I need to kill roughly two hours tonight between getting out of work at 5 and meeting a friend for dinner at 7:30 near 28th and Lex. I do NOT want to go back to Bushwick and then turn around. I also don't want to sit in a bar because I'm doing a dry-ish month, and I cannot handle another Starbucks.

I'm looking for an indoor spot where I can just... sit. Not a restaurant, not a bar, not a chain coffee place. I'm talking public atriums, office building lobbies with benches, library nooks, that kind of thing. I once hung out in the lobby of the Ace Hotel for 45 minutes and it was fine but now it's too scene-y for me.

Does anyone have a quiet-ish spot in Midtown East/Flatiron where a guy can read a paperback and not get the side-eye? Have you tried the reading room at the main library on 42nd? I know it closes at 6 though. Help!!

Since you're willing to read a paperback and look semi-purposeful, you have more options than you'd think. The city's privately owned public spaces (POPS) are your friend here, but they vary wildly in terms of seating, restrooms, and how much the security desk cares.

A few I've used in that exact zone:

• The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library directly across from the main Schwarzman building on 40th and Fifth. It's not just a room with books; the upper floors have open reading areas and it stays open until 8 on most weekdays. No one will question you for sitting with a paperback.
• Scandinavia House on Park South in the 20s: there's a small cafe but you can often sit in the seating area without buying anything, especially early evening. It's quieter than a hotel lobby and the crowd is usually there for a film or lecture, so nobody is watching you.
• The lobby/courtyard at 590 Madison (the old IBM building, between 56th and 57th). It has some benches and a small bamboo garden. Security is there, but if you don't look lost they generally leave you alone. The caveat is that the seating can be limited and sometimes they rope it off for private events.

One caveat: many building atriums removed benches after 2020 or started requiring a reason to be there, so always have a backup. If you're near a public library branch, that's the safest bet.

This is so helpful. I'm still new to the city and I always feel weird just sitting somewhere without buying something. I tried a hotel lobby once over on 34th and a security guy asked if I was a guest, so I panicked and left.

Are the POPS actually okay for anyone? Do you just walk in and sit? Also, is there a map or something? I'd love to find one near my office but I don't want to get asked to leave again.

yeah the key is looking like you belong, not like you're looking for a place to crash. no lanyard, no problem, but don't wear a giant backpack and look confused.

the POPS map is on the city planning site, but honestly half the spots on there are just wind tunnels with a bench. skip the hotel lobbies unless you can pass for a meeting attendee.

my old reliable used to be the inside of the Kinokuniya bookstore on 6th by Bryant Park. you can browse magazines for a while and nobody bothers you, and there's a seating area upstairs if you buy something small. it's not silent but it's better than a starbucks.

Central_park_cam is right about looking like you belong. I used to post up in the little seating area outside the Ford Foundation garden back when it was open, but they've changed hours.

For Midtown East, don't sleep on the Japan Society on 47th off First. The lobby has a couple of chairs and the gallery store is interesting. It's not open super late but if you're there before 6:30 you're fine.

Also, if it's not freezing, Tudor City has some weird little garden benches across from the UN. It's outdoor but usually empty and you can hear yourself think.

The Whole Foods at Columbus Circle has a huge upstairs seating area. Buy a banana or a yogurt and you can sit for an hour, nobody cares. It's not quiet but it's warm and has outlets near some tables.

I tried the bamboo garden at 590 Madison after astoria_arch mentioned it a while back and security gave me a look, but maybe I just have a face. The library is the only truly safe one, but it's not always on your exact route.

If you're downtown, the Winter Garden at Brookfield has bench seating and you can watch the boats. It's further than your dinner but good for other days.

Okay these are amazing!! I ended up going to the Stavros Niarchos Library last night and it was perfect. I sat in the upper reading area for almost two hours, charged my phone at a table, and nobody gave me a second look. I'm still buzzing about it!

Question for the group: which of these spots actually have outlets? Because that's a game changer. Also, have you tried the little atrium in the Arthur Ross space or whatever it's called on 53rd? I walked by once and it looked like there were benches but I didn't go in. Need to know if it's a hidden gem or a trap.

Glad the library worked out, BushwickBrewFan. On outlets, the Niarchos library has them at most tables, but many POPS atriums don't, because they're not really designed for lingering with a laptop. A few from the old zoning bonus have restrooms but no power.

The spot you're thinking of might be the Paley Park on 53rd between Madison and Fifth, but that's outdoor with a little waterfall and fixed benches, no outlets. The Greenacre Park on 51st between Second and Third is similar, outdoor but with a covered seating area. Both are lovely when the weather cooperates, but not for charging.

For indoor with outlets, you're honestly better off with a library branch or a bookstore cafe. Many McNally Jackson or Books Are Magic locations have a spot, but they expect you to buy a coffee. If you want a true free outlet, the NYPL Mid-Manhattan (now the SNFL) is your best bet.

Remember that some POPS have restricted hours despite what the map says, and building management can close them at any time. If you're planning to rely on one, have a second option nearby.

Thanks for the map tip! I found one POPS near my office on 6th Ave and sat there for 20 minutes today. It had a bench and even a tiny restroom, but no outlet. Still felt like a win.

Does anyone know if there are good weekend spots? I feel like most of these are weekdays-only because the buildings are closed. I had to meet a friend on a Saturday and ended up sitting in a Duane Reade parking lot. Not great.

Wait, so you don't need to work in the building to use these POPS? I thought they were for tenants. I've been in Midtown for two months and I just walk around wasting time or buy stuff at the drugstore to feel less weird.

Can someone name a specific one near 34th and 7th? I get out of work at 4:30 and sometimes wait for my ride share for an hour. I'd love a place to sit that isn't Penn Station.

DykerNewbie, no badge needed for most POPS. They're legally required to be open to the public during daytime hours, which is why security can't actually kick you out just for sitting, as long as you're not being a problem. The issue is they sometimes close early or the seating is removed.

Near 34th and 7th, you're right by One Penn Plaza, which has a big lobby but seating is hit or miss. There's a small public area across from Macy's at Herald Square Plaza, but it's mostly outdoor. Honestly, if I'm stuck there, I just walk the High Line until I'm tired.

Also, WestVillage_W, that Whole Foods seating is a zoo after 5, you'll never get a table unless you hover.

Central_park_cam, no argument on the Whole Foods after 5. I only use it at 2pm when it's dead.

For anyone trying to kill time before a late flight or a trip, the earlier thread 'Inwood to JFK on a 6 a.m. Saturday: A/AirTrain or Penn LIRR at 3:30?' has some relevant waiting-room talk too: Inwood to JFK on a 6 a.m. Saturday: A/AirTrain or Penn LIRR at 3:30? — but that's more about transit logistics than sitting for fun.

Otherwise, my vote for a weekend spot is the Chelsea Market upstairs seating during the day. It's not exactly quiet, but you can buy a taco and sit for a while. And DykerNewbie, just walk into a POPS like you own the place, that's half the battle.

Okay, update: I tried Greenacre Park yesterday before dinner and it was exactly what I needed, even though it was chilly. The waterfall drowned out the sirens and I read a whole chapter. Next on my list is the Japan Society lobby.

This thread is a goldmine. I'm making a personal list of all these spots with notes on outlets and restrooms. If anyone finds an indoor POPS with a working outlet near Grand Central, please report back. You all saved my weeknight sanity!