There is no better way to enjoy a summer day or night than a place outside with city views and a drink in your hand. From casual lounges to the elegant, more high-end ones atop some of the city's most luxurious hotels, the following are some of my favorite rooftop bars in NYC!
230 Fifth Rooftop
This is the city's largest rooftop bar, and it hosts some of the coolest events year-round including happy hours, dance parties, and brunch buffets. There's an indoor penthouse and a partially heated outdoor roof, and they even coordinate the decor with the seasons with palm trees and umbrellas in the summer and heated igloos in the winter.
A.R.T. SoHo
A.R.T. SoHo, the rooftop bar on top of the Arlo Hotel, brings you views of the Hudson River. I came here with my sister, one of my friends from work and her friends who were visiting from out of town for some weekend fun. The lights against the gorgeous sunset was quite the treat.
Azul on the Rooftop
This rooftop at the top of Hotel Hugo is like a Havana getaway right here in the city with the 1950s-era posters and Cuban sandwiches. You can take in the views of Lower Manhattan while enjoying the live Cuban bands on Sunday evenings or the weekly movie nights on Monday nights.
Broken Shaker
This mostly indoor bar, inspired by the Miami cocktail bar, is above the Flatiron's Freehand Hotel and brings a laidback backyard ambience with tropical vibes and beachy cocktails like Jake the Snake and the Preserved Lime Caipirinha. The outdoor space is minimal but offers a view with the Empire State Building in the distance.
Elsie Rooftop
The Elsie Rooftop is a fashionable rooftop lounge with Gatsby vibes in Midtown that was inspired by the NYC socialite and interior designer Elsie de Wolfe and embodies the luxury and glamour of the Roaring '20s.
Jimmy at the James
The cocktail lounge in the James Hotel has an elegant, contemporary interior where you can sit on velvet couches among the candlelit tables or you can head outside to the rooftop deck to sit by the pool.
Le Bain
The Top of the Standard at the top of the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District serves tea and drinks during the day, and the bar turns into a cocktail party and supper lounge after dark. At 10pm, the nightclub, Le Bain, complete with a disco ball and jacuzzi inside, opens. I personally don't love Le Bain because it can be a bit sceney, but it's a cool spot to go if you're in the mood to party.
Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge
This year-round rooftop bar on top of the Times Square's Moxy Hotel is one of my favorite spots to hit up in the summer. It is so hip with an amusement park theme including a moving carousel-style seating, an oversized topiary garden, and some version of mini-golf.
Make Believe
Make Believe, the rooftop space at SIXTY LES, is a cool rooftop with East Asian-inspired decor and hip DJ sets that you can meet up with friends at.
Monarch Rooftop
The Monarch Rooftop is a penthouse cocktail bar with an indoor and outdoor lounge, clubby decor, and views of the Empire State Building and is located on top of the Courtyard by Marriott in Herald Square. I came here for day drinking with friends to celebrate my 21st birthday when I was interning in the city my junior year and very much enjoyed the fruit heavy drinks like the Snatched AF! The cocktail is made up of Captain Morgan silver rum, açai liqueur, passion fruit, and topped with butterfly tea, and I used to love rum back when I could still drink it and also love anything with passion fruit.
Mr. Purple
All of my friends and friends of friends visiting from out of town have heard of this rooftop in the Lower East Side's Hotel Indigo. Honestly you're guaranteed to find more locals than tourists here because it is THE place for those in their early to mid 20's.
PHD at The Dream Downtown
PHD, another one of NYC's most renown rooftops, is a posh rooftop on top of the boutique hotel Dream Downtown with awesome views of the Empire State Building.
Refinery Rooftop
The Public Hotel's rooftop had been on my list of places to check out since I've moved to the city. The Empire State Building looms above the bar, and I just love those floor to ceiling windows and the large outdoor landscaped terrace. The space looks inviting and is vibrant with communal tables and lounge areas.
SERRA by Birreria
SERRA by Birreria, set within Flatiron's Eataly, is a great spot to stop by for a drink at the long bar or to sit down for a meal after browsing the Italian food market. The restaurant makes you feel like you have been transported to the Italian countryside. It is such an Instagrammable spot with its gorgeous seasonal decor, of which my favorite is the SERRA FIORITA where bright pink and white florals cover the restaurant from floor to ceiling.
Skylark
The Skylark, an indoor-outdoor Midtown West roof bar, is a classic cocktail lounge that is very classy and elegant with drinks as beautiful as it is delicious and a fun frosé menu. Their Frosé Your Way menu "takes regular rosé to new heights" and along with the Signature Frosé option, also features six styles of frosé such as Gummy with gummy bears in it.
Taco Salvation
I came here to celebrate the last day of our internship with some friends from work, and this is still one of my favorite spots in the city. The Mexican style of this open-air rooftop lounge along with the brick archways and colorful tiles are so fun and just makes you want to keep the guac, margs, and tacos coming all evening. You can admire its view of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings while sipping on their tropical drinks.
The Cantor Roof Garden Bar
The seasonal outdoor Met Roof Garden Bar open from mid-April to October above the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Upper East Side is of itself an exhibit to enjoy with its artistic cocktails and sculptures. The Cantor Roof Garden Bar is just five floors up above Central Park, so you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail and views of the park.
The Jane Hotel Rooftop
The Jane Hotel is a classic West Village landmark on the edge of the hip Meatpacking District and has a vintage, deco atmosphere, and the rooftop offers stunning views of the Hudson River alongside the backdrop of the red brick walls on the rooftop.
OUTFIT DETAILS
The off shoulder striped long sleeve I'm wearing is from Brandy Melville. I'm not usually a fan of tops that are cropped, but the slight crop on this top made it normal length on me.
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superdown Keysha Off Shoulder Top in Dusty Blue ($42)
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