Our town is known for its five star culinary delights, world class entertainment and amazing tapestry of architecture, bridges and waterways. And there is nothing that brings these elements together better than one of the many incredible rooftop bars in NYC.
There are 137,000 rooftops in the Big Apple, and sitting atop a thousand of them is a rooftop bar – NYC is famous for these. Every weekend locals and tourists alike set out to find the perfect place to get lost for a few hours.
The top NYC rooftop bars envelop all of our senses in a way that can’t be replicated in any other type of venue. Their views are jaw dropping, the smell and taste of their food and drink dances on the tongues and in the olfactory of their patrons, and the feel of a gentle breeze and hum of NYC background noise far below plays in the subconscious to make the mood absolutely perfect.
The best of these are places to amaze and delight someone special. They are at the epicenter of everything from marriage proposals to successful business deal celebrations. They have been the place of choice for well-known celebrities, power couples and especially tourists and locals that want to take in all that Gotham has to offer. In short the “top” rooftop bars are in high demand.
The challenge is separating those that are incredible from the hundreds that miss the mark. The last thing you want to do is to show up only to find that you have a great view of…the building next door?!?
Don’t worry, New York Weekends is here to help! We have done the hard work for you. Let’s start with the five most important “must have” elements for the best rooftop bars in New York City.
View – This is a given. Without a view a NYC rooftop bar is just a ground level bar that’s harder to get to. All of our recommendations have incredible views.
Food and Drink – Remember what you came here for. Done well, food and drink enhances your experience exponentially. Done poorly and it doesn’t matter how good the view, you’re not coming back.
Access – This isn’t a difficult one in our town, but it’s worth noting that you don’t want to feel like you’re in a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles trying to get to the top.
Staff – We made the assumption that you want to be around staff that is attentive, friendly and most of the time invisible, until you need them. This rules out bars that make you feel like a bit player in their ego show. You know the type we’re talking about…
Location – Each of our recommended NYC rooftop bars is centrally located in Manhattan. Nothing in outskirt areas on our list.
One element that we did not measure is price. The good news is that our top picks intentionally did not include those that define their exclusivity by how much they can charge you for a martini. The bad news is that cheap rooftop bars in NYC almost never go hand in hand with those that possess all five of the traits above. So you will pay a price that is fair, so don’t look for bargains…
Best Rooftop Bars, NYC
So which are the best? In our humble view they are (in alphabetical order):
230 Fifth Avenue, 230 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10001
(212) 725-4300
230 Fifth is New York’s Largest Rooftop Bar that is open all year long.There’s plenty of “scene and scenery” to be had at this 33,000 SF duplex located right on 5th ave, whose large “greenery”-lined roof deck boasting “killer views” of the Empire State Building and the New York City skyline. The Penthouse level is decorated with large unique chairs and couches with oversized windows and is completely enclosed. It’s a magical atmosphere even in the winter months with all the props to help keep you warm: robes, heat lamps, Igloos and hot hot cider drinks.
Cloud Social, 6 W 32 Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
(212) 904-1092
Perfectly situated atop nyma, the New York Manhattan Hotel, Cloud Social is Korea Town’s newest rooftop attraction. Cloud Social, which opened in September 2014, offers stunning vistas of the cityscape, including the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. Aside from boasting great views, the rooftop bar is open year-round with enclosed indoor and heated outdoor seating. A smaller, more intimate balcony is located off the eastern side of the bar with single party seating and city exposure through openings in the hotel’s arching limestone exterior. Cloud Social can accommodate nearly 120 guests. The rooftop venue offers happy hour specials from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day.
PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown, 355 W 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
(212) 229-2511
PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown is the ultimate rooftop experience. Their exquisite panoramic Manhattan skyline view includes direct lines of sight to the Hudson River and Empire State Building. Similar to its midtown counterpart, PHD Rooftop Lounge is a nightlife destination with rotating DJ’s, weekly parties and exclusive events.
PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown, 210 W 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
(646) 756-2044
Launched this past October, PHD Terrace, a bold indoor/outdoor multi-level rooftop lounge, is the sister property to the wildly successful PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown in the Meatpacking District. Midtown’s newest hotspot offers neighbors and visitors alike a wide variety of vibrant experiences from happy hour to a night out on the town. Come rain or shine, PHD Terrace is intently designed for partygoers to seamlessly flow between the outdoor deck and the indoor lounge. Located on the 15th and 16th floors, PHD Terrace is the ideal after work escape boasting a spectacular skyline view of Midtown Manhattan, home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings. While posted high above the city, guests of PHD Terrace can expect an innovative drink list and light bites.
The Press Lounge, 653 Eleventh Avenue, New York, NY 10036
(212) 757-2224
The Press Lounge offers some of Manhattan’s most beautiful and dramatic panoramic views. Refined elegance comes in subtle luxuries: a glass walled interior space, seasonal cocktails, an extensive wine list, seasonally inspired small plates and informed and welcoming service. Situated atop of the Ink48 Hotel, the Press Lounge is the sister venue to PRINT. Restaurant, owned and operated by Adam Block. Opened in 2010, it quickly became recognized as one of Manhattan’s finest rooftop lounges; Frank Bruni of the New York Times, wrote that the Press Lounge was “without question, one of the city’s most attractive rooftop bars”. In the same year, New York Magazine recognized it as New York’s “Top New Rooftop Bar,” ABC News.com rated it as one of the top 22 rooftops in the world, and Urban Daddy named the Press Lounge as the Perfect ’10. Adam Block insists that both The Press Lounge and PRINT. Restaurant be focused on sustainable, seasonally sourced ingredients. To facilitate this directive, he employs a full-time forager to purchase from local farms and regional suppliers. Many of the Press Lounge cocktails are inspired by the availability of seasonal ingredients.
Sky Terrace at Hudson, 356 W 58th Street, New York, NY 10019
212 554 6217
Sky Terrace is an outdoor rooftop oasis on the hotel’s 15th floor. While soaking up the sun, guests can cool off with one of ten specialty sangrias including Red and White Wine, French Rose, Pear-Limoncello and Kaffir Lime-Sake. Sky Terrace is the perfect city retreat for open-air lounging with unobstructed views of the Hudson River all the way to the Statue of Liberty.
The Skylark, 200 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018
(212) 257-4577
The Skylark is a sophisticated cocktail bar perched above the skyscrapers of New York’s most fashionable district. The contemporary, but classic, tiered lounge boasts spectacular panoramic views of the Hudson River and Gotham skyline including the Empire State Building and Times Square. The central location also perfectly positions The Skylark as the premier spot for after work and evening cocktails and small bites in Midtown. The Skylark’s Mixologist creates indulgent menus of specialty and classic cocktails, each handcrafted with the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Now that you know where to go, the last step is for you to partake. NYC Rooftop bars are great anytime of year, but the best time is right now – late Spring and Summer.
Have fun!
