10 Can’t-Miss New York Rooftops for Happy Hour
All information correct as of September 2023
Whether you just crushed your presentation, are meeting with a client over a late lunch, or are just looking to bond with your coworkers over cocktails and views, these 10 NYC rooftops will have you feeling on top of the world.
230 Fifth
Located in Manhattan’s flatiron district, 230 Fifth is the largest rooftop bar in New York City. A swanky indoor penthouse lounge leads you up to the beautiful greenery-filled rooftop, where you’ll find plenty of young corporate-types looking for great cocktails and stellar skyline views.
The vibe: Hip, crowded, and happening. 365 days a year. (Unlike most rooftop bars in NYC, 230 Fifth is open year-round, and offers up heated lamps and fleece blankets on cold nights).
What to order: The frosé.
Refinery Rooftop
Refinery Rooftop wows with an architecturally gorgeous rooftop with indoor and outdoor areas tailor-made for impressing clients.
The vibe: Business lunches and swanky happy hours.
What to order: The fried chicken sandwich or the Maine lobster roll.
Pod 39 & Salvation Taco
Get dinner downstairs at Salvation Taco, where you’ll definitely have a long wait for a table but the Mexican food will be well worth it. Then, head up to Pod 39 rooftop.
The vibe: Young 20-somethings sipping beers and catching up with friends and coworkers on a weekday.
What to order: The fish tacos & margaritas downstairs, then some Montauk beers upstairs.
Mr. Purple
This posh poolside terrace lies on the 15th floor of Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side. When it’s not swarming with well-dressed New Yorkers, luxury brands like Moët & Chandon like to rent it out to host parties.
The vibe: Swanky and hip. An ideal spot for a classy post-work drink or after-dinner cocktail. It gets busy, so get there on the early side or reserve a table ahead of time.
What to order: The Girl Next Door – Grey goose, mint, blackberries, lemon juice, and soda water.
Jimmy at the James
JIMMY, the 18th floor rooftop of the ultra-modern James hotel, is one of the hottest scenes in SOHO.
The vibe: Fashionable, trendy and just the right amount of pretentious.
What to order: The coconut Caipirinha.
Le Bain at the Standard
Le Bain sets the standard (pun intended) for trendy New York City rooftops. Panoramic views of the skyline and the Hudson river. It’s the place to be and be seen, day and night in NYC.
The vibe: Hip, upscale, and chic.
What to order: Rosé all day in their pretty colorful lawn chairs.
Frying Pan
Okay so Frying Pan is not technically a rooftop. But, it is outdoors, and on the water, on a boat. With live music. So we’re counting it.
The vibe: Summer interns sharing pitchers of sangria, groups of coworkers meeting for happy hour, weekend brunchers ordering bloodies by the water.
What to order: The sangria and a barge burger with seasoned fries. 10/10.
Birreria at Eataly
A perfect rooftop for a business lunch, Birreria at Eataly serves up delicious Italian food and charcuterie plates, and some of the best frosé in the city.
The vibe: It may be full of out-of-towners looking to experience one of the coolest food emporiums in the world, but Birreria doesn’t feel touristy at all. The vibe is like a busy European beer garden – with some delicious Italian food mixed in.
What to order: A meat and cheese plate and the flatbreads. And the frosé.
Bryant Park Grill
A midtown business lunch hot-spot, the rooftop of Bryant Park Grill is a hidden gem inside New York’s famed Bryant Park. Head upstairs and snag a table overlooking the park.
The vibe: Business lunchers looking to get out of the office for some mid-day sunshine.
What to order: The Cobb salad.
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