Find a Rooftop Bar >> • New This Summer • Sight Lines • Boozy and Cruisey • Laid-back
NEW THIS SUMMER
La Piscine
Hôtel Americano, 518 W. 27th St., nr. Tenth Ave.; 212-525-0000
La Piscine feels like a barbecue on your friends’ deck, if your friends included the Lion veteran Joseph Buenconsejo (who mans the grill). Patrons keep refreshed with $16 caipirinhas, while a selection of ten mezcals fuels the more adventurous. Just be sure to keep partakers away from the pool.
The View: the High Line, the Hudson, and the Empire State Building
The Menu: Greek-influenced fare: your branzinos, your lamb chops glazed with rosemary, etc. Drinks: Come for the mezcal, stay for the mixed drinks and the rosé bottle service.
The Hours: Daily (6 p.m.–midnight) Reservations are required for dinner.
Brooklyn Crab
24 Reed St., nr. Conover St., Red Hook; 718-643-2722
It’s not really on the roof, but there are two decks boasting unrivaled views of the Harbor, plus succulent seafood fare is what Brooklyn Crab. It’s brought to you by the folks behind the rooftop bar Alma in Brooklyn. Besides a raw bar, they’re offering soups, salads, sandwiches, steak, and probably other things beginning with S, in addition to promising family friendly fun like miniature golf, ping-pong, and something named “cornhole.”
The View: Ms. Statue of Liberty herself.
The Menu: Seafood by the seashore (sorta) will cost you, but isn’t it worth it to feel like you’re on vacation?
The Hours: Su–Th (4 p.m.–10 p.m.), Fr–Sa (4 p.m–11 p.m.)
The Ides
Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Ave., at N. 12th St.; 718-460-8000
An indoor and outdoor space on the sixth floor of Williamsburg’s new pride and joy, run by Andrew Tarlow, the restaurateur also of the downstairs restaurant Reynards. Have a seat at the bar or on one of the indoor red banquettes, or take it out to the terrace, with views of Manhattan that you could only see if you were not actually in the borough..
The View: The Manhattan skyline, as seen from Brooklyn.
The Menu:No food, cocktails will run $10-$12.
The Hours:W–Su (7–1 a.m.)
Haven
Sanctuary Hotel; 132 W. 47th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-234-7000
Get out of Times Square by going up—up to the penthouse of the Sanctuary Hotel for a turf-and-cedar accented midtown oasis. Sip on signature cocktails while trying out one of the 150 seats, including a communal table seating twenty.
The View: The lovely buildings of midtown from the tenth and eleventh floor of the hotel.
The Menu: The food is French fare with an American twist: risotto with champignons, steak tartare, and the like. Drinks ($12–$16 for cocktails) are simple and refreshing, like the vodka, Cointreau, and lychee Cloudtini, the rum and ginger Sanctuary Star, and the gin, raspberry, and mint Aura.
The Hours: Su–W (4 p.m.–midnight), Th–Sa (4 p.m.–late)
The Rooftop at NoMad
NoMad Hotel, 1170 Broadway, nr. W. 28th St; 212-253-5410
A fancy rooftop restaurant for those who like their tasting menus in the sky. On weather-appropriate days $125 (beverages are extra) will get you five courses of a seasonal menu by chef Daniel Humm. Reservations will only be taken online beginning at 11 a.m. on the day of. So good luck!
The View: Sweeping north to the Empire State Building and west toward the Hudson River. If you’re feelin’ fancy, you can rent the cupola out for private parties. It holds eight to ten people.
The Menu: Seasonal rustic fare.
The Hours: Daily (6 p.m.–10 p.m.)
Tavern 29
47 E. 29th St., nr. Park Ave. South; 212-685-4422
Housed in a converted brownstone, the spot has a formal first-floor room named for Teddy Roosevelt (who once lived a mere ten blocks away, we’re informed), and a more casual second floor named for Alexander Hamilton. While the indoor space aims for a dark, romantic feel, the rooftop is a different story: a German beer garden with rows of umbrella-covered picnic tables.
The View: Not really much, a sliver of building. But who needs a view when there’s the charm of a beer garden … in the sky!
The Menu: New American and a bit pricey: think hanger steak, seared scallops, goat-cheese-and-chorizo fritters, sliders. Also, be aware that there is no bar on the roof: You’ll have to bring your beverages up from one of the downstairs bars.
The Hours: M–Th (2 p.m–10 p.m.), F (only in summer; 11 a.m–11 p.m.), Sa–Sun (11 a.m–11 p.m.)
Rooftop Lounge at Pod 39 Hotel
145 East 39th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 800-742-5945
The two-story roof space of the micro-hotel—formerly in the landmarked Allerton House—is all about being festive, with terra cotta columns and benches, Mexican tiled tables, and, best of all, specialty tequilas. Also, oh yeah, panoramic views. Perfect for when you’re sipping those tequilas.
The View: Panoramic, from the seventeenth floor.
The Menu: For boozers: specialty tequila cocktails and a selection of beers on draft
The Hours: Opening early July, hours will be daily, 2 p.m.–midnight.
Rooftop Lounge at Renaissance Hotel
Renaissance Hotel New York Hotel 57; 130 E. 57th St. at Lexington Ave.; 212-753-8841
It’s the first year this 2,400-square-foot outdoor lounge of the boutique hotel has been open to civilians, and we’re luckier for it. On the sixteenth floor of the hotel, you’ll feast upon views of the Chrysler Building, while imbibing a beverage or two under the stars.
The View: Manhattan, in general. The Chrysler Building, in specifics.
The Menu: standard cocktail fare and hors d’oeuvres.
The Hours: Su–Th (5 p.m.–11 p.m.)
Find a Rooftop Bar >> • New • Sight Lines • Boozy and Cruisey • Laid-back
SIGHT LINES
Upstairs
The Kimberly Hotel, 145 E. 50th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-253-7337
String lights overhead and overstuffed leather chairs set the ambiance at Upstairs, the swank new bar on the 30th floor of the Kimberly. A retractable glass roof—don’t worry, it won’t impede your view!—and heated floors keep the bar open year-round and comfortable on chilly nights.
The View: 360-degree view of midtown Manhattan
The Menu: Small plates of the French persuasion from Chef Gwenaël Le Pape
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–1 a.m.)
Press
Ink48, 653 Eleventh Ave., at 48th St.; 212-757-2224
Designed by David Rockwell, the sixteenth-floor Press Lounge features a twenty-foot reflecting pool, mod wicker furniture reminiscent of Ditzel’s egg chair, and lux leather couches in the interior area (open year-round).
The View: 360-degree views of downtown Manhattan and Jersey City
The Menu: Small plates of farm-to-table modern American cuisine with Italian influence
The Hours: Su–W (5:30 p.m.–midnight), Th–S (5:30 p.m.–2 a.m.)
Jimmy
The James, 15 Thompson St., at Grand St.; 212-465-2000
Sip your cocktails poolside at the the outdoor component of Jimmy, at the pinnacle of Soho’s new James hotel. If you happen to head indoors, even the women’s bathroom offers a view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
The View: 360 degrees of rolling downtown topography, with sight lines stretching from the Empire State Building to the Hudson to the gradually multiplying floors of the future 1 World Trade Center.
The Menu: Food is not yet served but is planned for the future.
The Hours: Su–W (4 p.m.–1am), Th–S (4 p.m.–2 a.m.)
Bookmarks
Library Hotel, 299 Madison Ave., at 41st St.; 212-983-4500
With its brick walls, lovely floral displays, and an abundance of reading material, the terrace of the Library Hotel’s rooftop bar could pass for the patio of an Upper East Side townhouse.
The View: The majestic Lefcourt building rises across the street.
The Menu: $15 summer sparklers, which mix flavors like vanilla, blood orange, ginger, cucumber, and watermelon with sparkling wine
The Hours: M–F (4 p.m.–midnight), S (5 p.m.–1 a.m.), Su (closed)
Hotel on Rivington’s Rooftop
107 Rivington St., nr. Ludlow St.; 212-475-2600
The “fully functional lounge and event space” is located in Hotel on Rivington’s 2,300-square-foot penthouse and comes equipped with a 1,000-square-foot rooftop deck. Events will be mostly private, but nab a producer credit for some random indie flick and you’re totally in for the premiere after-party.
The View: The Williamsburg Bridge and the East River
The Menu: Fare from the hotel’s restaurants—including Thor and Matt Levine’s LEVANTeast—is available.
The Hours: Vary, according to the party being held
Plunge
Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave., at 13th St.; 877-426-7386
Those willing to weather the line outside and suffer the cramped elevator ride consider the Gansevoort Hotel’s fifteenth-floor penthouse an airy (and cruisy) escape; those who believe untucked dress shirts are an aesthetic affront consider it the inner ring of meatpacking hell.
The View: Great shots of lower Manhattan and New Jersey, from whence many of the patrons hail
The Menu: Basic cocktails start at $15
The Hours: Daily (11 a.m.–4 a.m.)
Penthouse 808
8–08 Queens Plaza South, Long Island City; 718-289-6101
Located atop Long Island City’s first boutique hotel, the space is 8,000 square feet altogether, including a 40-foot bar. D.J.’s spin till 3 a.m.
The View: Back at you, Manhattan.
The Menu: Frozen drinks (including a blueberry mojito) paired with tuna tartare, carne asada flatbread, and lamb sliders
The Hours M–T (4 p.m.–midnight), W–Su (4 p.m.–3 a.m.)
230 Fifth
230 Fifth Ave., nr. 27th St., 20th fl.; 212-725-4300
Fresh air meets stale pickup lines at the city’s largest rooftop drinkery. Since it opened in 2006, a steady stream of finance types have flocked here for the Miami Vice–like décor of palm trees, stuffed safari animals, and an endless expanse of wooden benches.
The View: The Empire State Building to the north, the MetLife building to the east, and Jersey to the west
The Menu: $12 cocktails incorporate fresh grape and pear juices; a full menu ranges from fried shrimp to the Malaysian Romli burger.
The Hours: M–F (4 p.m.–4 a.m.) S–Su (11 a.m.–4 a.m.)
Hotel Metro Rooftop Bar
Hotel Metro, 45 W. 35th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-279-3535
After a tidy renovation last summer, this favorite after-work spot has reopened with décor upgrades and several new wines by the glass. Servers now deliver specialty cocktails from the bar, which is now fully stocked and located in the middle of a newly tiled floor.
The View: A close-up of the Empire State Building
The Menu: $6–$7 beers, $8 wines, $12 mixed drinks
The Hours:Daily (5 p.m.–11 p.m.)
Hudson Sky Terrace
The Hudson Hotel, 356 W. 58th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-554-6303
Should the techno and chatter of the Hudson Bar’s terrace get to you, grab a beach chair (or a hammock!) on the breezy and beyond-serene fifteenth-floor deck.
The View: Glimpses of the Hudson River as well as Ninth Avenue stretching toward lower Manhattan.
The Menu: The $15 White Mint Lemonade comes with muddled lemons, white sugar and mint,vodka, and ginger ale.
The Hours: Daily (noon–10 p.m.), through October
Mé Bar
17 W. 32nd St., nr. Fifth Ave., 14th fl.; 212-290-2460
This Koreatown rooftop boîte, hidden atop the La Quinta budget hotel, is the antidote to karaoke-room claustrophobia. Although throw pillows and beach chairs lend a beach-house vibe, the drink prices are decidedly left of Hamptons.
The View: The Empire State Building is all aglow directly overhead.
The Menu: Be swayed by the pomegranate martini, made with liqueur and cranberry juice. During happy hour, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., a $1 discount means $5–$8 wines.
The Hours: Daily (5:30 p.m.–midnight)
Roof Garden Cafe
The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., at 82nd St.; 212-535-7710
So, if that Andy Goldsworthy sculpture could speak, what do you think it would say? We’ll let you puzzle that out up on the romantic rooftop of the Met, where art, hot Italian tourists, frozen daiquiris, and colossal Central Park views converge into one juggernaut of a drinking experience. If you can’t manage a pickup line in a place like this, well, you’re hopeless.
The View: A fifth-floor garden surrounded by the park, its skyline, and sculpture installations that change every summer
The Menu: Sparkling wine and ham-and-Brie baguettes
The Hours: F–S (10 a.m.–8 p.m.), T–Th and Su (10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), Mon (closed), open May–October
Salon de Ning
The Peninsula Hotel, 700 Fifth Ave., at 55th St.; 212-956-2888
The former Pen-Top Bar and Terrace is now Salon de Ning, a Henry Leung–designed, sino-inspired lounge featuring Venetian mirrors, Chinese screens, Moroccan lanterns, and daybeds. The name is a nod to the famed Shanghai socialite Madame Ning.
The View: Stunning vistas of Fifth Avenue and Central Park, as well as midtown architectural gems like the Citicorp Center.
The Menu: The Ning Sling, a cocktail featuring orange vodka, lychee, and passion-fruit juices, will run you a stiff $22.
The Hours: Daily (4 p.m.–midnight, weather permitting) Next: Boozy and Cruisey
Find a Rooftop Bar >> • New •Sight Lines • Boozy and Cruisey • Laid-back
BOOZY AND CRUISEY
The Delancey
168 Delancey St., at Clinton St.; 212-254-9920
Once again, the Lower East Side’s standby rock club and goth hangout puts on a happy face by opening its roof deck for, among other things, $5 all-you-can-eat barbecues on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (along with two-for-one drinks). Grab a burger and sit next to a central fountain surrounded by benches and foliage.
The View: A clear shot of the Williamsburg Bridge
The Menu: The margarita machine churns out frozen blends for $8 apiece. Meanwhile, bottled beer and well drinks run a reasonable $6.
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–4 a.m.)
Living Room Terrace
W New York - Downtown, 123 Washington St., nr. Carlisle St.; 646-826-8646
The fifth-floor lounge at the newest W New York overlooks ground zero and the Hudson, with a retro feel. The LED lights reflect off the glass-shiny white floor, and old board games tone down the formality of the venue.
The View: Ground zero, the Hudson River, and Jersey City
The Menu: Light fare from BLT Bar & Grill
The Hours: M–W (4 p.m.–midnight), Th–S (4 p.m.–2 a.m.), Su (6 p.m.–midnight)
Opening August 16, 2010
A6 at Six Columbus
6 Columbus, 6 Columbus Cir., nr., Eighth Ave.; 212-204-3000
This retro-style, hotel guest- and members-only rooftop lounge boasts fourteenth-floor views and enclosed waterfalls. In the case of a real waterfall, a retractable roof hangs overhead so you can booze with views, rain or shine.
The View: Columbus Circle and Central Park
The Menu: A bar menu of summer cocktails from Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
The Hours: T–S (6 p.m.–2 a.m.), Su–M (closed)
Top of the Strand
The Strand Hotel, 33 W. 37th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-448-1024
Designer Lydia Marks picked up on the retractable-roof trend this year and put it into effect this winter at the Top of the Strand. Panels will slide open during the bar’s inaugural summer to let the breeze in. Unfortunately, the hotel’s restaurant opening has been pushed back to mid-to-late summer, so if bar snacks will be available, you’ll have to wait until July.
The View: If you love the Empire State building, the view doesn’t get any better.
The Menu: No food is currently available.
The Hours: M–Th (5 p.m.–midnight), F–Su (5 p.m.–2 a.m.)
Gansevoort Park Rooftop
420 Park Ave. S., at 29th St.; 212-317-2900
Provocateur owners Mike Satsky and Brian Gefter bring us a tri-level indoor/outdoor rooftop with dramatic views of the city’s sky scape, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows twenty stories above the ground.
The View: 360 views and a bonus mosaic of a forties pin-up temptress at the bottom of the pool (which is guest-only by day).
The Menu: Expensive drinks with the tip included in the bill
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–1 a.m.)
Rare View Chelsea
Fashion26, 152 W. 26th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-807-7273
Cocktails are the draw here. Bright, modern décor in the bar contrasts the classic Old New York view from Chelsea, overlooking the lights of Broadway and the Empire State Building.
The View: Midtown Manhattan in all its glory
The Menu: Small plates from the hotel’s Rare Bar & Grill
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–1 a.m.)
STK
26 Little W. 12th St., nr., Ninth Ave.; 646-624-2444
STK is taking their meatpacking energy upstairs with a rooftop café. Sip on a strawberry cobbler cocktail at the bar and hang on lounge furniture that is sure to be more of a scene than the restaurant itself.
The View: meatpacking in all its grandeur, including the clientele.
The Menu: An abridged version of the regular menu, with lighter grill and seafood additions.
The Hours:M (3:30 p.m.–11 p.m.), T–W (3:30 p.m.–midnight), Th–F (3:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m.), S (noon–midnight), Su (noon–9:30 p.m.)
Bar d’Eau
Trump SoHo, 246 Spring St., nr. Varick St.; 212-842-5500
Located on the seventh-floor deck, Bar d’Eau’s views aren’t as spectacular as some of its midtown competition, but the bar itself keeps the atmosphere just as swank. A tile-lined pool—this one is for swimming—complete with waterfall, and a Bocce court keep the evening exciting. Private cabanas provide a perfect spot for a tête-à-tête.
The View: Soho’s surrounding buildings. And the eye-candy lounging by the pool.
The Menu: Basic bar snacks
The Hours: Daily (4 p.m.–midnight)
XVI
251 W. 48th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-956-1300
Formerly the bi-level Highbar, this spot has been reconfigured with an airy “Miami meets Versailles” aesthetic, a gilded movie projection screen (mounted on an AstroTurf wall), electric candles on giant tentacles, fireplaces, and multiple bars.
The View: The bar, on the sixteenth floor, provides some serious ganders at the Hudson River.
The Menu: Light cocktails, like the rum and Champagne Airmail or the vodka and mint Ivy Fizz, with small plates and a selection of meats and cheeses
The Hours: M–F (5 p.m.–2 a.m.), S–Su (noon–2 a.m.)
Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St., nr. Eleventh Ave.; 212-315-9400
This elegant space is not too crowded (yet), perhaps owing to the fact that it’s only on the third floor. Daily two-for-one drinks from 5 to 7 p.m. include a potent Brazilian lemonade.
The View: Lovely New Jersey, plus a bird’s-eye look at the Intrepid
The Menu: Mini-Kobe burgers and pineapple mojitos
The Hours: T–F (5 p.m.–4 a.m.), S (10 p.m.–4 a.m.), Su (2 p.m.–9 p.m.) M (closed)
Gramercy Terrace
Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave., at 21st St.; 212-920-3300
Like the downstairs Rose Bar, the indoor space takes its cues from a Renaissance palace; add to that an outdoor space that resembles a tropical greenhouse and you have one of the most coveted hangouts in the city.
The View: A Blade Runner–inspired light installation plus paintings by Andy Warhol and designer Damien Hirst are as alluring as the panorama of Manhattan.
The Menu: Signature cocktails and light fare
The Hours: M–F (6:30 a.m.–2 a.m.), S–Su (7 a.m.–2 a.m.) Cocktails are served 5 p.m. to close.
A60
60 Thompson Hotel, 60 Thompson St., nr. Broome St.; 877-431-0400
This hangout favored by the Varvatos–Phillip Lim set is members-only and plays host to scads of fashion-industry events. Haven’t received your card this year? Try telling the doorman it got lost in the mail.
The View: The thirteenth-floor terrace showcases the skylines of midtown and lower Manhattan.
The Menu: Mixed drinks with fresh exotic fruits run $12 to $15, while the spicy Thai hors d’oeuvre are similarly priced at $10 to $12.
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–1 a.m.), through Labor Day
The Cabanas at the Maritime Hotel
Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-242-4300
Heat lamps keep Amy Sacco’s airy eatery open year-round, but it’s best visited in the summer, when jet-setters in from L.A. come here to pretend they never left.
The View: Sean Penn, Sam Rockwell, and the sisters Hilton have been sighted in the past.
The Menu: Wine is $12, cocktails range between $14 and $16, and beer is $8.
The Hours: South Cabana: M (6 p.m.–10 p.m.), T–W (6 p.m.–11 p.m.), Th (6 p.m.–midnight), F–S (9 p.m.–4 a.m.), Su (5 p.m.–midnight)North Cabana: F–S (9 p.m.–4 a.m.), Su (5 p.m.–midnight), M–Th (closed)
The Rooftop at Patroon
160 E. 46th St., nr. Third Ave.; 212-883-7373
It’d be easy to mistake this i-banker go-to for a Hamptons patio if not for the view.
The View: Buildings rising above the third-floor terrace remind drinkers they have to get back to the office to finish those P&Ls.
The Menu: Flame-grilled sliders can be paired with $14 martinis like the Gibson (made with house-pickled onions instead of olives).
The Hours: M–F (noon–midnight), S–Su (closed)
Rare View
Shelburne Murray Hill, 303 Lexington Ave., at 37th St.; 212-481-1999
The Murray Hill summer staple above hamburger joint Rare has doubled in size, meaning there are now ten bed-style loungers, including (take note, birthday revelers) five of them in a VIP area that’s obscured by bamboo trees.
The View: A sixteenth-floor bar with outstanding midtown views, including one of the Chrysler Building
The Menu: $13 mango margaritas and blood-orange Cosmos
The Hours: M–S (4:30 p.m.–11 p.m.), Su (closed)
The Pool Deck
Empire Hotel, 44 W. 63rd St., nr. Broadway; 212-265-7400
The Empire Hotel’s rooftop pool bar technically accommodates a maximum of 150 hotel guests, but if you have the know-how to reach the Hudson Hotel’s Sky Terrace rooftop sans room key, we’re thinking you can do the same here.
The View: Lincoln Center and Central Park’s western border frame the hotel.
The Menu: Small plates and cocktails
The Hours: Daily (10 a.m.–10 p.m.)
Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club
641 W. 51st St., at Twelfth Ave.; 212-247-2460
The vision of the West Side Highway from this new “adult rooftop” wouldn’t inspire anyone to propose to his girlfriend, but that’s just fine for the cigar puffers who aren’t thinking of marriage when they’re staring at the busty barmaid.
The View: Banker wankers killing bills on silicone sisters
Menu: The Hustler hasn’t served food for a while, so make do with a beer or cocktail.
The Hours: M–F (6 p.m.–4 a.m., $20 cover), S (8 p.m.–4 a.m., $25), Su (8 p.m.–2 a.m., free)
Tonic East
411 Third Ave., at 29th St.; 212-683-7090
If you can make it past the throngs of Stern schoolers, up three flights of stairs, and beyond the bouncer, you’ll be rewarded by a rooftop scene that’s slightly less of a crush than the Top 40–fueled maelstrom downstairs.
The View: The Empire State Building and a bunch of Murray Hill condos.
Menu: Four types of steak, Asian wok-seared salmon, veggie burgers, fried ice cream, and just about every imaginable variety of pub grub your heart desires.
The Hours: Daily (11 a.m.–4 a.m.; closing time is flexible) Laid-back Locales
Find a Rooftop Bar >> • New • Sight Lines • Boozy and Cruisey • Laid-back
LAID-BACK
Local West
1 Penn Pl., Eighth Ave. at 33rd St.; 212-629-7070
Okay, so not much is exhilarating about the rooftop of a one-story building, but those looking to unwind before their train back to the ‘burbs could do worse than snagging a seat at the smattering of tables or at the elevated patio bar atop this casual beer bar near Penn Station.
The View: Chat up the folks on the upper decks of the tour buses that constantly roll by.
Menu: Sliders, nachos, chicken tenders; you get the idea. Pomegranate martini, $13; beers, $8.
The Hours: M–S (11:30 a.m.–2 a.m.), Su (11:30 a.m.–midnight)
il Tetto
Hotel Le Bleu, 370 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn; 718-625-2177
Italian for “the roof,” il Tetto isn’t quite as breezy as most rooftop bars, but if the weather’s wet it’s your best bet. And the view is better than any in Manhattan.
The View: Large windows, a Manhattan-side deck, and plenty of skylights give a 270-degree views of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The Menu: A full menu hails from the downstairs restaurant (of the same owners) and offers authentic Italian fare.
The Hours: M–Th (5 p.m.–2 a.m.) F–S (4 p.m.–3 a.m.), Su (11 a.m.–2 a.m.)
Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-254-9100
A black-and-white-tiled Francophile park in the sky, Hotel Chantelle’s rooftop restaurant furthers the theme of the bar below. Benches line the room and the roof is retractable (with a cigarette area if you really want to pretend you’re French), a rarity on the Lower East Side.
The View: The Williamsburg Bridge and buildings of lower Manhattan, including newcomer the Blue building
The Menu: A new chef is still in the works, but they’ll be serving French colonial fare for dinner and brunch.
The Hours: Still only open for private events, but that will change in upcoming weeks.
La Birreria
Eataly, 200 Fifth Ave., at 23rd St.; 212-229-2560
Like its multipurpose marketplace below, Mario Batali’s Italian craft beer garden on the roof of Eataly is not just a bar, but a full, seated, 160-capacity restaurant with a rustic Italian menu and a brewery, complete with a copper-clad brewing system. Plus, thanks to a retractable roof, it’ll be brewing and boozing year-round.
The View: The twinkling lights of midtown
The Menu: Look for house-brewed chestnut, peppercorn-wheat, and thyme-infused beers. Hearty victuals include blood sausage (one of four housemade sausages) and delicious fried shiitakes from the all-mushroom vegetarian section of the menu.
The Hours: M–F (11:30 a.m.–1 a.m.), S–Su (11:30 a.m.–2 a.m.)
The Sky Room
Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites–Times Square, 330 W. 40th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-380-1195
Ceiling LED lights mimic the view of midtown on the 33rd- and 34th-floor decks of the Times Square Marriott. Designers Stephen B. Jacobs and Andi Pepper (who’ve also worked with the Gansevoort, Library, and Giraffe hotels) split the massive bi-level outdoor area into five “terraces”: One has a retractable glass roof, another features private cabanas.
The View: Midtown Manhattan and the Hudson River
The Menu: Small plates of modern American cuisine
The Hours: M–W (4 p.m.–2 a.m.), Th–Su (4 p.m.–4 a.m.)
Opening August 21, 2010
Bar 13
35 E. 13th St., at University Pl.; 212-979-6677
NYU students who couldn’t make it to Florida for spring break (and downtowners too lazy to travel for a rooftop) seek solace at this campus clubhouse. Amid the palms and illuminated panels, revelers can pretend they’re in South Beach—and of legal drinking age.
The View: Opaque screens surrounding the deck mean the only place to look is up.
The Menu: Well drinks are $7, while the 13-ini, the bar’s signature Absolut Mandarin–based beverage, costs $10.
The Hours: Daily (5 p.m.–2 a.m.)
The Penthouse at the Park
118 Tenth Ave., nr. 17th St.; 212-352-3313
Time has passed since scads of A-list celebs and Vice-toting debs flocked to these kooky environs, but the multi-area greenhouse-cum-funhouse still makes for a transporting experience, especially Fridays and Saturdays after midnight, when the penthouse hot tubs are open to the public.
The View: Eye candy compensates for a lackluster third-floor-level take on West Chelsea.
The Menu: Beers are $8, fruit cocktails range between $11 and $13, sangria is $8.
The Hours: F–S (midnight–4 a.m.), Su–Th (closed)
Above Allen
Thompson LES, 190 Allen St., nr. Houston St.; 212-542-8689
This seventh-floor members-only bar in the Thompson LES hotel is arguably not worth the hassle during the colder months. But when that retractable top comes down, it’s a veritable rooftop oasis.
The View: LES, baby.
The Menu: Small plates and cocktails come courtesy of Shang, downstairs.
The Hours: W–S (6 p.m.–10 p.m.), Su–T (closed)
Terminal 5
610 W. 56th St., nr. Eleventh Ave.; 212-260-4700
The spacious midtown concert staple has added an equally spacious rooftop with lots of booths and its own bar. For better or worse, it kind of looks like an airplane hangar (check it out here).
The View: Mostly buildings and sky—the space’s walls are too high to peek over.
The Menu: A fully stocked bar, including beers on tap, as well as an Empanada Mama cart (alas, located inside)
The Hours: Vary, depending on that night’s show
The Heights Bar & Grill
2867 Broadway, nr. 111th St..; 212-866-7035
Students and locals flock to this second-story Morningside Heights bar that has a semi-retractable roof and AC for when it gets humid. You’ll pay $6 for a margarita, but dude, you’ll be so wasted you won’t even care.
The View: The only thing that will make you feel high up are your beer goggles.
The Menu: Frozen margaritas ($4 during happy hour, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.; $6–$7 thereafter) and stuffed-to-bursting burritos ($8.95– $13.95)
The Hours: S–F (4 p.m.–11:30 p.m.), S (11:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.)
The Terrace at Sutton Place Bar and Restaurant
1015 Second Ave., nr. 53rd St.; 212-207-3777
The good news first: Sutton Place has a huge rooftop patio with lots of tables and a long, snaking bar worthy of Club Med. The bad news: It’s a tad bland in that east-side sports-guy kind of way. Apparently some people just feel more comfortable in khakis.
The View: A third-floor terrace overlooking Second Avenue
The Menu: $9–$12 cocktails and generic pub grub
The Hours: Daily (noon–1 a.m.)
Broadway Bar and Sky Deck
226 W. 52nd St., nr. Broadway; 646-459-5818
There’s nothing remotely glamorous about the bar on the Novotel’s tenth floor (the loungers on the narrow terrace appear to be terra cotta, but they’re actually plastic), but if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive patch of sky, this is the place.
The View: To the south, a straight shot down the Great White Way
The Menu: Beers are $6.50, mixed drinks $14, and martinis $9. The eats are basic: wings, quesadillas, and the like.
The Hours: Daily (noon–midnight)