is the move — and Lower Manhattan is the neighborhood for it. Wake up a hotel room with better AC than your apartment, then hop on a sailboat or head to a spa for a cold plunge and end the day at a gorgeous rooftop bar. And you don’t even have to worry about your flight getting canceled!

Here’s your itinerary:

Where to stay:

Four Seasons New York Downtown

Splurge-worthy: Four Seasons New York Downtown

Live large for a weekend at the Four Seasons New York Downtown (27 Barclay St.).They have an (indoor) swimming pool where you can cool off, plus a spa offering massages, facials, manicures and plenty of other wellness treatments. You can also book unique experiences like a floral arranging class, a personal styling and shopping experience with Moda Operandi or a private sail around the New York Harbor. For a truly memorable time, you can even book a private helicopter ride and day excursion to the Hamptons. Before you check out, grab a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant, CUT, which is part of famed chef Wolfgang Puck’s international steakhouse group.

Mid-Range: Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel

This stylish hotel located at 15 Gold St. is perfect for a romantic weekend. Each room features custom-made leather headboards, marble-floored bathrooms and a well-stocked mini bar. Head downstairs to the wine bar, La Soffitta, to sip a few of the Italian wines from the bar’s extensive collection. Continue the evening with dinner at Felice 15 Gold, the Lower Manhattan location of the fine dining favorite, where you’ll enjoy Tuscan-inspired dishes like spaghetti all’arrabbiata and chicken Milanese. The restaurant also has breakfast and brunch menus for you to enjoy the next morning before checkout. 

Budget: The FIDI Hotel 

It’s possible to snag a room at this artfully designed hotel for just over $100 per night, making it an affordable option for your summer staycation. Each room features bespoke decor by New York artists, plus crisp linen sheets and flat-screen TVs. If you spring for the penthouse suite, you can also enjoy your own private terrace overlooking the city. If you’re looking to get out and play tourist, good news: From this hotel, you can easily walk or bike to many of Lower Manhattan’s attractions, including the Battery, the National Museum of the American Indian and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. 

What to Do:

“Pioneer,” courtesy the South Street Seaport Museum (photo by Richard Bowditch)

Set sail on South Street Seaport Museum’s historic fleet

Escape the heat and enjoy a waterfront breeze with a boat trip departing from the Seaport. The South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton St.) invites visitors to climb aboard two historic boats for a sail around New York Harbor. The first is the 1885 schooner “Pioneer,” where visitors are invited to help raise the sails or simply sit back and take in the scenery. The other option is the 1930 wooden tugboat “W.O. Decker,” which is the last surviving New York-built tugboat. You can bring your own snacks and drinks onboard, so grab a couple of beers and a sandwich on your walk over. 

Do a cold plunge at Wall Street Bath and Spa 88

Head to Wall Street Bath and Spa 88 (88 Fulton St.) when you really need to cool off. They have a large swimming pool, a cold plunge pool that’s cooled to a positively chilly 52 degrees and a cold room. If NYC summer hasn’t been humid enough for you, you can also step into one of the three saunas, the steam room or the jacuzzi. Make a whole day of it with a massage, body scrub or invigorating platza treatment followed by a hearty meal at Matryoshka, the upstairs restaurant. 

Enjoy dinner, a movie and free A/C at IPIC Fulton

There’s really nothing quite like walking into a dark, air-conditioned movie theater on a balmy summer day. At IPIC Fulton (11 Fulton St.), you can enjoy the summer blockbuster of your choice along with a full meal and drinks, all served right at your seat. If it’s truly too hot to do anything else, make it a double feature and spend your whole afternoon here. 

Where to Eat: 

La Parisienne

La Parisienne

Start your day with brunch at this adorable French cafe located at 9 Maiden Ln. The menu includes fresh fruit, croissants, sandwiches, salads, cold-pressed juice, coffee, mimosas, cocktails and anything else you might need for an indulgent start to the day. If you’re here on a weekday, it also has a great happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.

PJ Clarke’s

PJ Clarke’s (250 Vesey St.) is where to take your friends and family when they visit. Grab some seats outdoors to enjoy the lovely views and nice breeze off the Hudson. We’d recommend starting with oysters and white wine for the table, followed by the lobster roll, roast chicken caesar salad or the Clarke, a classic burger served with pickles and sea salt fries. 

Le District

You could easily spend a whole day exploring Le District (225 Liberty St.). Its French-inspired market includes a cafe, ice cream stall, creperie, patisserie, burger bar and salad bar. If you’re in the mood to linger, grab a booth at Liberty Bistro and Bar, where you can enjoy fare like shrimp cocktail, truffled mini ravioli, and pan-roasted chicken with vegetables, washed down with a signature cocktail. If the weather’s nice, you can even enjoy your meal waterside.  

Where to Drink: 

Bar Tontine

Bar Tontine at the Wall Street Hotel

This elegant rooftop bar located on the 15th floor of the Wall Street Hotel (88 Wall St.) is the perfect place to fall back in love with NYC. You’ll feel immersed in the city skyline, while also enjoying views of the boats crisscrossing the East River. You can build your own sparkling cocktail or sip on one of Bar Tontine’s creations, like the New York Blonde, made with vodka, aperol and grapefruit. 

Kokos at Pearl Alley

You may not be lounging in a beachside cabana somewhere tropical, but Kokos at Pearl Alley (89 South St.) is the next best thing. The bar offers breezy cabanas with waterfront views, a ceviche cart, and plenty of tropical drinks like the Kokos Painkiller and the Cowboy Kolada, both of which are served in coconuts. 

Jeremy’s Ale House

If this was an out-of-town trip, Jeremy’s Ale House (228 Front St.) would be the first thing you’d brag about to your friends when you got home. Jeremy’s is the real deal, an old-school Seaport joint boasting great food, quart containers of beer for $8 and dozens of bras hanging from the ceiling. (It’s a long story.)  Soak up all your brews with an order of fried clam strips and jalapeño poppers. It’s great for groups, so rally a few friends to join you in playing tourist. 

main photo: iStock

Tags: feature, midsummer staycation