New York City Sights

Museum of Sex

233 5th Ave. Map It
Flatiron District
Museum/Gallery

Published 09/11/2016

Fodor's Review

Ponder the profound history and cultural significance of sex at this 14,000-square-foot museum while staring at vintage pornographic photos, S&M paraphernalia, antimasturbation devices from the 1800s, explicit film clips, vintage condom tins, and a collection of artwork. The Spotlight on the Permanent Collection gallery features revolving artifacts and ephemera, as well as a "Jump for Joy" bounce house (of inflated breasts) that was originally part of a recent exhibition, Funland: Pleasures & Perils of the Erotic Fairground. Other recent exhibits have probed such topics as desire on the Internet and the sex lives of animals, as well as a translation of the campground setting as a surreal adult playground, complete with tents, campfire, and park rangers. The subject matter is given serious curatorial treatment, though the gift shop is full of fun sexual kitsch. Only patrons over 18 are admitted. After visiting the museum's exhibitions, sate your appetite with a kinky cocktail or gourmet coffee and pastry in the museum's Play bar and Nice & Sweet café.

Museum/Gallery