It’s not always easy to love New York City in the summer. The heat waves aren’t much of a reprieve from bitter winters and rainy springs. But it’s finally rooftop bar season, and there’s no better way to see the city skyline. You may have to wait in a line or two. Your drink is probably going to cost too much. But when you feel the breeze and watch the warm hues of golden hour wash over the buildings, you’ll remember why this is one of the most brilliant cities in the world. Here is a list to guide your way to the top.
1. A.R.T. SoHo
A narrow elevator bank tucked into a corner of the Arlo SoHo hotel lobby undersells this generous-size bar. There is no shortage of raucous rooftop parties in this neighborhood, but on the 11th floor on the western edge of SoHo, the Arlo Roof Top (A.R.T.) is the spot to catch the sun setting over the Hudson with a cheeky “poptail” (an alcoholic Popsicle) in hand.
Arlo SoHo Hotel, 231 Hudson Street (Canal Street); 646-518-8882; arlohotels.com/arlo-soho
CreditEric Helgas for The New York Times
2. Broken Shaker
The New York location of this Miami bar opened in the Freehand hotel last year. The building was once home to the George Washington Hotel, an old artists’ enclave; today it is a hub for creative spirits of a different kind. The indoor portion is quirky and hodgepodge, but no one seems to notice because they’re all stuffed into two outdoor patios and a skinny terrace. Multiple bars try to keep up with the crowds.
Freehand New York, 23 Lexington Avenue (23rd Street); 212-475-1920; freehandhotels.com/new-york
3. The Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar
Framed by neatly manicured hedges and the treetops of Central Park, the rooftop on the fifth floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is accessible only with museum admission (discretionary for New York State residents, $25 for nonresidents). But new installations are commissioned for this space every year, so consider it an extension of the art experience. There isn’t much seating (or shade), but there is plenty of room to sip on a bottled cocktail and admire this year’s installation, “ParaPivot” by the artist Alicja Kwade.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue (East 82nd Street); 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org
4. Dear Irving on Hudson
Dear Irving on Hudson is not just a downtown cocktail destination with an uptown address, it is one of New York City’s highest rooftop bars. The 41st floor is available by reservation only, and the indoor lounge and open-air terraces one floor below are first-come, first-served. The glamorous, James Bond-inspired bar sits atop the Aliz Hotel Times Square, which opened in October, and yes, the views are incredible. It’s best at night among the shimmering lights of Midtown.
Aliz Hotel Times Square, 310 West 40th Street (Eighth Avenue); dearirving.com/dear-irving-on-hudson
5. Last Light
Last Light is the 11th-floor bar of the stylishly low-key Sister City hotel on the Lower East Side. The hotel, which opened in March, is from the team behind the Ace Hotel. Ignore the underwhelming entrance because the views of Lower Manhattan from the terrace are spectacular. You can count on a well-made cocktail like the sweet-tart strawberry rhubarb caipirinha, but a night at Last Light is all about the vibe.
Sister City hotel, 225 Bowery (Rivington Street); 646-343-4500; lastlight.nyc
6. Ophelia Lounge NYC
To get to Ophelia, you have to take an elevator to the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower, a residential building and New York City landmark just north of the United Nations Plaza. The tower was built in the late 1920s as a women’s residence and clubhouse. It housed the restaurant Top of the Tower, reportedly a Frank Sinatra favorite, until 2013. The rooftop was revived last year as a glamorous Art Deco-inspired rooftop bar. Its wraparound terrace is mostly enclosed, but two trim balconies offer unhindered views of the East River and Queens.
3 Mitchell Place (First Avenue); 212-980-4796; opheliany.com
7. Roof at Park South
The Park South Hotel may be known for its inventive sushi counter, O Ya, but the hotel is also home to a fantastic ninth-floor space simply called Roof. It’s the kind of place that fills up quickly, but never feels too full. It’s an intimate setting without much of a view, but the excellent bar, pouring slushy, overproof-rum piña coladas, and a dedicated kitchen are perfectly fine distractions.
Park South Hotel, rooftop entrance is on 125 East 27th Street (Lexington Avenue); 212-204-5222; roofatparksouth.com
8. Harriet’s Rooftop & Lounge
Steps away from Brooklyn Bridge Park, Harriet’s Rooftop & Lounge at the 1 Hotel offers unrivaled views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. There’s a $20 cover to get in and pricey minimums to sit at a table, but the roomy (and air-conditioned) indoor lounge one floor below offers the same views at no cost.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 60 Furman Street (Doughty Street); 347-696-2505; hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge
9. The Water Tower
On a short stretch of Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a handful of rooftop bars offer slightly different vantages of the same city view. At the Water Tower, a bar atop the Williamsburg Hotel, you can gaze over the East River inside of a structure modeled after, you guessed it, a water tower. If that’s not alluring enough, there’s a lively rooftop pool.
The Williamsburg Hotel, 96 Wythe Avenue (North 10th Street); 718-362-8100; thewilliamsburghotel.com
10. Westlight
People wait for hours to get into Westlight on top of the William Vale, a gorgeous boutique hotel in Williamsburg. The sprawling indoor lounge and open-air terrace is on the 22nd floor, but you get true 360-degree views of New York City at the Turf Club, the seasonal summer pop-up one floor up. Yes, the line can be daunting, but it is always worth it.
The William Vale Hotel, 111 North 12th Street (Wythe Avenue); 718-307-7100; westlightnyc.com
