Averages 29 °C / 84 °F; muggy afternoons, quick thunderstorms.
What to eat in New York in August: Seasonal delicacies
August turns New York into a steamy, neon playground. Free concerts fill parks, car-free Summer Streets invites dawn bike rides up Park Avenue, and twilight ferries catch technicolor sunsets behind Lady Liberty. Plan indoor activities like visiting museums, and book a spot at rooftop restaurants or Broadway shows a week ahead to dodge last-minute surges.
Hit outdoor sights by 9am. Asphalt bakes fast—Central Park’s shaded Ramble stays 3-5 °F cooler than Midtown sidewalks by midday.
Subway cars are air-conditioned, but platforms aren’t. Stand under black-tiled “waffle” ceiling vents—these spots funnel the little breeze available.
Keep a refillable bottle. Public water fountains at Bryant Park and High Line rest stops run cold; cafés increasingly charge $1 for tap refills.
Summer Streets bikes must clear course by 1pm sharp. If you start southbound at 11 am you’ll be diverted early and miss the Brooklyn Bridge vista.
For US Open grounds passes, buy online 9am day-of; resale apps spike 50 % by noon once star practice schedules leak.
Lightning storms roll in fast. Download the free “Notify NYC” app—alerts hit 15 min before the Parks Department clears beaches and rooftop bars.
Broadway theaters crank A/C; bring a light layer or freeze through Act 2 even after sweating outside.
Rideshare surge pricing triples after Afropunk midnight exit—walk 10 min to Navy Yard gate and hail a green cab instead.
Daytime feels sultry (highs around 29 °C), but shade, ferry rides, and museum breaks make it manageable. Start early, hydrate often, and plan indoor blocks mid-afternoon.
Yes—only surface buses detour. Expect tighter bike rules inside stations; MTA may bar bicycles on packed lines 7–10am Saturdays.
Evenings book out first. Reserve Top of the Rock or Edge a week ahead, or visit after 10pm when lines shrink and temps dip.
Light layers—rooftop winds can feel cool, but humid streets stay warm. Avoid flip-flops at upscale bars; sneakers are widely accepted.
Free entry during qualifying week. For the main draw, grab a grounds pass and ride the 7 line straight to the gates.
Yes—lifeguards staff Rockaway, Coney Island, and Orchard Beach 10am–6pm. Swim only between red-and-yellow flags; fines apply otherwise.
Take an early ferry to Governors Island or explore Inwood Hill Park’s forested trails—both stay quiet even mid-August.
Nearly all vendors take contactless cards, but keep some small bills for street fruit, subway buskers, or last-minute water purchases.
August fruit trucks slice ripe mango to-order; a dusting of Tajín wakes taste buds and beats heat.
Where to eat: Cart outside 90 St Elmhurst Ave station.
Butter-poached meat in toasted brioche, best enjoyed on a harborside bench when sunset glows.
Where to eat: Luke’s Lobster, 93 South St Seaport
Frozen rosé with peach purée dominates skylines this month; order before 6 pm happy-hour crowds.
Where to drink: Westlight, 111 N 12th St
Try coconut-cherry swirl to cool subway waits.
Where to eat: The Lemon Ice King of Corona, 52-02 108th St
