Welcome to the hottest summer ever! This year, temperatures everywhere are setting new record highs and NYC, with our spate of 90+ degree days, is no exception.

The good news is, at The Knickerbocker there are all sorts of ways to stay chill: from iced oysters on the half shell (benefitting the Billion Oyster Project) and an exclusive Sunday Spritz menu at St. Cloud, to making the most of school holidays — and a complimentary daily brunch buffet at Charlie Palmer — with our Summer Family Escape package. Here are some of our other favorite tips for having a stone-cold Hot Guest Summer.

Our neighbors at the New York Public Library have the coolest spot in town. Not only is it the second largest library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress), it also has central air. Check out our visitor’s guide, or just pop in to peruse and unwilt.

One of NYC’s best kept secrets is just how many swimming pools we have. While we’re still waiting for the + Pool that is slated for the East River sometime in the future, private clubs like Lifetime Sky offer day passes with access to the pool. Roosevelt Island’s Manhattan Park Pool Club also sells day passes and features pop-up art installations.

Photo courtesy of Max Touhey for Citi Habitats

We love a movie night under the stars as much as any New Yorker, but sometimes it’s really all about sitting in the a/c while drinking a huge, icy beverage. Whether your tastes run to summer blockbusters or art house indies, a few hours at one of the city’s cinemas is sure to send shivers down your spine.

Hot weather is a great excuse to take advantage of NYC’s excellent ice cream and gelato options. Some of our neighborhood favorites include the rose-shaped cones at Amorino, just on the other side of Times Square, and the eclectic flavors, like Buttermilk Berry Cornbread, at Van Leeuwen in Rockefeller Center. Though it’s not ice cream, the Coppa Al Limone, on the all-day menu at Charlie Palmer, is a must-try refreshing summer treat.

Photo courtesy of Amorino Gelato al Naturale

Pack a picnic, attend a concert or just go for a walk in one of Manhattan’s many waterfront parks. Little Island, a part of Hudson River Park, actually floats in the river— you can’t get much cooler than that. Also in Hudson River Park, Pier 26 has Tide Deck, with views of marine wildlife. Further uptown, Riverside Park is great for recreational activities, while The Battery and Brooklyn Bridge Park offer postcard-perfect views of sunsets and skylines.

Kayaking has become one of NYC’s easiest ways to get up close and personal with the water, with programs like The Downtown Boathouse and the Manhattan Community Boathouse offering free walk-up kayaking. Manhattan Kayak Co. has kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard rentals, as well as lessons, tours and SUP yoga. For a classic NYC row — and maybe the chance to watch a proposal in action — the Central Park Boathouse has reopened after a brief hiatus.

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Community Boathouse

No car? No problem! When you’re staying in Midtown Manhattan, the beach is just a train or ferry ride away. Catch the really big waves at Rockaway Beach, or have an old school boardwalk carnival experience — complete with the famous Cyclone wooden roller coaster — at Coney Island.

No car? No problem! When you’re staying in Midtown Manhattan, the beach is just a train or ferry ride away. Catch the really big waves at Rockaway Beach, or have an old school boardwalk carnival experience — complete with the famous Cyclone wooden roller coaster — at Coney Island.

Photo courtesy of NYCGovParks.org

 Stay in Cool Comfort in NYC