Locals typically avoid Times Square like the plague – and with good reason. The crowded sidewalks, overpriced chain restaurants, and aggressive costume characters make it a minefield for anyone seeking authentic New York experiences. But the area surrounding this famous intersection actually harbors some genuine treasures worth discovering if you know where to look.
Here is a list of 15 things to do around Times Square that actual New Yorkers enjoy – no tourist traps allowed.
Drama Book Shop
Lin-Manuel Miranda saved this century-old shop from extinction, and thank goodness he did. Crammed floor-to-ceiling with plays, theatrical references, and performance-related literature, it’s where Broadway performers actually hang out between shows. The basement hosts impromptu readings you might stumble upon while browsing.
I’ve spotted famous actors quietly researching roles in the corner armchairs, coffee in hand, completely unbothered by the handful of theater nerds too engrossed in rare scripts to notice them.
Bryant Park Reading Room
Skip the Times Square madness by walking one block east. Under shady trees, this open-air reading space offers free books, magazines, and newspapers to anyone wanting a moment of peace. Office workers escape here during lunch breaks, stretching out on the grass with paperbacks in summer or gliding across the winter ice rink.
Morning yoga sessions attract dedicated locals who unroll mats before work, while evening film screenings draw couples on budget dates – proving that some of Manhattan’s best entertainment remains absolutely free.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Japan Society
East of the neon chaos sits this cultural gem where traditional Japanese aesthetics meet New York sophistication. The bamboo garden courtyard feels miles away from midtown’s frenetic energy – water trickles over the stone as taxis honk in the distance.
Gallery exhibitions rotate between ancient artifacts and mind-bending contemporary installations, never crowded despite their world-class curation. The performance calendar features everything from ancient Noh theater to avant-garde dance, attracting culture-seekers who’ve long abandoned Broadway’s tourist-oriented shows.
Chelsea Flea Market
On weekends, a parking lot on West 25th Street transforms into a treasure hunt of tactile nostalgia. Think vintage globes, military jackets softened by time, trays of costume jewelry, and stories traded with every purchase.
It’s not just about what you find — it’s about the conversations you fall into while thumbing through postcards or haggling over a jukebox part. The backdrop? Old brownstones, the faint echo of church bells, and the kind of characters you remember long after the stuff.
Argosy Book Store
A Manhattan institution since 1925, Argosy is a temple for book lovers who don’t need Wi-Fi to feel connected. You’ll find six floors of antique maps, signed first editions, and the scent of aged leather binding.
The elevator feels like it’s from another century, and so does the experience. Come for the thrill of discovering a Civil War-era print; stay because the people who work here know their shelves like family history.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Port Authority Bowling Alley
Locals know the bus terminal’s second floor hides a surprisingly upscale bowling alley where commuters unwind before heading home to Jersey. The contrast between downstairs grime and upstairs shine creates a quintessentially New York juxtaposition that tourists rarely witness.
League nights bring together unlikely teams – financial analysts bowling alongside theater stagehands, forming friendships across Manhattan’s usual tribal lines. Weekend evenings see first dates testing compatibility over shared shoes and craft beers, far from the overpriced cocktail scenes elsewhere in the district.
Rudy’s Bar & Grill
This dive has stubbornly resisted multiple waves of Hell’s Kitchen gentrification, maintaining both its character and its impossibly cheap beer-and-hot-dog combo. Duct-taped vinyl booths have supported the backsides of stagehands, Broadway stars, construction workers, and corporate types for decades without discrimination.
Bartenders remember regular orders and neighborhood gossip in equal measure, serving no-nonsense drinks without artisanal pretensions. Faded show posters and neighborhood memorabilia cover walls that have witnessed countless after-work therapy sessions and pre-show pep talks.
Perfect Pint Rooftop
Unlike the ground-level Irish pubs catering to out-of-towners, this rooftop draws locals seeking perspective on their concrete jungle. From above, the urban canyon views provide context impossible to grasp from sidewalk level.
Craft brewery collaborations create rotating taps featuring Queens and Brooklyn brewers alongside Irish classics, reflecting the city’s evolving tastes. After-theater industry folks arrive post-performance, still wearing stage makeup while dissecting the night’s show.
Eavesdropping opportunities abound as actors, musicians, and backstage crews unwind after entertaining the masses below.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Kinokuniya Bookstore
Across from Bryant Park stands this three-story Japanese bookshop where Manhattan meets Tokyo. The ground floor café serves genuine matcha and wagashi sweets at tables facing floor-to-ceiling windows – premium people-watching without the sidewalk crush.
Manga enthusiasts browse endless shelves organized by genre and creator, creating a community space for fans. The stationery section sells writing instruments that make ordinary American pens feel like crude implements, alongside notebooks whose paper quality might convert even the most digitally dependent.
Classical music plays softly throughout, creating blessed auditory relief from Times Square’s sensory assault.
City Center Dance Festival
This historic venue hosts dance performances at prices that won’t require a second mortgage, unlike its more famous neighbors. The renovated Art Deco theater maintains acoustic perfection and intimate sightlines that connect audience members with performers in ways impossible in larger houses.
Programming emphasizes artistic diversity – traditional ballet shares seasons with contemporary movement pieces, and global dance traditions are rarely seen on commercial stages. Post-performance talks let audience members hear directly from choreographers and dancers, creating genuine cultural engagement rather than passive entertainment consumption.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Sure, it’s world-famous — but if you time it right (weekday mornings, or rainy afternoons), MoMA can feel like a secret. You’ll lock eyes with Van Gogh’s Starry Night, whisper to Rothko panels, and watch strangers get visibly emotional in front of a Pollock.
It’s not just the art — it’s the rhythm of quiet footsteps, the murmur of different languages, and the occasional gasp in the sculpture garden that makes it magical.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
The Drama Book Shop
Founded in 1917 and lovingly revived by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this isn’t just a bookstore — it’s a backstage pass to Broadway’s brain. The shelves are stacked with plays, screenwriting guides, and books that smell like ambition.
Actors mark monologues in the café. Directors argue softly over Shakespeare vs. Sondheim. It’s a place to dream big in Midtown, over espresso and dialogue.
Morgan Library
J.P. Morgan’s private library now welcomes visitors into rooms where gilded books line three-story walls and hidden staircases connect reading rooms. Hushed conversations among manuscript experts replace tourist chatter, creating museum spaces that feel scholarly rather than commercial.
Exhibition curators display literary treasures – original Dickens manuscripts or Hemingway’s notebooks – with context that rewards slow observation. Chamber music performances fill the main library with sounds that complement rather than compete with the surroundings, creating multisensory experiences worthy of Morgan’s artistic sensibilities.
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
This understated spot serves world-class wines without stuffy formality, attracting oenophiles seeking glasses unavailable elsewhere in the neighborhood. Sommeliers offer guidance through the extensive list without condescension, happily discussing affordable discoveries alongside premium pours.
Small plates complement rather than dominate the drinking experience – perfect cheese pairings and simple charcuterie support rather than steal focus from exceptional vintages. Comfortable lounge seating encourages conversation between strangers, creating cosmopolitan moments of connection that remind visitors why New York earned its sophisticated reputation.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Underground Comedy Shows
Behind unmarked doors throughout the theater district, comedy shows unfold in bookstore basements and restaurant back rooms, where performers test material before mainstream audiences see it. Cover charges rarely exceed $10, often including a drink, making these hidden laughs Manhattan’s best entertainment value.
Comedians frequently interact directly with these intimate audiences, creating unpredictable moments impossible in larger venues. Fellow attendees tend to be locals and comedy enthusiasts rather than bachelor parties ticking boxes on tourist itineraries.
The Real Manhattan
The authentic Times Square area exists just beyond the blinking billboards, where actual New Yorkers create moments of connection, culture, and community amid the commercial chaos. These experiences remain hidden because genuine urban magic requires seeking rather than following and asking questions rather than checking lists.
The contrast between manufactured tourist experiences and organic city interactions highlights New York’s fundamental truth – authenticity hides just one block away from the most photographed spots reserved for those curious enough to explore. Next time you visit, step just slightly off the beaten path to discover the city that locals reluctantly admit they love.
More from Travel Pug
- Cities Growing so Fast You Won’t Recognize Them in 10 Years
- 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
- 20 Obscure WWII Sites Even History Buffs Don’t Know About
- 10 Under-the-Radar Mountain Towns That Are Both Affordable and Beautiful
- Remote Villages in Europe Where You Can Live for Free in Exchange for Work
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.