European coffee kiosks, alfresco chess games and outdoor events for the whole family: Nestled behind the beaux-arts New York Public Library, this leafy Parisian-style park is a whimsical break from Midtown's mayhem. Office workers stream in at lunchtime, competing for tables with skyscraper views. There's also Bryant Park Grill, with a patio ideal for twilight cocktails, and neighboring Bryant Park Cafe, an outdoor hang from mid-April to November. Ping pong, played on the northern side, can be intensely competitive. Kids whirl around on the French-inspired Le Carrousel's 14 painted ponies. The scene is particularly popular in summer, when you can watch cinema by starlight at one of Bryant Park's free Bryant Park Movie Nights. (Bring a blanket and a picnic for thorough enjoyment.)
The park is great in cold weather, too: find unique gifts at the holiday market, open between Thanksgiving and Christmas, or ice-skate all winter long on the city's largest free-admission Skating Rink at Bryant Park. Check the park website for events (bryantpark.org).
