Taking Your Lunch Break in Midtown East, New York

There are so many things to dread during the work day: getting up, getting to work, responding to emails from certain people, interacting with certain people, the list goes on. Thankfully, lunch exists. Lunch is a wonderful opportunity to escape the stress of the office; unfortunately, it has become increasingly common for people to forgo leaving the office to take their breaks, choosing instead to stay in and eat lunch at their desks.

A little personal time can go a long way and leaving the office to take  your lunch break is a great way to introduce some me time into your work day. To help you get started, each week we’re going to profile a different neighborhood and choose a handful of public spaces that are perfect for eating lunch, listening to music, reading a book, relaxing, and seeing art.

Greenacre Park, on East 51st between Second and Third, is one of New York’s many pocket parks. The park features a 25-foot high waterfall, beautiful landscaping designed by renowned landscape architect Hideo Sasaki, and Birdbath Bakery’s first uptown location.

The IBM Building Garden Plaza, on the southwest corner Madison Avenue and East 57th Street, blends nature and art in a stunning glass atrium. Designed by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, the atrium contains tall bamboo trees and an indoor sculpture garden that has featured works by artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Takashami Murakami, Jonathan Prince, and others.

Like Greenacre, Paley Park, on East 53rd between Madison and Fifth Avenues, also has a waterfall as its focal point. Ivy-covered walls and Honey Locust trees complete the atmosphere . The park also has five sections of the Berlin Wall, allowing visitors to take in history while escaping to a calming oasis in the heart of midtown.

Sony Plaza, at 550 Madison Avenue between East 55th and East 56th streets, is an indoor public space. With huge windows in the ceiling, plants along the wall, and food kiosks, the plaza is a great air-conditioned option for an out-of-the-office lunch.

Tudor City Greens, at 25 Tudor City Place, is 40 steps above East 42nd, between First and Second Avenues. The elevated Greens consists of two parks – a North and a South – that are filled with various species of trees, shrubs, and other plants. Over the summer, the Greens hosts Garden Parties and concerts; like them on facebook to find out about the next event.

Images courtesy of These Are Things, New York Daily News, Urban Omnibus, Alex Enciu’s flickr, The New York Times, and npzo’s flickr,