The 315-square-foot (29.3 m2) structure was built at the same time as the New York Public Library Main Branch and designed by the same architects.

With flowers, automatic toilets, original artwork, classical music, and an attendant, it is often regarded as among the best public bathrooms in the city, used by more than a million people per year.

[2] In the early 1990s, Bryant Park underwent a revitalization and the restrooms were restored by Kupiec & Koutsomitis, reopening in 1992.

[6] While the restrooms were closed for improvements, park management brought in four portable toilets, decorated the space around them, and had an attendant working to clean them after every use.

[9]: 5  The interior is 315 square feet, with a coffered ceiling, crown moldings, earth-toned tile mosaics and brushed stainless steel sconces.

[7] Many of the designs and technologies used in the 2017 renovations are intended to be ecologically friendly, such as LED lighting, temperature controls, electricity generated through toilets and sinks, and low energy driers.

[6] The bathroom, as with the rest of Bryant Park, is paid for by private revenue sources and corporate sponsorships without the need for municipal funding.

[2] The New York Times called it "the grandest of the park system's 600 bathrooms" in 2006 and the "Tiffany's of public restrooms" in 2017.

[6][7][8] In 2010 and 2018, Cintas listed them among the finalists its annual Best Restroom contest and the travel website Virtual Tourist ranked them the best in the world in 2011.