1. Union Square Park
9.0
Union Sq E/W & Broadway (btwn E 14th & E 17th St), New York, NY
Park · Union Square · 568 tips and reviews
Gerardo Valerdi: Play chess wth the locals, great games!
AFAR Media: Usually bustling with markets, street performers, skateboarders, sidewalk chess, food trucks, and not a moment of silence or peace… until you take a quiet walk with Gandhi through the magnolia trees. Read more.
Natalia Baker: Especially great at night when all corners of New York come together to hang out, dance, play chess, skate, perform...
2. Washington Square Park
9.5
W 4th St (btwn MacDougal St & University Pl), New York, NY
Park · Greenwich Village · 707 tips and reviews
EchoDA: the newly renovated Park, you will see a lot wacko's (sorry creative's!), and also NYU students hanging, chess tables, a fun place to lounge outdoors
EchoDA: The newly renovated Park, you will see a lot wacko's (sorry creative's!), and also NYU students hanging, chess tables, a fun place to lounge outdoors
Compass: Defined by its giant white arch, the park is best known for its chess games, gorgeous fountain, and live musicians. It acts as a meeting ground for NYU students, artists, and neighborhood regulars.
3. Chess Forum
7.9
219 Thompson St (btwn Bleecker & W 3rd St), New York, NY
Hobby Store · Greenwich Village · 18 tips and reviews
Alan Cordova: Definitely worth checking out for its old-school charm and rivalry with the other chess establishments on Thompson Street. Read more.
Berk Kapicioglu: A decades old chess store that was originally owned by a Russian grandmaster. Great for hanging out with chess enthusiasts, buying chess pieces, or learning how to play from world-class players.
Ailie Chang: Check out the huge variety of chess sets! So beautiful. My favorites are the Egyptian ones.
4. Bryant Park
9.4
W 42nd St (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
Park · Midtown East · 1228 tips and reviews
Charles Pixley: great place to have lunch or post work cool out, out door library, yoga classes on the lawn, chess clubs, restaurants and just plain beautiful place to hang.
Lisa Garcia: Come for the free yoga and dance classes during the week. It's also the best place to spend an afternoon playing ping pong or chess (or just reading while eating a sandwich from 'wichcraft).
Nicole: Great place to go with kids in the summer...enjoy the library, carousel, chess, movies etc.! Good fun!
5. Marshall Chess Club
8.7
23 W 10th St (btw 5th & 6th), New York, NY
Gaming Cafe · Greenwich Village · 3 tips and reviews
The Negotiation Institute (TNI): Masters of chess & negotiation are always sharply aware, prepared several moves ahead, with logical extrapolations other side's response--with contingencies in case things don’t go as expected.
Mark Pollard: This place blows me away. An incredible chess history, always hosting events and teaching. Thank you and thank you.
Willy Gissen: Wednesday night tournament, U2000, rounds start at 7 PM, 30/90 then G60
6. Columbus Park
7.6
67 Mulberry St (btwn Bayard & Worth St), New York, NY
Park · Chinatown · 47 tips and reviews
The Standard: NY (See) You don’t need to go to China to experience the Chinese culture. Come take a stroll in the park and experience everything from martial arts to little old men playing chess. Read more.
G Wong: The amount of Chinese people lounging, singing, playing chess, whatever in this park is a serious glimpse into Chinese culture. Also, there's a soccer field in this park if you fancy.
Compass: Enjoy the soccer fields and chess tables, but don’t be surprised if a live dance troupe or chorus takes over Chinatown’s most popular park.
7. Zinc Bar
8.3
82 W 3rd St (btwn Sullivan & Thompson St), New York, NY
Bar · Greenwich Village · 46 tips and reviews
Keith Espinosa: NYC chess during the day.
Caroline Kay Hwa Tan: It's crazy that people don't mention the coffee here because their Verve beans espresso is off the charts! This place is a strange mix in the day. Chess school too?
Greg Razzano: Cozy, intimate place with solid jazz music every night. Very friendly atmosphere. You have the option of skipping the cover charge if you sit @ the bar or in the back.
8. City Hall Park
8.8
17 Park Row (btwn Broadway & Centre St), New York, NY
Park · Downtown Manhattan · 143 tips and reviews
Raymond Torres: This is a great place to hang, whether u're having lunch, getting someone's phone number, chatting w/ powerful NYC politicians, chilling w/ the friendly squirrels, or getting beat by chess hustlers.
John A: A quiet sanctuary of a park. Mature trees and bushes absorb the noise of the city, while classic old buildings offer architectural eye candy. Plenty of benches to sit and enjoy.
Mike Bloomberg: Yesterday, I was here to launch Citi Bike, the largest bikeshare system in the nation: http://bit.ly/15bYEmY
9. Marcus Garvey Park
8.4
Mt. Morris Park W & Madison Ave (btwn W 120th & W 124th St), New York, NY
Park · Central Harlem · 52 tips and reviews
Stephen Elms: Great little park in the heart of Harlem. Fantastic history and lots of attractions from swimming, basketball, chess, and an outdoor theatre.
KENNECTED: A great urban oasis in a historical part of Harlem. Beautiful Brownstones surround the park. In summer watch a game or climb to the top for awesome views of the city.
NYC Parks: Check out the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower, the last of a series of watchtowers erected in 19th century New York City to help watch for fires.
10. Tompkins Square Park
8.6
E 7th St to E 10th St (btwn Ave A & B), New York, NY
Park · East Village · 160 tips and reviews
Leon: I'm here all the time playing chess, look for the tall skinny guy. Bring it!
Jason Denny: Chess with the sharks
Dens: Head over to the dog park, pretend to give one of the furry little guys a scratch on the head but actually whisper how much you hate dogs into the lil' guy's ear. "Why you gotta poop everywhere?!"
11. Fort Tryon Park
9.4
Margaret Corbin Dr (at Fort Tyron Pl), New York, NY
Park · Hudson Heights · 93 tips and reviews
Dylan McKenzie: Visit the Cloisters too. I think there are some cool old chess pieces on display here still.
Time Out New York: Spanning 65 acres and teeming with gardens, grassy alcoves and trails perfect for mini hikes, this park feels a world away from Manhattan’s hustle. Save an afternoon or an entire day for your visit. Read more.
Time Out New York: The best place to forget that you’re in NYC is crammed with gardens, forests and other quiet nooks that are perfect for chilling out. No visit here is complete without a stop by the Cloisters. Read more.