If you’ve been sitting in re-circulated office air in New York City all day, the last thing you want to do to unwind is be cooped up at a closed-door cocktail hour. So why not catch the last blast of temperate weather and head to one of the city’s best rooftops for your after-work drinks?
Going alfresco can be a liberating experience. Most obviously, there’s fresh air, but more subtly there’s the sense that after a day spent trying to crawl your way to the top of the corporate heap, you’ve arrived at a zenith point. Here are our favorite rooftop spots where spectacular views of the city, scrumptious cocktails, and fabulous people-watching opportunities are yours for the taking. (And don’t despair if the weather’s looking sour: Many of these spots have cool-weather options, so you can zoom to the top of the town year round.)
Roof Garden Café & Martini Bar
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Signature Drink: Beer and wine
Vibe: It seems only fitting that The Met, one of the best art museums in the world, features one of the city’s choicest rooftop bars. Vistas of the city and Central Park serve as the stunning backdrop to this rooftop sculpture patio (check out the works by Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly, and Jeff Koons). Since it closes early (8 PM Friday and Saturday; 4:30 PM Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday), the scene is more “refined happy hour” than “booze cruise”—intelligent conversationalists and thoughtful tipplers rendezvous here to sip, schmooze, and enjoy the sunset.
Good to Know: The rooftop is open May through October (October 27 this year), weather permitting. There’s a martini bar open on Saturdays from 5:30-8:00 PM.
The Coordinates:
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave., 5th Fl., near 82nd St.
212-535-7710
www.metmuseum.org
Salon de Ning
Neighborhood: Midtown West
Signature Drink: Ning Sling
Vibe: Though named after Madame Ning, a fictional Shanghai socialite of the ’30s, this stylish Midtown bar and lounge on the roof of the Peninsula Hotel attracts more polished exec types than sexy scenesters (there’s no raging party here). Instead, velvet ropes have been traded in for private terraces tricked out with luxurious oriental daybeds and stellar views of Fifth Avenue, Manhattan’s skyline, and the Hudson River. Inside, glowing lanterns illuminate tiny tables crowned with Asian-inspired small plates.
Good to Know: While the alfresco areas are divine in pleasant weather, the glass-enclosed bar offers year-round views of the city.
The Coordinates:
The Peninsula New York Hotel
700 Fifth Ave., near. W. 55th St.
212-903-3097
www.salondening.com
AVA Lounge
Neighborhood: Midtown West
Signature Drink: Tiger Lily
Vibe: This schmoozy lounge atop the Dream Hotel brings a touch of South Beach to New York with tropical plants, palm trees, and fruity cocktails like the Key Lime Martini. But the scene itself is pure Gotham—just scope the spectacular panoramic views of the city from the Hudson River to Times Square. Expect a buzzing crowd of post-work suits, hotel guests, and beautiful people looking to party.
Good to Know: Private parties often rent out the terrace on weekends, so be sure to call ahead before making any plans to drop by. The rooftop bar is closed during the winter, but the chic indoor lounge one floor below, open year round, is equally impressive with its ceiling-high window views.
The Coordinates:
Dream Hotel
210 W. 55th St., near Broadway
212-956-7020
www.avaloungenyc.com
Plunge Bar & Lounge
Neighborhood: Meatpacking District
Signature Drink: Mango Lime Rickey
Vibe: Set on the top floor of the swanky Hotel Gansevoort, this rooftop bar and lounge showcases breathtaking panoramas of Midtown’s skyscrapers and the nearby Hudson River. That is, if you can see through the throngs and throngs of Manhattan’s fierce scenesters that flood the place—a mix of Meatpacking District fashion plates, well-coiffed couples, the occasional tourist, and the even-more-occasional celeb. The people-watching is such a diversion that you won’t even mind that you can’t plunge into Plunge’s heated rooftop pool (it’s for guests only).
Good to Know: Since private parties are hosted here many nights of the week, you may have a hard time gaining entry unless you’re on the guest list. Even when cold weather makes the open-air section of Plunge inhospitable, a glass-enclosed area ensures that the party rages through all seasons.
The Coordinates:
Hotel Gansevoort
18 Ninth Ave., at W. 13th St.
212-206-6700
www.hotelgansevoort.com/rooftop-pool
The Roof at Soho House New York
Neighborhood: Meatpacking District
Signature Drink: Soho Punch
Vibe: The membership list of Soho House, a private British members club and hotel for the jet set, is a who’s who of New York’s trendiest residents. So it’s no surprise that the splashy poolside lounge, The Roof, is crawling with celebs and moguls. Grab a sun lounger, then sit back and enjoy the views of the Hudson River and the West Village while sipping crafty cocktails (they’re serious about mixology) delivered via full waiter service.
Good to Know: To gain entrance, non-members need to be accompanied by a member, reserve a hotel room, or hold an invitation to a private event. Though it can certainly get chilly on the roof in winter weather, the heated swimming pool is open year round.
The Coordinates:
Soho House New York
29-35 Ninth Ave., near 13th St.
212-627-9800
www.sohohouseny.com
For more information on these and many other tip-top venues in New York City, check out The Purple Passport’s New York Guide.
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