Escape the stifling heat and do as a vampire might do—head underground to one of NYC’s coolest subterranean bars. Though some share a crossover speakeasy-style appeal, these bars are all literally underground, safely ensconced in basements where you can eschew the SPF and avoid the harsh light of day outside. As cool as they are chill, these are the best basement bars to beat the heat in NYC.
We’re in the dog days of summer, but this week, in particular, is going to be brutal.
The temperature will be in the mid- to high-90s this week, spurring a heat advisory for the metro area through Sunday, when heat index values will be around 100 degrees.
Of course, always head to one of NYC’s cooling centers if you need to escape the heat. You can access an interactive map right here to find the one nearest to you. Call 911 if you or someone is experiencing heavy sweating, muscle cramps, lightheadedness, feeling faint, headache, decreased energy, loss of appetite and/or nausea.
If your apartment has good air conditioning, it's easy to stay inside to avoid the sun but NYC has a lot of fun ways to keep cool so that you don't need to become a hermit when the mercury rises. And if your apartment traps heat, fear not: There are great places to escape to across the boroughs.
Below, we’ve recommended 28 fun ways to cool off in NYC during this wicked heatwave. And remember: Stay cool and stay inside whenever possible!
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