Gotham Magazine
Site menu
  • Parties
  • People
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Style & Beauty
  • More
    • Culture
    • Lifestyle
    • Watches & Jewelry
    • Magazine
    • Video
    • GreenGale Network
    • Media Kits
  • Digital Edition
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
Sign Up     

Parties

See More
Read More
Maison Atia Launches Autumn/Winter 2019 Collection
Read More
10 Corso Como x Assouline Celebrate: The Launch of Franca: Chaos & Creation
Read More
What Goes Around Comes Around Madison Avenue Flagship Opening Celebration with Pernod Ricard

People

See More
Read More
Trisha Yearwood on Her New Album & Her Upcoming Performance at NYC's Rainbow Room
Read More
Emma Stone Opens Up About Her Role in Oscar-Nominated 'The Favourite'
Read More
How Vuori's Joe Kudla Turned an Idea into an Activewear Empire

Food & Drink

See More
Read More
The 8 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of Winter
Read More
Score a Reservation at These Top NYC Restaurants on Valentine's Day
Read More
Where to Eat in NYC This Valentine's Day Based on Your Relationship Status

Home & Real Estate

See More
Read More
Matt Damon Just Bought a Major Penthouse at The Standish in Brooklyn Heights
Read More
Italy's Dedar Lands in New York
Read More
Gucci Décor Grows with Extraordinary New Pieces

Style & Beauty

See More
Read More
FLAGPOLE Swimwear Founders Megan Balch & Jaime Barker on Reinventing the Bikini
Read More
These 5 Stars Brought it During Fashion Week
Read More
The Moments You Missed During New York Fashion Week
Culture
Read More
Lifestyle
Read More
Watches & Jewelry
Read More
Magazine
Read More
Video
Read More
GreenGale Network
Read More
Media Kit
Read More

Search Our Site

15 Rooftops with Iconic NYC Views to Satisfy Your Summer Visitors

By Cait Rohan | June 29, 2016 | Food & Drink

Share

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.

Monarch

Monarch.

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

Social Drink & Food

Rooftop Cinema Club at Social Food & Drink.

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

Zerzura at Plunge at Gansevoort Meatpacking / The Drift at Gansevoort Park Avenue

Zezura.

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

Refinery Rooftop

Refinery Rooftop.

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

Haven Rooftop

Haven Rooftop.

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

PHD Terrace at Dream Midtown / PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown

PHD Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown.

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

Catch Rooftop

Catch Rooftop.

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

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel

Upstairs at the Kimberly.

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

The Rooftop at McCarren Hotel & Pool

McCarren Hotel & Pool.

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

Bar SixtyFive at Rainbow Room

Rainbow Room.

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

Mr. Purple

Mr. Purple.

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

Penthouse808 at Ravel Hotel

Penthouse808 at Ravel Hotel.

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

The Roof

The Roof Terrace.

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

Tags: nightlife restaurants food bars cocktails traveling vacations rooftops travel tourist _feature
Categories: Food & Drink

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

Around the Web

All Calendar Culture Food & Drink Home & Real Estate Lifestyle Magazine Parties People Style & Beauty Video Watches & Jewelry


Behind the Scenes with Modern Luxury


Popular Posts

Read More
8 Restaurants You Have to Eat at During NYC Restaurant Week

Read More
Bubble Launches Online Marketplace of Chic, Curated Health Foods

Read More
Factory 380 Opens With Andy Warhol-Inspired Décor



Behind the Scenes with Modern Luxury




Screen_Shot_2019-02-05_at_4_50_57_PM.png

View Digital Edition

 

 

Click here to read  
the Digital Editions

or Subscribe to the Print Edition:

SUBSCRIBE

  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
  • Digital Editions
  • Online Ad Specs
  • Print Ad Specs
  • Where to Find Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
    logo
    • Aspen
      • Aspen
      • Aspen Peak
      • Epic Life
    • Atlanta
      • The Atlantan
      • Jezebel
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Atlanta
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Atlanta
      • Charity & Social Datebook Atlanta
    • Boston
      • Boston Common
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Boston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Boston
    • Chicago
      • CS
      • NS
      • Michigan Avenue
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Chicago
      • Modern Luxury Weddings North Shore
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago
      • Men's Book Chicago
      • Modern Luxury City Guide Chicago
      • Charity and Social Datebook Chicago
    • Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Dallas
    • The Hamptons
      • Beach
      • Hamptons
    • Hawai'i
      • Modern Luxury Hawaii
      • Ala Moana
    • Houston
      • Houston
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Houston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Houston
    • Las Vegas
      • Vegas
    • Los Angeles
      • Angeleno
      • Los Angeles Confidential
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity and Social Datebook Los Angeles
    • Miami
      • Miami
      • Ocean Drive
      • Modern Luxury Weddings South Florida
      • Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida
      • Charity and Social Datebook Miami
      • Styled
    • New York
      • Manhattan
      • Gotham
      • Charity and Social Datebook Manhattan
    • Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook Orange County
    • Palm Beach
      • Modern Luxury Palm Beach
    • Philadelphia
      • Philadelphia Style
    • San Diego
      • Modern Luxury San Diego
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Diego
    • San Francisco
      • San Francisco
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • CityGuide
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Francisco
    • Scottsdale
      • Scottsdale
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Scottsdale
    • Silicon Valley
      • Modern Luxury Silicon Valley
    • Washington, D.C.
      • DC
      • Capitol File
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Washington
      • Charity and Social Datebook DC
    • Watches
      • Tourbillon