5 Excellent Things to Do Between Meetings in New York

What to do in New York City when you’re between meetings, from The Met to a water-bound oyster bar.

MOMA in a morning

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Avenue, Upper East Side) is justly famous as New York’s best museum but its size can make it daunting. To beat the crowds, arrive at The Met for opening at 10am. Then take small bites rather than trying to swallow the collection whole. Free maps highlight treasures such as the Temple of Dendur. If you’re visiting in summer, be sure to check out the roof garden, where seasonal art installations offset the gorgeous view over the canopy of Central Park.

Set sail

It’s easy to forget that New York is a water city. Remind yourself by catching the free ferry to and from Staten Island that leaves from the Whitehall Terminal at the southernmost tip of Manhattan. Content with boats that stay tethered to the pier? Then try Grand Banks (Pier 25, Hudson River Park, Lower Manhattan), an oyster bar aboard wooden schooner Sherman Zwicker. Dress sharp.

Lunching at the new Whitney

Since last year everybody has been talking about the new home of the Whitney Museum of American Art (99 Gansevoort Street, Meatpacking District). The building by Renzo Piano may be controversial for its angular exterior but the interior galleries are a graceful home for the collection. On-site restaurant Untitled is a good choice for a lunch meeting.

Shop and stroll

Combine an afternoon stroll with meeting your shopping needs. From the edge of the Meatpacking District, go south on Bleecker Street to a veritable who’s who of contemporary designers: Michael Kors, Jean-Michel Cazabat and Alexis Bittar. Further south you’ll find New York staples Bleecker Street Records (188 West 4th Street, Greenwich Village) and Cafe Wha? live music club (115 Macdougal Street, Greenwich Village). Finish up in the booming NoHo neighbourhood and order the very good Maple-Walnut Sazerac at Saxon + Parole (316 Bowery).

Scully on Broadway

Without question, one of the hottest tickets of the spring season is A Streetcar Named Desire, playing at St Ann’s Warehouse (45 Water Street, Brooklyn) until June 4. With a revolving set and Gillian Anderson in the role of Blanche DuBois, this production by Australian director Benedict Andrews is a worthy alternative to Hamilton, the hit Broadway musical that is sold out for months – unless you want to brave the daily live lottery.