With its colourful past, this charming square is now a haven for food connoisseurs and cultural historians alike.
Historically the sight of many campaigns for civil and women’s rights and protests against the Vietnam War, Union Square is one of New York City’s most important public spaces. Located in Downtown Manhattan, just above the trendy 14th Street, it is now home to a thriving commercial scene built around good food.
If you visit on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, the famous Greenmarket is open. Established back in 1976, this market now offers fresh produce from over 100 regional farmers, and is the perfect place to sample delicious fresh food.
If you happen to be visiting in September, don’t miss the annual Harvest in the Square. This is one of New York’s top local food and wine tasting events, with some of the best local chefs cooking up delicious dishes from ingredients sourced from the Greenmarket farmers, with wine and beer from New York State and beyond.
Alternatively, if you visit New York in November or December, specifically between Thanksgiving Day on 23rd November and Christmas Eve on 24th December, head to the Union Square Holiday Market. This is the perfect opportunity for Christmas shopping with over 100 craft stalls specialising in everything from candles to high-end jewellery.
In the warmer months, you can enjoy all sorts of free events and activities. If you’re feeling active try out yoga and fitness classes, or sit back and enjoy salsa and hip-hop performances.
Free walking tours of Union Square Park are available, taking you through the area’s social and political history, where you can discover the story behind the many monuments in the square, including the oldest sculpture in the New York City Parks collection: a bronze equestrian statue of George Washington, America’s first president and a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The most recent statue is that of Mahatma Gandhi, which was added in 1986.
Union Square is situated right near the city’s third-largest Subway station, so access via public transport is easy.
