25 Best Rooftop Bars in NYC

Good drinks, great vibes and glorious views: our list of the best rooftop bars in NYC has got them all. So, if you are in the Big Apple and looking for booze with a side order of views, look no further. Our compilation covers everything from sky-scraping hotel bars to laidback lounges, whether you are in the mood for fine dining, funky beats or cheap eats.

25 Best Rooftop Bars in NYC, How do these rankings work?

1. The Crown NYC

Perched above Lower Manhattan’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, The Crown is set on top of the Hotel 50 Bowery. This is one of the best rooftop bars in NYC for 360-degree, unobstructed views of both the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. There is an indoor bar and lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and two outdoor terraces, where you can sip creative cocktails, craft beers on draft and a decent selection of wines. You can also order small bites to pair with your drink. The daytime vibe here is very relaxed and at night there is a more lively atmosphere.

2. Westlight NYC

Westlight is a 22nd-floor rooftop bar atop The William Vale hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This rooftop bar gives you almost 360-degree panoramas of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. You can enjoy these views from both inside and outside whilst lounging on low-slung furniture. The drinks menu is cool and creative, the refreshing Spring Fling, with cachaça, St. Germain, vodka, and lime is particularly popular. These can be paired with upscale light bites and nibbles.

3. The Press Lounge

Perched 16 stories above PRINT Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, The Press Lounge is an outdoor and indoor rooftop bar that is wonderful in winter and summertime. From here you get breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River. Cocktails are seasonal so there is always something new to try on the menu. There are some lovely local wines to sip too which you can pair with small plates and house-made accompaniments. The vibe here is relaxed and comfortable but at the same time very elegant.

4. Le Bain

Le Bain is the place to go if you like to party. It’s got it all: the views, the celebrity DJs, the trendy crowd and a hot tub. Yes, you read that right, there is a hot tub that really does heat things up when the sun goes down. Le Bain is at the top of the Standard Hotel by the High Line and it is a fun and funky place to sip cocktails at sunset and soak up the views of Manhatten and the Hudson River. Come in the early afternoon for a more chilled ambience.

5. Spyglass Rooftop Bar

You’ll find the Spyglass Rooftop Bar in the Archer Hotel in the Garment District in NYC. If you want up-close views of the Empire State Building whilst sipping craft cocktails, wines and beers, this is the place to come. The 22nd-floor rooftop bar is an elegant, all-season space with an indoor bar and open-air terraces. To take a closer look at the world below, take a peek through the classic viewfinder on the terrace.

6. Cloud Social Rooftop Bar

Cloud Social is a fun and welcoming rooftop bar located in nyma, The New York Manhattan Hotel in Midtown. The menus feature a hand-crafted list of delicious cocktails and spirits which you can pair with classic bar snacks and great pizza. The casual and friendly atmosphere is a big draw and the place has lots of locals and regulars as well as tourists in the know. Come for happy hour to enjoy great value food and drinks and views of the cityscape, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.

7. 230 FIFTH Rooftop Bar

230 FIFTH is New York’s largest outdoor rooftop garden and fully enclosed penthouse lounge. It is an all-season space with lots of big umbrellas to offer shade on sunny days and heaters on chilly nights. Located close to Madison Square Park, you are treated to views over Manhattan and the Empire State Building. The weekend brunch buffet is terrific and always busy. However, if you don’t make it for brunch, you can still enjoy a delicious food menu featuring bar bites and comforting classics like burgers, fish & chips and sushi. As for the drinks, choose from well-made cocktails and beer and wine which are available by the glass, on tap and by the bottle.

8. The Delancey

The Delancy is a rooftop lounge and music venue in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The all-weather rooftop garden is adorned with potted palms and a fishpond and peers out onto the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge. The vibe is laid back, tropical jungle, with friendly bartenders and reasonably affordable food and drinks. The casual vibe extends to the dress code and there is no hassle of velvet ropes and VIP lists. All are welcome and it is very refreshing.

9. Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge

The Magic Hour is a rooftop cocktail bar at the Moxy Hotel Times Square. It is a whimsical venue with an amusement park theme, including mini-golf. It’s a great place for a fun night out with sky-high views of the city. However, if day drinking is more your scene, the weekend brunch is a memorable experience. Drinks are modern and we love the sound of the “Float My Boat” with caramelized pineapple, tequila and jalapeño. On the food front, there are bar snacks and party nibbles like fried “carnival potatoes” and beet deviled eggs.

10. Salon de Ning

This incredibly chic and sophisticated rooftop bar is perched on top of the five-star Peninsula Hotel located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Want to impress a date or celebrate in style? This is the place to go. Being in the heart of the skyscrapers, you feel like you can almost touch them from up here. Salon de Ning has two outdoor terraces and a lovely, intimate interior bar. Lounge seating areas feel very exclusive and relaxing and miles away from the hectic city below. The food and drinks on offer are as classy as the ambience especially the champagne and caviar selection.

11. Azul Rooftop

Although you may feel like you are in Old Havana, Azul On The Rooftop is actually in Hotel Hugo in SoHo. This colourful and characterful space channels a Cuban cantina vibe with magnificent 360-degree views of Lower Manhattan. The food, drinks and music draw the crowds but the busy vibe just adds to the fun. The drinks are as punchy as the surroundings and day or night this place is hopping. If you can time it right, come to Azul’s Cuban Night for a great party.

12. Ophelia

Ophelia is a cocktail lounge at the top of the historic Beekman Tower in Midtown East. On the 26th floor of this Art Deco landmark building, Ophelia pairs elegant interiors and 360-degree views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the East River. The vibe is like New York’s modern speakeasies, rich in history with an intimate feel. Cocktails are expertly crafted and really set this rooftop bar apart. Food is eyecatching and tasty with a mix of classics like caviar and oysters, and twists on American food like Maine lobster spring rolls with mango and Thai dipping sauce.

13. Jimmy Soho

Jimmy is situated on the 18th floor of the ModernHaus SoHo hotel on Thompson Street. It is a sensational rooftop bar complete with a rooftop pool and unobstructed views stretching as far as the eye can see. Cocktails are exciting and there are lots of frozen options as well as alcohol-free beverages too. The food menu is just as exciting with delicious bites perfect for poolside dining, for instance, tomato basil flatbreads, Piri-Piri chicken brochette and grass-fed dry-aged cheeseburger sliders. This rooftop bar is a great place to hang out and get a taste of the wonderful bar scene in New York.

14. SERRA by Birreria

Sprawling across the 14th floor, above the Italian supermarket Eataly, SERRA by Birreria is a scenic rooftop space where you can dine on fabulous Italian cuisine, house-brewed ales and wonderful wines. The vibe is blooming countryside greenhouse in the middle of Manhatten. Both the decor and the menu are seasonal and take inspiration from the Italian countryside. This means there will always be something new to eat and look at when you visit. The cocktail menu is also seasonal and full of flowers. The drinks use plants and flowers as the base and are infused with botanicals. This place is a great way to escape to the country without leaving the city.

15. cloudM New York Bowery

cloudM rooftop bar on the 20th floor of the Bowery Hotel is an art-filled space with an indoor and outdoor deck and 360-degree views. Located on the Lower East Side of Manhatten the altitude and the cocktails are enough to make anyone giddy. You really do feel like you are drinking in the clouds away from the crowds. The menu features select spirits, beers, wines and mocktails as well as an extensive cocktail list with creative signature drinks. Food is a lovely selection of light bites with playful twists on comforting classics.

16. The Roof PUBLIC Hotel

Located on the roof of the PUBLIC hotel in the Lower East Side, this is one seriously cool spot with 360-degree views that take your breath away. The place really does feel like it is floating in the sky. The beautiful outdoor, landscaped terrace has comfy seats and is lit by candlelight so that you can really enjoy the night sky and city lights when the sun goes down. There’s also an inside area with floor-to-ceiling windows so that you don’t miss those views. The place has a sexy feel to it and at night well-known DJs take to the decks to get the party started.

17. The Greens at Pier 17

Whilst not sky-high like the other rooftop bars in NYC, The Greens at Pier 17 is a wonderful rooftop destination with private lawns and cool views of the Brooklyn Bridge. Located on the rooftop of Pier 17, this unique space features love seats and lounge chairs, sun umbrellas and your very own green space to relax and enjoy drinks and brunch, lunch and dinner. One of the best times to visit is when the sun goes down and the city lights up.

18. Cantina Rooftop

The Cantina Rooftop is located on top of the Stage 48-building in Hell’s Kitchen in Midtown West. This year-round rooftop is fun, funky and features a menu of authentic Mexican food and speciality drinks. The weekend brunch is very popular. The spacious terrace is colourful and full of greenery and has a climate-controlled retractable glass roof. Therefore, this is the perfect rooftop to visit in NYC come rain or come shine.

19. Zona de Cuba

20. Castell NYC

Castell is an atmospheric bar on the rooftop of the AC Hotel in Times Square. The space channels the classic cocktail bars of the olden days and the menu has an emphasis on martinis. Castell feels sophisticated, chic and intimate, especially the fireplace lounge with its wonderful artwork. The lush terrace with its jaw-dropping Midtown views are just picture-perfect and set the scene for an unforgettable experience. The place is particularly charming at nighttime with its ambient lighting and shimmering skyscrapers surrounding you.

21. Elsewhere: The Rooftop

Elsewhere is a live music venue, nightclub and arts space in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This seasonal spot is the best place to go in the summer for al fresco drinks and dancing. DJs play live every day and there is a great party atmosphere. One of the best things that sets Elsewhere apart from all the other rooftop bars is the food. It is delicious, seasonal Guatemalan cuisine. Items like yuca fries, tamals and carnitas sandwiches are served with creative cocktails, frozen drinks, ciders, beers and sake. It really is a unique rooftop experience in NYC.

22. Leaf Bar and Lounge

As the name suggests, the Leaf Bar and Lounge is a lush rooftop oasis in the heart of downtown Flushing on top of the Hyatt Place Hotel. The cocktail menu is seasonal and changes twice a year, so, for instance, in the winter you can warm up with a hot toddy and in the summer you can cool down with a watermelon refresher. You can fill up on small plates of casual food like popcorn chicken, wings and gyoza and these are all served with a side order of sweeping views of downtown Flushing. Sunsets are very pretty here.

23. Top of the Box

The rooftop bar on top of The Box Hotel in Greenpoint in Brooklyn is designed for any weather thanks to its fully retractable roof. The trendy space has a beautiful wrap-around marble bar where you can order a wide selection of drinks and a selection of tapas, small bites and desserts. The Top of the Box rooftop bar has panoramic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island City which can be viewed through huge windows. This is a great place for weekend brunch and on Friday and Saturday nights top DJs play to get the crowd moving and the party started.

24. Sandbar Rooftop

The Sandbar Rooftop brings the summer vibe of the Hamptons to the heart of Manhatten’s Fashion District. Located on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Hotel, the Sandbar is decked out with lifeguard chairs, hanging lounges and swings created from reclaimed wine barrels. It is whimsical and chic and makes you feel like you are in a beach house. The signature handcrafted cocktail list is thirst-quenching and playful and there is a sophisticated food menu with light bites such as pinsa-style pizzas and gourmet picnic boards. As for the views, Manhattan’s skyline is at your fingertips, and wait till you see the Empire State Building from here. It is incredible.

25. Refinery Rooftop

With unobscured views of the Manhattan skyline and the Empire State Building looming overhead, the Refinery Rooftop is one of the best rooftop bars in NYC. Add to this the greenery-filled terrace adorned with fairy lights and you have yourself one magical New York moment. Food menus serve up tasty flatbreads, tacos and signature wings and the drinks on offer range from margaritas to mezcal, beers to bloody Mary.