NYC is known for its lively and vibrant art scene. Stunning work fills museums, galleries, and stages throughout the city. But NYC is also home to the type of immersive, experiential art you’re not going to find anywhere else. For something unforgettable, check out these unique experiences.
1. Life and Trust
Credit: Jane Kratochvil
A lot of experiences claim to be unique and immersive. I’ve tried dozens. None come close to Life and Trust.
Life and Trust is a theatrical experience. But if you’re thinking of uncomfortable seats and sleepy audiences, think again. This immersive play unfolds across six floors of a retrofitted skyscraper, Conwell Tower, transformed into a multi-level Gilded Age set.
Using dance and acrobatic choreography, the performers tell the Faustian tale of J.G. Conwell, chairman of the Life and Trust bank, who trades his soul to relive his youth the night before the 1929 stock market crash.
Photo credit: Stephanie Crousillat
But the story isn’t all about Conwell. The narrative is non-linear and sprawls across a cast of nearly 30 characters, including swindlers, mad scientists, and a magician-like Mephistopheles. You’ll see street fights, vaudeville acts, eerie laboratories, boudoir romance, and even a sprawling indoor garden. And you’re not just watching. Audience members, masked and silent, roam freely, choosing which storylines and characters to chase. You may even be invited to participate.
Just come prepared: The show runs for three hours, and there are lots of stairs. The story is also haunting and dark, so it may not be for everyone. You won’t see it all in one go, but don’t worry — it’s built for repeat visits. Trust me, you’ll want to come back.
2. Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology
New York is known for its many museums. But until it opened in 2024, NYC had nothing like Mercer Labs. It’s a collection of unique art installations that combine art and technology using digital projections, sound, light, mirrors, and other elements.
As the name suggests, the vibe at Mercer Labs is experimental. No room is like another. Every corner you turn, every door you open is different. In one room, everyone is sprawled on the floor. In another room, you spin on an adult-sized swing as a giant dove, brought to life in 16K projection, flies toward you, trailing digital gold dust in its wake.
The Dragon is my favorite. I’ve done infinity rooms before, but this one’s on another level. It’s huge, for starters, and uses some mind-bending tech to float voxels (yep, 3D pixels — I had to Google it too) in midair, like stepping into a hologram.
Other exhibits are kinetic and hands-on. Guests can draw their names in shifting lights. Or create a character that comes to life before them on screen. Or build sandcastles with magnetic sand. Every experience is different.
3. Vessel
“Interactive” can mean different things to different people. It can mean anything from pressing a button to immersive performance to just being able to touch the art. It’s rare for “interactive” to mean climbing inside the art, but that’s exactly what you’ll do at Vessel.
A 150-foot sculpture outside Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, Vessel is climbable art, consisting of 154 flights of interlocking stairs. With 500 steps and 80 landings to climb to, Vessel offers different views of the city as you scale it. Your perspective is always changing, and even the facade, with its bronze-colored reflective surface, shifts throughout the day.
While you can expect a workout, don’t come to Vessel expecting a standard observation deck. It’s not high enough to give you a bird’s-eye view of New York. For that, head inside Hudson Yards for the Edge skydeck. Instead, Vessel gives you a glimpse of the city from within the city. The sculpture itself can serve as a frame for your photos.
4. Little Island
Every city has a playground. But only New York has Little Island.
Floating outside Pier 55 in the Hudson River, this 2.5-acre gem rests on funky, funnel-shaped white columns. It’s free, open to all ages, and steps from spots like the High Line and Chelsea Market, so it slides right into your NYC adventure.
Whimsy’s the name of the game here: think lush gardens, scampering wildlife, and playful vibes that spark imagination. Depending on the season, you might grab a hula hoop, spin dizzying optical illusion discs, twirl in a chair, or bang out tunes on interactive instruments. Those boulders that cry out to be climbed? It’s allowed, and kids love them.
Winding trails and hilly paths turn the island into a secret wonderland, begging to be explored. Families will love The Glade, a 200-seat venue dishing out free shows, often crafted with kids in mind. Check the schedule online to catch what’s going on during your visit.
5. Museum of Ice Cream
Despite the Museum moniker, you won’t find stuffy galleries at New York’s Museum of Ice Cream. How does “Unlimited ice cream” sound? Or “NYC’s tallest indoor slide?” If that doesn’t grab you, maybe diving into a sprinkle-filled pool or slurping stretchy booza ice cream will seal the deal.
The Museum of Ice Cream isn’t just another museum in a city stacked with them. It’s three floors of pure, unfiltered fun, with 12 interactive stations all featuring America’s sweetest obsession. You’ll dig into ice cream’s surprisingly wild history or discover how it’s eaten worldwide, all while snapping Instagrammable pics.
Between the art, facts, and photo ops, you’re handed sample after sample. To prevent waste, the samples are perfectly portioned, but here’s the kicker: you can hit up seconds, thirds, or as much as you want before bouncing to the next room.
They also weave in fun activities to keep your sugar rush in check. Families? This place is gold. The staff’s hyped-up energy pulls everyone in, and kids lose it over a world built with ice cream. Grown-ups will have a blast too.
6. RiseNY
Located in the lights and bustle of Times Square, RiseNY is an attraction designed like a love letter to New York. Opened in March 2022, it’s the city distilled into one wild ride. No time for the Statue of Liberty or Broadway? You’ll get a juicy taste of the whole Big Apple here.
It kicks off with a film narrated by Jeff Goldblum, who spins the tale of NYC’s electric history with Times Square as its beating heart. Next, you hop on a virtual subway to a museum inside the attraction, bursting with exhibits that spotlight the city’s icons and unsung heroes.
Snap a selfie with Oscar the Grouch or Bruce Springsteen’s guitar. Geek out over real-deal artifacts from NYC’s starry past, plus photo ops like stepping into the black-and-white kitchen from The Honeymooners. Or take in costumes from some of Broadway’s biggest shows, such as Hamilton and The Phantom of the Opera.
But the finale, a flight ride through New York, is the real knockout. You strap into a theme-park-worthy ride that sends you soaring over NYC’s skyline, with 8k aerial footage so crisp it feels alive. Hoisted 30 feet up, you’ll twist, dip, and feel wind, mist, and scents that trick you into believing you’re actually flying. Short of chartering a private chopper, RiseNY is one of the best ways to see New York from the sky.
7. Artechouse NYC
Billed as the “Home for Innovation and Experiential Art,” Artechouse — and immersive digital art in general — is having a moment right now. Set in a 100-year-old boiler room below Chelsea Market, the main exhibit hall typically features large-scale, wall-to-wall projects with accompanying music and sound effects. Viewers can enjoy the show from cushions and bean bag chairs near the room’s large concrete columns.
The exhibitions rotate, featuring everything from moving art depicting outer space to MTV-inspired concert footage to 8-bit avatars playing in a 3D world. Check the Artechouse website to see times and what’s playing now.
Besides the main show, you can learn about past exhibits through a touch-screen exhibit, play virtual instruments, or grab a drink at the bar. Each timed entry is good for one hour, but that’s plenty of time to see everything. They’re open every day, so it’s easy to fit into your NYC visit.
Where To Eat in NYC
In NYC, food is an art. And what could be more immersive than lighting up your taste buds with a dozen different flavors? If you’re craving unique tastes and experiences, check out these NYC food halls for a choose-your-own culinary adventure.
Mercado Little Spain
Want to take a step outside New York? Mercado Little Spain is a slice of Iberia right in the city. Created by Chef José Andrés, the market is three restaurants and a sprawl of kiosks dishing up Spain’s best bites all day long.
La Barra, one of its full-service spots, teleports you to Barcelona. There’s a dish to please everyone. The Jamón Ibérico de Bellota — you know, the giant ham legs Spain is known for? — is cured for 48 months. Each slice is nutty, sweet, and hands-down the best ham you’ll ever taste. Kids and adults will like the croquetas, crispy fritters stuffed with béchamel. Andrés and his brothers used to steal tastes of the creamy filling as kids.
Market 57
Just a short walk from Little Island, Market 57 is an international foodie hall on Pier 57’s ground floor in Chelsea. Opened in 2023 with the James Beard Foundation’s culinary cred, the market’s various stalls dish up everything from Indian dosas and Thai curries, to Mexican tacos and Caribbean wings. Coffee, craft beer, boba tea? You can get it at Market 57.
If you want to enjoy your food with a view, take your meal up to Pier 57’s rooftop. It’s a two-acre park with Hudson River views that’ll make your visit memorable.
Moynihan Food Hall
If you want a casual vibe and tasty food, Moynihan Food Hall delivers. With 22 vendors, it’s a feast: ramen, sushi, Southern comfort, burgers, bakeries, and craft brews. A chic central bar keeps things lively, and there’s tons of seating, even when it’s buzzing at weekend lunch.
If you want a classic NYC slice, stop by Sauce Pizzeria. I opted for a vodka slice with a crisp, thin crust and sauce that slaps. If you want lighter fare, Chopt has fresh salads on offer. My personal favorite is NAYA. Their Lebanese bowl — packed with spiced meat, veggies, and sauces — was so generous it felt like a steal. Dessert? Cha Cha Matcha’s peanut butter-cold brew smoothie with cacao and dates. Months later, my husband and I still talk about it.
