How is the access to public restroons in Manhattan? I had heard that either in L.A or NYC (can't remember which) businesses like Starbucks were shutting down access to restrooms even for paying customers. They said the homeless were using the bathrooms for bathing in or would take up residence ion the bathrooms. Any truth to this story?

Thanks

If you mean literally public restrooms there are very few - only in major parks or monuments.

What there are a million of are Starbucks (many fast food places do lock theirs and customers have to ask for keys), but there are many others in public places

Penn and Grand Central Station and Port Authority bus terminal (but may not be very clean)
Large department stores
Barnes & Noble
Hotels - any hotel with a restaurant will have public facilities on the same floor

If desperate you can use any bar or coffee shop but you will be expected to buy something - at least a drink - at the bar or counter

I've not had a problem. First comes to mind is department stores or wherever you eat.

Thanks!

Hotels are my first choice. Restaurants ,Museums.

Definitely B&N or a department store. Restaurants are usually customer only.

I had not heard that Starbucks were restricting their restrooms to customers, but that is their prerogative. I do know that most Starbucks are putting locks on their restroom doors, but they will almost always give you the key if you ask. Places like Shake Shack require you to enter a code on a keypad, and it's printed on the bottom of all receipts. McDonald's area also good places to head if you need a restroom, since most have them and there are a million. But you do have to keep your restroom needs in mind if you are heading around town.

I am not going to vouch for their cleanliness but just about every public playground and park in NYC has a public restroom. The tiny little playground around the conrer from me often has a taxi parked outside while the driver uses the facilities.

Here is a list for Manhattan only:

https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/bathrooms