It seems like you can’t walk one block in NYC without being run over by Pokémon trainers trying to be the very best! Pokémon Go has quickly become one of the most used apps after its launch and NYC is ripe with tall grass to explore! The high number of landmarks and areas of interest are making Manhattan a Pokémon playground. With so many options to choose from, which neighborhoods make the most effective areas to search for these elusive fictional fauna? We sent our top notch team of TripleMint Trainers from Team Mystic (represent!) to get the stats on some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.
Tribeca
Not only known for its luxury apartments and high-end stores, Tribeca is a quiet spot for a Trainer looking to kick back in a small park and toss some Pokéballs. Albert Capsouto Park is home to a gym where you can show your Team Mystic, Valor, or Instinct pride in a large open square where it’s not uncommon to run into other Trainers for some friendly competition and shop talk. There were 28 PokéStops in a three block radius, and the one in the park had a lure module encouraging neighbors to catch some rays while catching Pokémon. 
With a time limit of 30 minutes here’s what our trainers found:
Common:
- Golden
- Pidgey 2x
- Pinsir 3x
- Sparrow 2x
Uncommon/Rare Sightings:
- Wartortle
- Staryu
West Village & Greenwich Village
With bohemian flare, pre-war buildings mixed with high rise condos, and amazing food around every corner, it’s no wonder that Greenwich Village is the most desirable neighborhood in Manhattan. Shockingly, the Pokémon perspective there is pretty bleak! While in the field, our trainers found that while Washington Square Park featured a highly contested gym and at least 10+ PokéStops with lure modules, it was mostly filled with Rattatas, Pidgeys, Zubats, and Dodrios. In a way, this habitat boasts our typical NYC vermin. Pidgeons and rats in Washington Square Park? Quelle Surprise!
There for only 30 minutes, here’s what our Trainers found:
Common:
- Dodrio 4x
- Pidgey 6x
- Rattata 5x
- Zubat 2x
Uncommon/Rare Sightings:
- Abra
- Golbat
- Horsea 2x
Midtown East
While the busy servers and app crashes initially hindered Pokémon captures, this was ultimately the most fruitful training hub in the city- full of friendly faces and helpful hints from other players who were traveling in packs to find the creatures throughout the bottom of Central Park on a beautiful summer day. Midtown East is the place to be for any Pokemon Trainer who wants access to varied habitats and the nearby cellphone charging stations at the Apple Store!
Despite the server crashes, here’s what our Trainers found within 30 minutes:
Common:
- Caterpie
- Pidgey 3x
- Pinsir 4x
- Rattata 3x
- Wheedle 3x
Uncommon/Rare Sightings:
- Arbok
- Drowzee
- Exeggcute
- Magikarp
- Magmar
- Magnemite
- Onix
- Ponyta
- Rhyhorn
- Sandslash
- Venonat
Midtown West
With constant foot traffic and a plethora of eating and shopping locations, Midtown West is an ideal spot for a Pokémon Trainer who also enjoys a nightlife. Many shops keep over 30 PokéStops in Times Square boosted in order to draw customers, and it’s hard for factions to own the gym by the TKTS booth for more than a few minutes at a time. This was the first place where we ran into multiple rare spawning Pokémon. However, this was also the area of the city that caused the most app crashes. Luckily the thirst to catch em call, kept us rebooting!
Regardless, here’s what our Trainers found in 30 minutes:
Common:
- Goldeen 2x
- Pidgeys 2x
- Spearows 2x
- Zubat 5x
Uncommon/Rare Sightings:
- Charmander
- Electrode
- Golbat 2x
- Magikarp
- Meowth
- Pikachu
- Polliwag
- Voltorb 3x
