June 29, 2016 | Food & Drink
Summer is prime time for hosting out-of-town guests—so where can you take your friends and family to experience everything that is touristy about the city without tarnishing your reputation as a true New Yorker? These 15 rooftops allow for unbeatable views of NYC without having to fight your way through a crowd.
Bask in close-up views of the Empire State Building and prime Midtown panoramas without having to wait in any lines or stand on crowded observation decks. Monarch is situated in the center of the city but, at 18 floors up and with intimate touches like antique-inspired couches and vintage brick walls, it offers a true respite from the traffic and the tourists below. Book a table at any time of day as they now serve brunch, lunch, and dinner, but we suggest stopping by at twilight to watch the sun set and the skyline light up as you sip on a watermelon cooler and order truffle-drizzled French fries. 71 W. 35th St., 212-630-9993
Steer your Times Square-loving visitors away from the billboards and chain restaurants and toward nearby Social Drink & Food at YOTEL. The expansive 7,000-square-foot rooftop terrace is situated only four floors up, so it’s perfect for out-of-towners who want to see the sights but are afraid of heights. Tuck into an array of globally inspired snacks like a carnivoro pizza with bacon, sausage, and pepperoni and beverages such as the Tropical Triple, as you recline on colorful couches that are sure to make tourists feel at ease in usually devoid-of-color NYC. Stop by Sunday through Wednesday through the end of September and enjoy films screened by the Rooftop Cinema Club. 570 10th Ave., 646-449-7790
Show your guests Manhattan’s hip Meatpacking District from a different angle. Zerzura at Gansevoort Meatpacking lets you take in 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River as you enjoy Mediterranean snacks and drinks. Can’t convince your guests to go Downtown? The Drift at Gansevoort Park Avenue is conveniently situated in the Flatiron District but offers a 20-story-high, beach-style retreat with Midtown views and frosé, a combination of two summertime favorites—rosé and frozen sorbet. Play hooky with your vacationing pals and take advantage of The OOO package, which allows day access to the rooftop pool, a reserved pool bed, and food and beverage credit, Mondays through Wednesdays. 18 Ninth Ave., 212-660-6736; 420 Park Ave S., 212-317-2900
Impress any history-loving visitors by taking them to Refinery Rooftop within the Refinery Hotel, a Neo-Gothic-style former hat factory circa 1912. Continue the enchantment as your out-of-town friends step off the elevator and into the rooftop’s three indoor/outdoor spaces complete with brick walls, wood paneling reclaimed from the building’s original water tanks, and terracotta tile floors. Order a cocktail caddy for the group (four servings of either the Fedora, Capitan, Derby, or Montera to share) and tuck into lobster tater tot nachos as you take in so-close-you-can-almost-touch-it Empire State Building views. 63 W. 38th St., 646-664-0372
Sanctuary Hotel’s Haven Rooftop is in the thick of Times Square, but, as its name suggests, the ninth-floor rooftop spot is truly an escape from the tourist crowds below. Take a private elevator up, then sprawl on lounge chairs as you order seasonal favorites like lobster rolls or sesame-crusted chicken and the Summertime Ibiza Sangria. 132 W. 47th St., 212-466-9000
Give your guests a different perspective on Midtown and Times Square from PHD Terrace’s 15th- and 16th-floor rooftop. Come on Tuesdays to indulge in some light bites and Italian drinks as part of their aperitivo evening. Or, head south to the PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown to soar high above the Meatpacking District and enjoy sweeping views of the Hudson and Manhattan skyline as you sink into custom-built Italian leather banquettes. 210 W. 55th St., 646-756-2044; 355 W. 16th St., 212-229-2511
Travel downtown to Catch Rooftop, a penthouse at 21 Ninth Ave., where you’ll discover far-reaching views of the Manhattan skyline and an indoor/outdoor space that allows for rooftop revelry even in inclement weather. The focus is mostly seafood with dishes like truffle sashimi, a summer shrimp roll, and oyster shooters, but land-lubbers will delight in a bone-in ribeye and whole-roasted New Zealand rack of lamb. No matter your dietary preferences, tap into fun drinks like the Trap Queen, with Brugal Special White, D’Usse, Coconut Water, lime, and Paolo Cortado Sherry. 21 Ninth Ave., 212-392-5978
Take in a close-up view of the Chrysler Building no matter the forecast at Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel. The penthouse rooftop bar features a retractable roof, rendering it an all-weather, year-round way to get a 360-degree look at New York City. Cheers to that with the champagne-based Chrysler cocktail and nosh on kobe beef sliders, spiced duck cigars, and truffle mac and cheese. Stop by Wednesdays through Saturdays for DJs and, on the weekends, indulge in a brunch that features dishes like ricotta pancakes with lemon curd, blueberries, and vanilla whipped cream. 145 E. 50th St., 212-888-1220
Convince your visitors to venture out to Brooklyn—with The Rooftop at McCarren Hotel & Pool’s views of McCarren Park and the entire Manhattan skyline, they’ll be glad they made the trek. Order up cocktails like the spicy McCarren Margarita and snack on steamed short rib buns or boozy ice pops as you enjoy live music or DJ sets. Stop by on select dates and find fun programming like Let’s Dub It Up parties with Xander Ferreira and a monthly Brazilian Sunset Series. 160 N. 12th St., Brooklyn, 718-218-7500
Forget the Statue of Liberty or the top of the Empire State Building—take a heights-loving out-of-towner up 65 floors to Bar SixtyFive at Rainbow Room. Manhattan’s tallest rooftop bar boasts tipples like the Black Orchid (Allaire Vodka, Crème de Violette, lemon juice, and peach bitters) and American bistro bites along with views of just about every iconic NYC building you could imagine. 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 212-632-5000
Even the most seasoned travelers will love the authentic vibes of the Lower East Side, and there’s no better way to experience the artistic ‘hood than from 15 floors up at Mr. Purple at The Hotel Indigo Lower East Side. Choose from two outdoor terraces dressed in purple accents, and indulge in specialty cocktails like the signature Mr. Purple and assorted salads and small bites as you peer out on Lower Manhattan, the Freedom Tower, and the Empire State Building. The larger terrace boasts its own swimming pool, and other summer-friendly offerings include a rooftop yoga series in partnership with Pure Yoga and concert programming with UBER. 180 Orchard St., 212-237-1790
Come for in Penthouse808 at Ravel Hotel’s expansive views of the Manhattan skyline and a close-up look at the 59th Street Queensboro Bridge, stay for executive chef Seth Levine’s Pacific Rim-influenced cuisine and a Sun Blush cocktail. Specials throughout the week like a lobster bake every Wednesday and a Sunday brunch party make the journey across the East River to Long Island City even more worth it. 8-08 Queens Plaza S., Queens, 718-289-6118
Central Park can be kind of hot come summertime, so take in the city’s biggest swath of green from a much breezier point—The Roof at the top of Viceroy Central Park New York. Come here for a sophisticated experience that you might not get at most other rooftops; offerings include classic cocktails like a Negroni, Old Fashioned, and Mint Julep and snacks such as artichoke hummus, meatball sliders, and avocado toast. 124 W. 57th St., 212-707-8008
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PHD ROOFTOP LOUNGE (PHD ROOFTOP LOUNGE AT DREAM DOWNTOWN); BY MICHAEL TULIPAN (SOCIAL DRINK & FOOD); LEONARDO CESTARI (MCCARREN); COPYRIGHT © 2016 BAR SIXTYFIVE AT RAINBOW ROOM; COURTESY OF UPSTAIRS AT THE KIMBERLY
