New York’s Best Year-Round Rooftop Bars
There are a lot of melancholy endings associated with autumn; say goodbye to sunning on the beach, exquisite produce, and lounging around with frosty cocktails on rooftops. But wait just one second… while you’ll probably want to swap out that strawberry daiquiri for a whiskey-based, maple-scented tipple in NYC, there’s no real reason that drinking on rooftops needs to be relegated to summer. Not when there are so many hotels, bars and restaurants boasting convertible, sky-high spaces, suitable for sipping spirits in all year round! And we’ve rounded up some of our favorites – from the Hudson Hotel’s urban après-ski resort to Eataly’s own Birreria and more!
Hudson Hotel
Shortly after Oktoberfest, this Central Park-adjacent hotel transforms its stylish sky deck into an equally chic, enclosed ski lodge, complete with faux snow, vintage toboggans, stuffed bears, fur throws, and an Alpine-style menu of toasty Fondue and Aztec Hot Chocolate. Yes, really. It’s worth stopping by just to see the transformation!
Read MoreBirreria
Officially the “highest brewery in New York,” Eataly’s rooftop restaurant and microbrewery serves unfiltered, unpasteurized, and naturally carbonated cask ales, as well as hearty, family-style feasts of Braised Pork Shoulder, housemade Sausages and Grilled Meats under the stars and city skyline. Lest we forget to remind you that Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich are behind this delicious Italian wonderland.
Top of the Strand
In the heart of the city astride the modern Strand hotel, this year-round, glass-enclosed cocktail lounge was overseen by the set designer of Sex and the City, so expect a super fashionable oasis. The room is decked with patterned banquettes, oodles of greenery, and there’s a sexy cocktail selection of Mint Juleps and Strawberry Gimlets, from award winning resident mixologist, Juan Coronado.
Read MoreSpyglass
Inspired by the telescope Jimmy Stewart peeked through in “Rear Window,” you’ll be able to play voyeur to some of the most spectacular sights the city has to offer, including a dead-on view of the Empire State Building. And considering the penthouse space is perched directly atop David Burke’s restaurant, fabrick, you know the food is a cut above, featuring Avocado Panna Cotta, Fluke Ceviche, and Lobster BLT Steam Buns.
Read MoreHotel Chantelle
Decked out like a lush Parisian garden, with lamppost lighting, park benches and verdant, hanging plants, a retractable roof takes Hotel Chantelle’s sophisticated al fresco space seamlessly from summer to winter and back again. Watch colorful leaves or snowflakes settle on the glittering glass enclosure, as you cuddle up snuggly with luxurious eats from executive chef Seth Levine, the likes of White Truffle Flatbreads, lobster and caviar-topped Deviled Eggs, and Oysters with yuzu pearls and horseradish foam.
Read MorePenthouse808
Located atop the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City, this rooftop lounge has unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline. And with retractable awnings, clear vinyl encasings and a slew of heaters cozying up the 8,000-square foot space, it’s also been duly winterized, so snack on Pacific Rim-inspired bites like Grilled Beef Satay, and sip on breezy cocktails like the rum and coconut “Mahalo,” and pretend you’re still at some exotic, sandy locale, not decked out in closed toed heels and a lined leather jacket on a roof deck in Queens.
Read MoreThe Press Lounge
Offering 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River, this 16-story high lounge is outfitted with streamlined leather couches and flickering fire pits, and offers a menu of seasonally-inspired cocktails and small plates from its sister restaurant, PRINT, including the “Dauphin” with whiskey, agave nectar and radish, and a variety of salumi and farmstead cheeses.
Read MoreUpstairs at the Kimberly
This 3,000-square foot space sits 30 stories high above the Kimberly Hotel in Midtown, featuring three separate indoor & outdoor venues, retractable glass ceilings and walls, heated floors, and awe-inspiring views of the Chrysler Building. Couple that with signature cocktails like the spiced, honeyed “Rum Service,” and small plates such as Duck Cigars with pomegranate, and you’ll have little reason to mourn the end of summer.
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