Our first stop in NYC will be Union Square, and am wondering if anyone can suggest a store or hotel that would have restrooms. If not, are there decent public ones in the square?

Stop in The Heartland Brewery right there in Union Square for a snack or lunch. We stumbled upon this treasure and returned again for dessert later. Great food & moderate (at least in '01)

Try the homemade potato chips and / or their to DIE for Apple Pie ala mode! Yum yum!

(and i'm sure they have bathrooms )

I remember going in a Starbucks a couple of blocks away. There are lots of coffee shops and restaurants nearby also the W Hotel.

At the northeast corner of Union Square (Park Ave So and E 17th St), there is a W Hotel that has restrooms up one floor from the lobby. Along the north side of Union Square is a very large Barnes & Noble, which also has restrooms up a few floors. No actual public restrooms in the square.

ellenem: Aren't there restrooms in the little building by the playground? Or are they all boarded up?

Regardless, I would not use them, I'm sure they would be filthy. If you don't want to purchase a beverage or food, just use the bathroom in Barnes and Noble or walk up to 19th street and use the one in ABC Carpet and Home.

Barnes & Noble, baby! (They are my #1 "place to pee" when I'm walking around the City)

I use ABC Home except when the Pup is with me

I'm not aware that there were ever (in the last 20 years) restrooms available in that little building. I think the people who eat at Luna Park (or whatever the outdoor restaurant in Union Square is called) go into Coffee Shop. The Barnes & Noble is the easiest and my usual choice, restrooms in the children's department (second floor?). The W Hotel is closer than ABC, so it depends on your preference for chic shopping or chic hotel lobby views.

ellenem has a point there, in a way I always end up browsing in ABC after I use the facilities then come home with something I really did not need~

In order of cleanliness (most likely)

1) B&N bookstore on north end of square
2) Au Bon Pain on east side a few hunred feet south of 15th
3) Starbucks on east side at corner of 15th

I suspect that the Cosi sandwich shop and coffee bar on Broadway at 13th just south of the square has a decent bathroom - it's alos a nice spot to stop for an iced coffee drink on a hot day. Even better - go there on a cooler evening, sit outside and order 'smores - they bring a miniture hibachi that sits in the middle of the table to toast your own marshmallows - fun and tasty! Also good is the fact that although it's a snadwich place and coffee bar during the day, it also offers a full bar at night. I'm a non drinker and it's a great place for me to gow with friends or a date who drinks - we can all get beverages tour liking (no to mention great people watching on Broadway).

Well, we were in Union Square in April, checking out the Farmer's Market one Saturday morning, and *did* go to the public facilities in the park (near the dog park).

I readily admit, I'm a tourist (female) in NYC, although we've been there 6-7 times in the past 4 years, and I've *never* had such a surreal experience! There was someone else in the stall next to me, carrying on an *intense* conversation with somebody (imagined), that was just unbelievable. I think it was my most uncomfortable New York moment, but since it lasted for the time it took me to pee, is probably not a big deal!

I'm taking note of places other people recommend that are nearby...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone; I know they'll be useful.

I'm not familiar with W Hotel. Is that short for Westin or something or simply the actual name?

W is a chic hotel chain.

msmiller--interested to hear about the Union Square restrooms... Are you sure you weren't listening to a phone conversation? I've heard some surprising ones myself in precisely this way.

Thanks for the suggestion of W Hotel.

ellenem--yep, I'm as certain as I can be that I wasn't listening to a phone conversation. Without knowing *any* facts,my guess is that I was listening to a street person carrying on a conversation with someone in her head--real or imagined. My discomfort level was raised, for lack of better description, bec/ of the degree of repetition and "language" used; it sounded like someone working herself into a rage about whatever the problem was. Not being a stranger to bad language myself, it was an eye opener! But, no harm done and I'll just choose other restroom locations when next in the area (which I hope is soon!!)