A rooftop bar is always the most glamorous place to get a drink. An al fresco spritz with wish-you-were-here kind of views is precisely the energy we seek from a hospitality experience, particularly during the warmer months of the year when lingering outdoors enjoying a drink and small bites is a permanent fixture on the weekend agenda.
The best rooftop bars in NYC, more specifically, are of a notably high caliber thanks to the city’s iconic skyline and community of world-renowned talent, from celebrated design firms to sought-after bartenders. Perhaps you’re on the hunt for somewhere you can enjoy a refreshing herbal cocktail with a view of the Empire State Building? Or a glass of bubbly overlooking Central Park? At the 17 rooftop bars ahead, no vantage point is too extravagant.
A bar so high it deserves its own zip code, Overstory is located an astonishing 64 floors up inside a striking Art Deco skyscraper in the Financial District. Bar director Harrison Ginsberg oversees the cocktail program at this quintessential New York rooftop bar, with drinks that lean on classic ingredients elevated by innovative techniques. Upon arrival, guests are escorted up a travertine stairwell and seated within this intimate bar space that offers a wraparound terrace with 360-degree views of the city skyline.
If one skyline isn’t enough to satisfy you, head for this vibrant rooftop offering views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan cityscapes. The menu was created by executive chef Fernanda Serrano and takes cues from her upbringing in Mexico, with cuisine highlights like pink mole and pulpo pibil. When you get thirsty, order from beverage director Christian Rodriguez’s assortment of refreshing drinks, like the rhubarb margarita or olive oil martini, then sink into one of the many stylish seating nooks surrounded by prickly cacti and decor awash in saturated hues.
After a years-long renovation, New York City’s first Japanese-owned luxury hotel makes its debut in a storied building once owned by the Rockefeller family, and includes a rooftop bar on the 18th floor with wraparound terraces and an impressive list of rare Japanese whiskeys. Johnny Marsh of atelier marsh spearheaded the look and feel of the space, which positions guests up close and personal with views of the Empire State Building.
Nubeluz by José Andrés at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad.Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad