Spring is finally here, and summer is hot on its heels, which means only one thing: it’s rooftop season. A perfect summer day in NYC always involves catching some rays, sipping cocktails, and nibbling on some tasty bites – all with sweeping skyline views from some of the best vantage points in the city. From a new Italian spot downtown to one of Brooklyn’s hottest restaurants to a midtown Parisian-inspired perch, these are the best rooftop bars to drink at this summer in the Big Apple.
Leonessa
Travel to coastal Italy via the rooftop of Conrad New York Downtown, which has had a complete rebranding and redesign by cocktail master/restaurateur Ariel Arce. The new space is designed to evoke an Italian terrace at golden hour, adorned with verdant greenery, an Amalfi Coast-inspired fountain, and colourful seating. Every table is welcomed with green olives in oil and a bowl of crunchy taralli, and the cocktail menu is organised into spritzes, bitters, frutte, martinis, and specialty cocktails, along with a selection of amari, vermouth, and cordials.
leonessarooftop.com
102 North End Ave, NY 10282
Dear Irving on Broadway
Dear Irving is a favourite bar for craft cocktails, and at the end of last year it opened its third location in the Theater District. Inside, there are black marble floors, maroon banquettes, and a golden chandelier, with a whimsical floor-to-ceiling mural behind the bar. Outside are leafy plants and breathtaking skyline views that create the perfect backdrop for guests to sip bar director Meaghan Dorman’s famous Gibson and other Broadway-inspired cocktails.
dearirving.com
1717C Broadway, NY 10019
Le Jardin
Perched atop the Le Meridien Hotel by Central Park is this new rooftop lounge (sister to the chic Paris Bar downstairs). Enjoy gorgeous park views as you snack on French bistro-style small plates and drink summery beverages – like a French 75 or classic Pernod Absinthe – on this Art Nouveau-inspired rooftop in Midtown.
parisbarnyc.com
120 W 57th St, NY 10019
Bar Tetto
This new rooftop bar comes from nightlife impresario Nur Khan (Butterfly Soho, TAO Downtown Lounge), with drinks by globally renowned mixologist Charlotte Voisey. She reimagines classics such as the martini, Sazerac, and negroni – here seen as the Tuxedo Martini, Tropical Sazerac, and Rooftop Negroni. A full bar food programme is being developed by Chris Skoda (Sartiano’s, Bâtard, Balaboosta). Set atop the 16th floor of the Merchant Hotel on the Lower East Side, the bar has two terraces offering 360-degree views of the city.
bartettorooftop.com
79 Rivington St, NY 10002
Elsie Rooftop
This elegant rooftop favourite 25 stories above Bryant Park just became an all-weather oasis thanks to a renovation that included a retractable roof. Inspired by world-renowned actress and decorator Elsie de Wolfe, this sophisticated space features plush seating, Art Deco influences, and panoramic skyline views. Guests can eat tuna tartare, Wagyu sliders, and lobster rolls while drinking the rooftop’s namesake Elsie de Wolfe, made with Ketel One Cucumber, mint, lemon, rose water, and Chandon sparkling rosé.
elsierooftop.com
1412 Broadway, NY 10018
Westlight
Williamsburg has its share of rooftops with Manhattan skyline views, but as one of the originals, Westlight is still a favourite. Twenty-two stories up, the views here are unmatched and the food and drinks by Andrew Carmellini go above and beyond most rooftop bars that rely solely on the view to attract guests. Munch on Serrano ham croquets and lamb carnitas tacos paired with summery cocktails like the Purple and Fancy (gin, guava, dragon fruit, lemon, agave) and the Tiger Lily (Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, bergamot, red bell pepper, pineapple).
westlightnyc.com
111 N 12th St, NY 11249
Nubeluz
Just a few years old and this rooftop bar at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad is already a Manhattan classic. With a menu by celebrity chef José Andres, epic city views, and a Bossa nova-inspired design, it’s easy to spend a whole night here. Order a cocktail from the menu that’s divided into Uptown, Midtown, and Downtown sections along with a caviar bump, lobster roll, and a bagel and lox cone for the ultimate indulgence.
nubeluzbyjose.com
