It’s officially rooftop season! Whether you live in NYC or are visiting, there’s no better way to welcome the season than by grabbing a few cocktails at one of these beautiful locations. There are so many places with rooftops, but below is a curated list of our personal favorites, depending on what type of scene you’re in the mood for or what neighborhood you’re in!

Best Rooftop Bars in Brooklyn and
New York City

---

Brooklyn

 

HARRIET’S ROOFTOP(AT 1 HOTEL BROOKLYN BRIDGE)

Address: Brooklyn Heights (1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge at 60 Furman St)

Open-air venue for handcrafted cocktails & choice bites on the roof of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. New Yorkers will admit this is one of the most beautiful cityscape vistas ever seen, with views of Downtown Manhattan, Ellis and Liberty Islands, the Sea Port, the Brooklyn Bridge, & more. This is the place you go to for the view.

ROOFTOP REDS

Address: Brooklyn Navy Yard (299 Sands St)

By reservation only, this innovative venue is “the world’s only commercially viable rooftop vineyard.” This is the place where you can enjoy wine tasting overlooking the beautiful view, as well as participate in sunset yoga and/or watch movies with pizza. If you’re looking for a different or more refined venue for rooftop shenanigans, this is it.

WESTLIGHT (AT THE WILLIAM VALE HOTEL)

Address: Williamsburg (111 N 12th St)

Rooftop bar offering a vast wine list, craft cocktails, well-priced draft beer, and fancy tapas, along with panoramic skyline views from a terrace & glassed-in lounge. The lines here may be long but the reward of a breathtaking westward-facing view is worth the wait. Try to beat the crowd as early as 2pm on weekends.

---

NEW YORK CITY

---

CANTOR ROOFTOP GARDEN BAR (AT THE MET)

Address: Upper East Side (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Going to the Met and ending with a cocktail on their rooftop, is one of my favorite summer traditions my friends and I have. It is one of NYC’s most enticing outdoor spots on the 5th floor of the iconic museum! Offers contemporary art installations, a sunset happy hour, and majestic views of Central Park and the surrounding skyline.

GALLOW GREEN (AT MCKITTRICK HOTEL)

Address: Chelsea (542 W 27th St)

Buzzy, lushly-decorated rooftop lounge with a green-garden vibe that’s open year-round. Bar menu includes a variety of chic cocktails & punch bowls, along with great beer and wine lists. Hosts weekend brunch by reservation & a great place to host a birthday party!

JIMMY (AT THE JAMES HOTEL)

Address: SoHo (15 Thompson St)

Cocktail lounge located on the 18th floor of The James Hotel. Features an elegant, contemporary interior & rooftop deck overlooking the lower west side. Great place for drinks on a first date.

LE BAIN (AT THE STANDARD HOTEL)

Address: Meatpacking (848 Washington St)

Night club located on the roof of The Standard Hotel, overlooking the Highline with views of the Hudson River & the lower west side. This is where I’d go to when in the mood to get dolled up and have a “sceney” NYC night. Keep in mind it’s not always the easiest to get into after hours and you may experience an annoying doorman, but hey, sometimes that’s part of the fun.

MR. PURPLE (AT HOTEL INDIGO)

Address: Lower East Side (180 Orchard St)

Posh rooftop spot located on the 15th floor of the Hotel Indigo. Choose from multiple terraces to sip drinks or enjoy lite bites while catching the views. Very popular during the spring/summer so I suggest getting there early to beat the line, which is sometimes out the door & around the block.

REFINERY ROOFTOP (AT REFINERY HOTEL)

Address: Midtown (63 W 38th St)

Industrial-chic rooftop spot in the Refinery Hotel featuring cocktails, light fare, and dramatic views of the Empire State Building & NYC skyline. Named America’s #1 Rooftop Bar + Hotel Bar for 3 consecutive years by USA Today. Great happy hour spot & fab place to host an event or birthday party.

RH ROOFTOP (AT RESTORATION HARDWARE)

Address: Meatpacking (9 9th Ave)

Glamorous rooftop restaurant residing on the 6th floor of Restoration Hardware that blurs the lines between residential & retail. Offering American fare amid chandeliers, greenery & skyline views. Perfect for both romantic & casual occasions.

THE CROWN (AT HOTEL 50 BOWERY)

Address: Chinatown (50 Bowery)

Boutique-hotel rooftop bar with sweeping views, cocktails & small bites, plus an indoor lounge. Now debuting a new seasonal experience “Royal Summer” which will feature regularly scheduled acoustic sets and music by renowned DJs, curated art installations, branded partnerships, weekend brunch parties and specialty events all summer long.

THE ROOF (AT PUBLIC HOTEL)

Address: Lower East Side (215 Chrystie St)

Glassed-in, vibrant & energetic rooftop bar at the Public Hotel with jaw-dropping 360-degree sweeping views of the city through floor-to-ceiling windows & an outdoor terrace. Ideal place for sunset cocktails & turns into a DJ-fueled late-night hotspot after hours.