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The Best Places to Catch Pokemon in NYC

If you really, truly gotta catch 'em all, start at these popular Pokemon Go spots in NYC

By Amy Plitt Updated
4 comments / new
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By Amy Plitt Updated
4 comments / new
Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

It should come as no surprise that the Pokemon Go craze that has swept basically everywhere this week is especially strong in New York City. Thanks to the game's method of designating landmarks and other large public sites as "gyms" (where you can battle against other players)—coupled with the fact that NYC is, well, enormous—there's no shortage of places to catch Pokemon throughout the five boroughs.

But some places are better than others, which is why we've put together this handy guide to the spots you should hit if you really do want to catch 'em all. Some are obvious—duh, of course Times Square will be a good place to catch rare Pokemon—while others are less so. (Haven't found a Squirtle yet? Try Greenpoint!) And if you have other spots to add to this list, leave a comment or hit the tipline. But remember: Pokemon Go responsibly.

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Bryant Park

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#Pokemon heaven here #pokemongo #catchpokemon #bryantpark #NYC

A photo posted by Dj Fresh (@dj_fresh) on

E 42nd St, New York, NY 10018
(212) 768-4242
(212) 768-4242

Also featured in:

Times Square

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Unsurprisingly, the most crowded part of the city is chock-full of both Pokespots (including the birthplace of Eugene O'Neill) and Pokemon just waiting to be caught. We've spotted a Ponyta, a Geodude, and a Jigglypuff in the wild here. There's also a huge gym within the tourist-clogged public space.

Broadway & 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
(212) 768-1560
(212) 768-1560

Also featured in:

TKTS

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Within Times Square, the TKTS steps are a good place to play without worrying about the whole running-into-oncoming-traffic thing. (This reporter caught a Magickarp, which may not be super exciting, but hey, it's something.) It's pretty crowded so expect there to be some lures, too.

Broadway, New York, NY 10036
(212) 246-3828
(212) 246-3828

Brooklyn Borough Hall

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In addition to a pretty hoppin' gym right outside of Borough Hall, the park surrounding the Brooklyn municipal building is teeming with Pokespots. There's plenty of open space so you're almost guaranteed to bump into other players.

209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

WNYC Transmitter Park

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A tipster tells us that there are lots of water Pokemon in this Greenpoint park, which has the added benefit of a lovely Manhattan skyline view as the backdrop for your capturing capers.

2 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Grand Army Plaza

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A tipster tells us that there's a gym at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza. So go forth and attempt to master it.

Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238

Brooklyn Bridge Park

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There's a perfect storm of excellent Pokemon-playing factors at this waterfront park: Lots of gyms, lots of Pokemon to catch, and lots of people playing.

Main St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 803-3822
(212) 803-3822

Nintendo NY

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10 Rockefeller Plz, New York, NY 10020
(646) 459-0800
(646) 459-0800

Empire State Building

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According to tipsters, the city's most iconic skyscraper is home to both a gym and to well-known Pokemon like Meowth. But only you can decide whether it's worth paying the $32 fee to get a pic of a Pikachu atop the landmark.

350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118
(212) 736-3100
(212) 736-3100

Williamsburg Bridge

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Manspreading #pokemoncommuters #pokemongo #manspreading #wartortle #mta

A photo posted by @pokemoncommuters on

Williamsburg Bridge, New York, NY 10002

Astoria Park

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what i see when running. before n after #PokemonGo

A photo posted by David Tai 戴士鈞 (@davidtaisc) on

Astoria Pk S, Astoria, NY 11102

Community Bookstore

Copy Link

Wow! Rare Pokemon sighting! Also a Charmander...

A photo posted by Tiny The Usurper (@tinytheusurper) on

143 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 783-3075
(718) 783-3075

Madison Square Park

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Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010
(212) 538-1884
(212) 538-1884

Also featured in:

14th Street and Ninth Avenue

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A tipster relayed the tale of catching a very elusive Pikachu at this corner. No telling if it'll still be there by the time you read this, but hey, it's worth a shot.

9th Ave & W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

Prospect Park

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It may not have as many Pokemon as its Manhattan counterparts, but this Brooklyn park is still a good place to spot and catch the little critters.

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 965-8951
(718) 965-8951

Also featured in:

Union Square Park

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btwn Broadway & Union Sq E, New York, NY 10003

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One World Trade Center

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You'll have the battle the Conde Nasties for control of One World Trade Center—a tipster who works in the building said that there's a pretty big gym at the city's tallest tower.

1 World Trade Ctr, New York, NY 10007

Central Park

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59th St to 110th St, New York, NY 10028
(212) 310-6600
(212) 310-6600

Marcus Garvey Park

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A user posted the fact that "so many Ghastlys" are at this Harlem park. Take note, Ghastly fans!

Mt. Morris Park W & Madison Ave, New York, NY 10035

Rockefeller Center

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Looking for an Eevee or a Meowth? Head to this popular tourist spot, where those Pokemon have been spotted, among many others.

Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
(212) 332-6868
(212) 332-6868
ruigsantos / Shutterstock.com

Also featured in:

Battery Park

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Be on the lookout for lots of water Pokemon along the Hudson River—users have reported catching Squirtles and Magikarps, along with other watery monsters. You might also spot Dratini here.

Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004
(212) 344-3491
(212) 344-3491

Also featured in:

Fort Greene Park

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Unsurprisingly, there's a gym at the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, the most famous landmark within this Brooklyn park.

Washington Park, Brooklyn, NY 11217
(347) 559-5142
(347) 559-5142

Riverside Park

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Users have reported catching "a bunch of" Ponyta in this park, specifically the portion between 96th and 116th Streets.

Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10025

Waldorf Astoria New York

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Rumor has it that a super-rare Meowth can be found inside this storied hotel—but since it's such a big landmark, you're likely to find other Pokemon there when that Meowth goes away.

301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022
(212) 355-3000
(212) 355-3000

Also featured in:

High Line

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Unsurprisingly, there are lots of Pokemon around this popular park—common ones like Zubats and Krabbys, but there've been reports of a Jigglypuff nearby.

btwn Gansevoort & W 34th St, New York, NY 10011
(212) 500-6035
(212) 500-6035

Also featured in:

Roosevelt Island

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Yep, you can catch Pokemon in the middle of the East River, and unsurprisingly there are a fair number of water Pokemon here—a Squirtle and a Psyduck were recently spotted, according to the Pokevision map.

New York, NY 10044

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Bryant Park

E 42nd St, New York, NY 10018

#Pokemon heaven here #pokemongo #catchpokemon #bryantpark #NYC

A photo posted by Dj Fresh (@dj_fresh) on

E 42nd St, New York, NY 10018
(212) 768-4242
(212) 768-4242

Times Square

Broadway & 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Unsurprisingly, the most crowded part of the city is chock-full of both Pokespots (including the birthplace of Eugene O'Neill) and Pokemon just waiting to be caught. We've spotted a Ponyta, a Geodude, and a Jigglypuff in the wild here. There's also a huge gym within the tourist-clogged public space.

Broadway & 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
(212) 768-1560
(212) 768-1560

TKTS

Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Within Times Square, the TKTS steps are a good place to play without worrying about the whole running-into-oncoming-traffic thing. (This reporter caught a Magickarp, which may not be super exciting, but hey, it's something.) It's pretty crowded so expect there to be some lures, too.

Broadway, New York, NY 10036
(212) 246-3828
(212) 246-3828

Brooklyn Borough Hall

209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

In addition to a pretty hoppin' gym right outside of Borough Hall, the park surrounding the Brooklyn municipal building is teeming with Pokespots. There's plenty of open space so you're almost guaranteed to bump into other players.

209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

WNYC Transmitter Park

2 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

A tipster tells us that there are lots of water Pokemon in this Greenpoint park, which has the added benefit of a lovely Manhattan skyline view as the backdrop for your capturing capers.

2 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Grand Army Plaza

Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238

A tipster tells us that there's a gym at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza. So go forth and attempt to master it.

Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Main St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

There's a perfect storm of excellent Pokemon-playing factors at this waterfront park: Lots of gyms, lots of Pokemon to catch, and lots of people playing.

Main St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 803-3822
(212) 803-3822

Nintendo NY

10 Rockefeller Plz, New York, NY 10020
10 Rockefeller Plz, New York, NY 10020
(646) 459-0800
(646) 459-0800

Empire State Building

350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118

According to tipsters, the city's most iconic skyscraper is home to both a gym and to well-known Pokemon like Meowth. But only you can decide whether it's worth paying the $32 fee to get a pic of a Pikachu atop the landmark.

350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118
(212) 736-3100
(212) 736-3100

Williamsburg Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge, New York, NY 10002

Manspreading #pokemoncommuters #pokemongo #manspreading #wartortle #mta

A photo posted by @pokemoncommuters on

Williamsburg Bridge, New York, NY 10002

Astoria Park

Astoria Pk S, Astoria, NY 11102

what i see when running. before n after #PokemonGo

A photo posted by David Tai 戴士鈞 (@davidtaisc) on

Astoria Pk S, Astoria, NY 11102

Community Bookstore

143 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Wow! Rare Pokemon sighting! Also a Charmander...

A photo posted by Tiny The Usurper (@tinytheusurper) on

143 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 783-3075
(718) 783-3075

Madison Square Park

Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010
Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010
(212) 538-1884
(212) 538-1884

14th Street and Ninth Avenue

9th Ave & W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

A tipster relayed the tale of catching a very elusive Pikachu at this corner. No telling if it'll still be there by the time you read this, but hey, it's worth a shot.

9th Ave & W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

Prospect Park

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 11215

It may not have as many Pokemon as its Manhattan counterparts, but this Brooklyn park is still a good place to spot and catch the little critters.

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 965-8951
(718) 965-8951

Union Square Park

btwn Broadway & Union Sq E, New York, NY 10003
btwn Broadway & Union Sq E, New York, NY 10003

One World Trade Center

1 World Trade Ctr, New York, NY 10007

You'll have the battle the Conde Nasties for control of One World Trade Center—a tipster who works in the building said that there's a pretty big gym at the city's tallest tower.

1 World Trade Ctr, New York, NY 10007

Central Park

59th St to 110th St, New York, NY 10028
59th St to 110th St, New York, NY 10028
(212) 310-6600
(212) 310-6600

Marcus Garvey Park

Mt. Morris Park W & Madison Ave, New York, NY 10035

A user posted the fact that "so many Ghastlys" are at this Harlem park. Take note, Ghastly fans!

Mt. Morris Park W & Madison Ave, New York, NY 10035

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Looking for an Eevee or a Meowth? Head to this popular tourist spot, where those Pokemon have been spotted, among many others.

Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
(212) 332-6868
(212) 332-6868
ruigsantos / Shutterstock.com

Battery Park

Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

Be on the lookout for lots of water Pokemon along the Hudson River—users have reported catching Squirtles and Magikarps, along with other watery monsters. You might also spot Dratini here.

Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004
(212) 344-3491
(212) 344-3491

Fort Greene Park

Washington Park, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Unsurprisingly, there's a gym at the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, the most famous landmark within this Brooklyn park.

Washington Park, Brooklyn, NY 11217
(347) 559-5142
(347) 559-5142

Riverside Park

Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10025

Users have reported catching "a bunch of" Ponyta in this park, specifically the portion between 96th and 116th Streets.

Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10025

Waldorf Astoria New York

301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

Rumor has it that a super-rare Meowth can be found inside this storied hotel—but since it's such a big landmark, you're likely to find other Pokemon there when that Meowth goes away.

301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022
(212) 355-3000
(212) 355-3000

High Line

btwn Gansevoort & W 34th St, New York, NY 10011

Unsurprisingly, there are lots of Pokemon around this popular park—common ones like Zubats and Krabbys, but there've been reports of a Jigglypuff nearby.

btwn Gansevoort & W 34th St, New York, NY 10011
(212) 500-6035
(212) 500-6035

Roosevelt Island

New York, NY 10044

Yep, you can catch Pokemon in the middle of the East River, and unsurprisingly there are a fair number of water Pokemon here—a Squirtle and a Psyduck were recently spotted, according to the Pokevision map.

New York, NY 10044