No Date? No Problem: 7 Awesome Things To Do Alone In NYC

Katherine Ripley • October 13, 2015

You don’t have to stay in and watch Netflix just because everyone has plans already. If you want to take yourself out and about, here are seven fun activities that won’t make you feel awkward:

1. Get dinner

Some restaurants have great bars that are perfect for dining solo. All the places on this list serve delicious food, and you’ll feel right at home even without a date.

2. Go to the theatre

You can get last minute deals on Broadway shows at the TKTS booths in Manhattan and Brooklyn, or you can explore some explore some off-Broadway shows at smaller theaters. The Fever app has some great deals on off-Broadway shows like this.

3. Check out a museum

You can splurge on a guided tour at the Met or the Museum of Natural History, or you can explore one of NYC’s many lesser known, quirky museums and art galleries on your own.

4. Hear some live music

You don’t want to get caught in the silence between sets with no one to talk to, but some bars and clubs have bands play two- or three-hour long sets. One good spot is Smalls, a basement bar in the West Village that features jazz bands.

5. Go shopping

Check out high-end sample sales, check out stores that only sell one thing, or check out flea markets. Artists and Fleas in Chelsea is an ever-changing community market where you can find merchants selling everything from clothes and jewelry to skin care to art.

6. Explore a place you’ve never been before

Take a walk over a bridge you’ve never walked over and post a million Instagrams. Or go to one of these secret quiet places and read, or just enjoy the silence for a while.

7. Stargaze

The light pollution in the city is a bit out of control, but with a telescope there’s a lot you can still see. The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York regularly hosts stargazing sessions with telescopes at various places around the city. Their annual autumn Urban Starfest is also taking place this Saturday in Central Park.

Cover photo credit: KIDKUTSMEDIA/Flickr

Tags: Art, Live, Music