On Oct. 21, 1882, the Casino Theater flicked on its lights for the first time on 39th Street and Broadway. This was significant in the history of hospitality because of what was on the rooftop of this majestic building — a huge corner rotunda that opened onto a rooftop garden, where New Yorkers would flock to drink boozy concoctions and listen to a live orchestra.
It was the first in a long line of rooftop spaces, which — in this city of 8 million where the streets are packed tight — has become a near prerequisite for every luxury and boutique hotel in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
So much so that now you can choose your own adventure: Do you want to do some sky-high drinking in a party atmosphere, or is a tranquil rooftop escape more your vibe? Do you want elevated dishes to go along with your literally elevated status? Do you prefer to gather with Gen Z and/or the trendy, “see and be seen” crowd?
The choice is all yours. There are nearly 100 hotels in the MICHELIN Guide in New York City — and more than a fifth of them come with a rooftop. Below, our guide to what to find at each.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO LET LOOSE...
1 Brooklyn Bridge Hotel: Young, energetic New Yorkers and visitors flock to Harriet's rooftop bar for Asian-inspired snacks and to chill-out by the rooftop pool at the Sky Swim Lounge, one of the most unique vistas in the city — level with the Brooklyn Bridge staring across the river towards downtown Manhattan.
Equinox Hotel: Upwardly mobile Gen Z’ers gravitate to the gargantuan, 8,000-square-foot space at Electric Lemon, 24 floors up, to blow off some steam and take in the all-encompassing views of the Hudson River on one side and Midtown skyscrapers on the other. A menu of yuzu-laced fluke tartar and carrot soup goes with the cocktails.
Gansevoort Meatpacking: When Gansevoort Hotel first flicked on its lights in 2004, it was the first property in the Meatpacking District to offer luxury hospitality, as well as a rooftop with stunning views of downtown Manhattan. Today the Rooftop Loft attracts a younger crowd who flock here for the European-inflected menu and variations on spritzes and sangrias.
MADE Hotel: 18 floors above 29th Street and Broadway is Good Behavior, a nightly party in the sky with the Empire State Building looming nearby. A Gen Z dreamscape that includes feel-good fare plus signature tiki-inspired cocktails.
Wythe Hotel: Perched atop the sixth floor of the One MICHELIN Key Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, Bar Blondeau offers panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline just across the East River. There also happens to be a menu of seasonal signature cocktails — plus French-accented pub grub that draw twenty-something Brooklynites here on a nightly basis.
IF YOU GO FOR THE VIEW, BUT NEED A BITE…
The Hoxton: The Williamsburg, Brooklyn outpost of London’s Hoxton Hotel features MICHELIN-selected Laser Wolf, where rooftop diners enjoy flavor-popping Middle Eastern and Israeli fare that goes way beyond your standard hummus-and-babaganoush plates.
The Dominick: Anchored on the corner of Spring St. and Varick in western SoHo, the Dominick Hotel features MICHELIN-selected Vestry on the ground floor — and a top floor event space with killer views. The seventh-floor terrace is where you'll find the open-air dining, at chef Luis Pous' El Ta’koy and its Asian-accented Hawaiian fare.
Archer Hotel: The Spyglass Rooftop Bar atop the Archer Hotel was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 classic film “Rear Window.” But don’t expect to be peeping into anyone’s window while you’re here, because the bar sits on the 22nd floor. Instead, you’ll be gawking at the nearby Empire State Building. That is, until the food arrives from the menu of Ritz cracker-encrusted calamari, grilled Spanish octopus, and yuzu-glazed seared ahi tuna.
The Penny Williamsburg: Atop the Penny in Williamsburg is the indoor and outdoor el Nico, where Mexican food accompanies views of Brooklyn, Queens, and, across the East River, the Manhattan skyline. The glass walls open up to make the space even more airy and refreshing on a warm day.
Wall Street Hotel: Chef John Fraser, who has earned a few MICHELIN stars along the way to becoming one of the most respected chefs in New York, created the menu at Bar Tontine, the 15th-floor rooftop bar of the Wall Street Hotel, which itself has One MICHELIN Key. The decor at this Financial District space is inspired by Maison de Verre, the House of Glass, in Paris with a plethora of artisanal glass panels reflecting the light of the fading sun.
William Vale: Up on the 22nd floor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, there’s competition at Westlight for your senses with the stunning vistas of the Manhattan skyline across the East River: Andrew Carmellini’s menu deviates from the chef’s usual Italian accent with tempura bass buns paired with a Vietnamese nuóc chám aioli, lamb carnitas tacos, and serrano ham croquettes.
IF YOU’RE GONNA PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999 FEET IN THE SKY…
Civilian Hotel: It’s not clear if Starchild is an explicit reference to 1970s psychedelic funk band Parliament-Funkadelic, but they did take George Clinton’s dictum and tore the roof off the sucka. At least in warm-weather months when the retractable roof is put in use. The custom Funktion-One sound system means the music is always pumping up on this 27th floor rockin’ rooftop bar.
ModernHaus SoHo: Meet Jimmy. He lives on the 18th floor of the iconic ModernHaus SoHo and he loves a party. At Jimmy you can lounge by the diminutive swimming pool or sit inside when the weather is less agreeable, sipping on one of the many signature cocktails, while snacking on fried chicken sliders and taking in the view — the World Trade Center in one direction and the Empire State Building in the other.
Refinery Hotel: Nosh on white-truffle-sprinkled flatbread, mahi-mahi tuna tacos, and crispy calamari 12 floors up in the shadow of the Empire State Building, then wash it all down with one of the mezcal-laced signature cocktails or a variation on the Old Fashioned.
Sixty LES: Make Believe, the bar that sits atop the stylish Sixty LES Hotel, doesn’t have to do much to make you believe you’re in the right place when you’re here, 18 floors above the festive streets of the Lower East Side. The cocktail and food menu leans to Japan with sushi rolls, edamame, shishito peppers, and cocktails infused with ume, yuzu, and matcha.
IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE “SEE AND BE SEEN” CROWD….
Casa Cipriani: An extension of The Livingroom, Casa Cipriani’s exclusive restaurant is for club members and guests only. The menu includes pizza and other Italian staples, and the outdoor West Terrace offers stunning views of the waterfront and the Statue of Liberty. When the sun starts to descend, the Terrazza Bar springs to life to shake and stir cocktails.
PUBLIC Hotel: Set atop the sleek Herzog & and de Meuron-designed Public Hotel is The Roof, a chic cocktail bar where DJs spin, yoga classes are held, and the fashionable downtown cool kids go to sip spritzes and slurp tomato soup while the bright lights of the city’s skyline twinkle.
Soho House: The rooftop bar and pool at Soho House in the Meatpacking District has long been the place to be seen sipping an Aperol spritz or a Negroni. Though the rooftop offers lovely views of the Hudson River and surrounding skyline, it's long been more about being seen than seeing the view — keep in mind, you'll have to be a member or hotel guest to enter.
IF YOU’RE SEEKING TRANQUILITY…
Arlo Midtown: Twenty-six floors up, the rooftop bar at the Arlo Midtown is an oasis of cool and calm for hotel guests, who enjoy rooftop yoga and daytime, rooftop quietude at the off-hours at A.R.T. (Arlo RoofTop, get it?). The verdant bar is right in the thick of Midtown tower madness, with views of many iconic Big Apple buildings to gawk at while sipping a glass of wine or a beer.
Barrière Fouquet's New York: A divine slice of Parisian peacefulness, the rooftop at Fouquet's New York, Le Vaux, is eight stories above the street and just high enough to enjoy some tranquility from the Big Apple’s perpetual bustle. Take in the verdant, floral ambience while sipping a glass of Champagne and grazing on truffle-laced fries.
Graduate Roosevelt: The fittingly named Panorama Room gives visitors an alternative perspective on the New York City skyline: from Roosevelt Island. Step out onto the outdoor deck 18 floors above the street and you’ll see the Midtown skyscrapers, Downtown towers, and the Long Island City, Queens and Brooklyn skyline. It's meant to feel fancy and upscale: a dress code means no sweats.
The Peninsula New York: 23 floors above Fifth Avenue and 55th Street is Pen Top, the swanky, leafy and tranquil rooftop bar atop the posh Peninsula Hotel. On one of two terraces, sip a martini and enjoy the mouth-dropping vistas of the Big Apple.
Rockaway Beach Hotel: The Rooftop at the Rockaway Beach Hotel is an inherently lovely reprieve from the bustle of Manhattan, which visitors can see from a distance (as well as the vast Atlantic Ocean). Of course, it does get lively at peak hours, when guests come for the raw bar with oodles of oysters, mussels and shrimp, plus a long list of inventive signature cocktails, or the occasional concert.
