[With additions by Naomi Baria, Annsley Chapman, and more]
Outdoor gardens and sidewalk cafes might be suitable for brunch, but when it comes to warm weather drinking, New York rooftop bars are the city’s crown jewels. Anybody who lays claim to a pulse, some cash and a functioning liver has likely been to 230 Fifth, Red Sky, and Plunge at the Gansevoort Hotel, but those aren’t the only open-air options where you can drink in the view (and while you’re at it, a few brews). This summer is definitely seeing a surge in rooftop bars and lounges—making the sky the limit when it comes to altitudinous drinking in New York: to wit, our vertigo-inducing list of the best bets for summer.
New York Rooftop Bar
Salon de Ning - NEW
700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, 212-956-2888
On May 16th, the Peninsula Hotel unveils its rooftop bar, named for the Shanghai socialite Madame Ning whose passion for travel is reflected in the eclectic art collection and various artifacts from around the world that populate the interior bar. Two outdoor terraces with Chinese-style day beds offer panoramic views over Fifth Avenue.
Click for more information on Salon de Ning New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
The Pooldeck - NEW
4 W. 63rd St, 212-265-7400
Another newcomer to the midtown arena, this exclusive roof bar is split into two levels at the top of the Empire Hotel: a pool area upstairs and a lower level for cabanas (each equipped with a flat screen TV, wireless internet and a day bed) and cocktails. While both are technically reserved for guests, we’ve never let minor technicalities stop us from bribing or batting our eyelashes in—and neither should you.
Click for more information on The Pooldeck New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
Studio B Roof Garden - NEW
259 Banker St, Brooklyn, 718-389-1880
The brains behind the Delancey and Miami’s late Studio A have topped off their Greenpoint spot with a new bar with a retractable roof (which launched last week with a concert by the Brazilian Girls). The open-air space retains its industrial flavor with cement floors, picnic bench seating and palm trees, which appeal to the hipster crowds that tend to congregate in these parts.
Click for more information on Studio B New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
Eden- NEW
268 W 47th St, 212-398-3800
This outdoor lounge that once housed Jade Terrace can be found three floors above Opera, sporting a hidden, open-air terrace dotted with white umbrellas and sleek chaises. An unlikely oasis in the heart of besuited midtown, Eden fittingly hosts St. Tropez Thursdays, vibrant after-work celebrations from 5-10pm that offer much-needed respite from the bustling frenzy of Times Square.
Click for more information on Eden New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
HighBar at Hilton Garden Inn Times Square - NEW
251 West 48th St, Fl 15, 212-956-1300
Greg Briar (Aspen, Amalia, D’Or), GM Alex Ancheta (Manor, Serena) and the iCrave design team are bringing a new meaning to high design. Cropping up in what seems like a nesting ground for rooftop lounges, HighBar boasts sweeping views of the Hudson River, outdoor AC, a backyard barbecue and Miami-style daybeds for those easily swept off their feet.
Click for more information on HighBar New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
Hudson Terrace - NEW
621 46th St, .212-228-4200 x8003
Owner Sean McGarr (Webster Hall) has transformed a stable into a glittering 13,000sf event space, 4,000 of which will be a semi-enclosed mahogany rooftop terrace with views of the Hudson and water-mists for cooling off. Other amenities include an outdoor fireplace, ceiling video chandeliers with customized Swarovski crystals, reclaimed wood from a sunken WWII ship and AC/heat-controlled floors.
Click for more info on Hudson Terrace New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
Sky Garden - NEW
530 W 27th St
Celebrating the joys of domestic bliss, Sky Garden (once the infamous Bed) favors spice over vanilla, naughty over nice, and beauty over age. With an infamously checkered past (please, please be careful of that elevator shaft) shuttered its doors for over two years, Sky Garden has made a comeback. Comandeered by the masterminds behind Pink Elephant and Mansion, the club features a breathtaking rooftop where guests can lounge on plush matresses under (and amongst) the New York stars.
Click for more info on Sky Garden New York.
New York Rooftop Bar
Brass Monkey Roof Deck- NEW
530 W 27th St
In a neighborhood mowed over with models and i-bankers, Brass Monkey humbly abstains from pretense. With a long, curved bar and burnished wooden banquettes where nary a stiletto has tread, this lovely oasis sidesteps both the anonymity of most Irish pubs and the tawdry glitz of a Meatpacking club. While Brass Monkey draws patrons by grace of its own ageless elegance, the recent addition of an airy roof deck overlooking the Hudson certainly won't hurt business.