NYC AQUA
Soho House, 29-35 9th Avenue, Meatpacking District +1 212 627 9800
Either book a room or make friends with a member at this private members club and hotel. The hotel provides just 24 ‘bedrooms’, as well as screening room, 44 seat cinema, and library. The 15 x 32 foot pool on the roof is heated, replete with bar and ‘lounging space.’ The pool is open year-round, with views of the Hudson River and West Village.
Chelsea Piers Sports Club, Pier 60, 12th Ave at 19th Street, West Chelsea
Three walls of Hudson-view windows surround this indoor pool located at the end of the pier. While primarily a workout facility, non-lapping swimmers will enjoy the hot tub, steam room, sauna, and twin sundecks. Soak up some rays to the soothing sounds of wind and water, before enjoying some sushi at the cafe.
Thompson LES Pool, 190 Allen Street, Lower East Side +1 212 460 5300
Wake up on the edge of the increasingly hip Lower East Side of Manhattan at the Thompson Hotel: which boasts new restaurant SHANG, a 24 hour concierge, gym, spa, and an awesome rooftop pool. A filmstrip image of Andy Warhol has been photolithographed onto the pool floor, created by artist Gerard Malanga, Warhol’s muse and confidant during the iconic Factory days. Pool is for hotel guests only.
Empire Hotel Pool, 44 West 63rd Street, Upper West Side +1 212 265 7400
A happy secret for many, the pool deck of The Empire Hotel is located above busy Broadway on the Upper West Side, where 180 degree views of the city meet teak sun beds, linen curtains, ceiling fans, day beds, LCD TV’s, iPod docks, mini refrigerators, and wireless internet. The pool deck is private and guest-only, so if you’re working through the summer, book yourself some luxury for a night or two.
Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, 128 Pitt Street, Lower East Side +1 212 387 7687
If members only private pools aren’t your cup of tea, or you’re just looking for a dip in some water somewhere, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, downtown on Houston and Stanton Street, has a large outdoor pool, which is free, open Monday to Friday from 9am until 9pm, and Saturdays from 9-4pm. They have a ping pong table, outdoor basketball courts, and a fitness room, too.
Asser Levy Pool, 392 Asser Levy Place +1 212 447 2020
Another large, free, public pool on East 23rd Street and FDR Drive. Asser Levy is open from 6:30am to 9:30pm weekdays, and on weekends from 8am to 4:45pm. Both indoor and outdoor pools are free, as well as the handball and basketball courts. A playground, ping pong table, and game room in the lobby will entertain young and old.
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center Pool , 3 Clarkson Street at 7th Ave South +1 212 242 5228
If you like diving, from high places, this is your spot. TDRCP is one of only three outdoor public pools in the city that still permits diving in designated areas (The others are John Jay on the UES and Fort Totten in Bayside, Queens.) Check out the 21 year old aquatic Keith Haring Mural stretching across a wall alongside the deck.
Robert Moses Beach, Robert Moses Causeway, Babylon +1 631 669 0470
While best accessible by car, Robert Moses Beach is the place for those who have been spoiled by Mediterranean (or Australian) beaches. Dubbed “the cleanest and nicest beach this side of Fire Island,” it is part of the Robert Moses State Park, in which hiking and cooking are permitted. Keep in mind that The Easternmost stretch, called Field 5, is clothing optional.
Jacob Riis Park Beach, Beach 149th Street to Beach 169th Street, Rockaway Park +1 718 318 4300
Jacob Riis Park is part of the well maintained Gateway National Park. If you stand atop a dune and look west, the Manhattan skyline is visible. Jacob Riis is amazingly accessible by subway or NY Waterway Ferry. Pack a picnic, as the concession stands selling food aren’t always open and there aren’t any restaurants close by.
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn +1 718 946 1350
If you walk northeast along Coney Island boardwalk, the beach becomes Brighton Beach, and the restaurants fill with Russians and Slavic cuisine. The Russian community have some of the best bakeries, fruit stands and fish markets in the city. The beach is more tranquil than your Coney Island experience, and at the far end on the other side of the rocks, is a hidden beach where one can get away from it all. Swimming is calm here as the rocks dispel waves.
Far Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, Queens +1 718 318 4000
Although Rockaway Beach is the farthest from Manhattan, the fast and clean A train will get you there in just over an hour. When you arrive you’ll discover what feels like a sleepy seaside town or East Coast seaport. Beach 86th St to Beach 127th St is the most congested patch. Be sure to make Rockaway Taco or Caracas your lunch stops!
Fire Island
Better known for it’s infamous gay scene, Fire Island is the place for both fun and relaxation. Seafood and icecream abound, and there are no cars; much of the island is navigable by boardwalk. If you’re looking for “pristine beaches without a hint of pretension” (no Chloe boutiques here), Fire Island is for you. Try wandering the beaches for clams, or head out for a surf-camp trip.
By Sophie Ward
