Best Hotel Rooftop Bars in New York
The Manhattan skyline is of course one of the world's most iconic, an awe-inspiring tribute to human ingenuity and America's economic success. To see it at night is magical. To see it at night from atop a Manhattan roof -- to be part of the skyline, in other words -- is more magical still. And to do so with a well-mixed cocktail in one's hand is an experience simply not to be missed. Here is a list of the best hotel rooftop bars in New York City.
A60
- Hotel: 60 Thompson
- Price: $386/night
- Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
- Location: SoHo and TriBeCa, New York City
A60 is one of the city's most exclusive rooftop bars, open only to card-carrying "members" (read: celebrities, fashion types, and other bold-named scenesters), plus hotel guests. In other words, for the price of a room, you just might gain access to some of the best celebrity-gawking in Manhattan.
Plunge
- Hotel: Hotel Gansevoort
- Price: $382/night
- Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
- Location: West Village and Chelsea, New York City
The Gansevoort's 15th-floor rooftop lounge, called Plunge, has stunning 360-degree views of the city and the Hudson River, and draws a crowd of twenty- and thirty-somethings dressed to kill.
Roof Club and Garden
- Hotel: Gramercy Park Hotel
- Price: $445/night
- Pearls: Rating: 5.0 Pearls
- Location: Gramercy and Murray Hill, New York City
Although the Gramercy Park Hotel's Private Roof Club and Garden competes with the uber-hip Rose Bar downstairs, it's the place to be in warmer weather. The strings of lights and crawling green vines make it feel like you've entered a fairyland after dark.
The Empire Hotel Rooftop Bar & Lounge
- Hotel: The Empire Hotel
- Price: $230/night
- Pearls: Rating: 4.0 Pearls
- Location: Upper West Side, New York City
The Empire's rooftop bar boasts (slightly) cheaper cocktails (about $14), more space, and a more down-to-Earth crowd than you typically find at the Gansevoort's Plunge in the Meatpacking District -- and it even has a comparable rooftop pool.
Mé Bar
- Hotel: La Quinta Manhattan
- Price: $155/night
- Pearls: Rating: 2.5 Pearls
- Location: Gramercy and Murray Hill, New York City
This colorful, funky bar on the 14th floor of La Quinta hotel has one of the best views in town -- the Empire State building, one of New York's most iconic sites, towers above the action. But it's still somewhat of an undiscovered gem; you won't have to fight the crowds or put on your swank party clothes like you would at A60 or Plunge. Low-key revelers can enjoy the scene year-round -- seating is available in an enclosed glass area in the winter -- and order delivery to the rooftop from the area's excellent Korean joints when the late-night munchies hit (the bar doesn't serve food). Drinks are reasonably priced (for New York, anyway).
Bookmarks
- Hotel: Library Hotel
- Price: $362/night
- Pearls: Rating: 3.5 Pearls
- Location: Midtown East, New York City
The rooftop garden and bar Bookmarks has three different personas: the "poetry garden," a greenhouse with a wraparound terrace; the "writer's den," which has a working fireplace and its own heated terrace; and the bar itself, which has a sleeker, more mod feel than the rest of the hotel.
Rare View
- Hotel: Affinia Shelburne
- Price: $205/night
- Pearls: Rating: 3.5 Pearls
- Location: Gramercy and Murray Hill, New York City
The Affinia Shelburne's summer rooftop garden and bar, appropriately named Rare View, has stunning views of the Chrysler building. At night, strings of lights illuminate the garden's white-latticed walls, white picnic tables, and pots of trees and flowers.
Mad46
- Hotel: The Roosevelt Hotel
- Price: $191/night
- Pearls: Rating: 3.5 Pearls
- Location: Midtown East, New York City
The Roosevelt Hotel's 19th-floor rooftop bar, Mad46, which opened in 2008, draws a crowd heavy with finance professionals who can afford its double-digit martinis. It stays open from May until the weather turns chilly in the fall. Renovations are under way to add an indoor lounge.
Hudson Sky Terrace
- Hotel: Hudson Hotel
- Price: $247/night
- Pearls: Rating: 3.5 Pearls
- Location: Times Square and Midtown West, New York City
Hudson's Sky Terrace, which opened in May 2009 in time for the warm weather, is a relative newcomer to the New York rooftop bar scene. A limited menu is available from 12 to 8, and the terrace closes at 11:30, so it's better for mellow cocktail sipping in the sun than late-night parties. The 15th-floor location offers stunning views of Midtown and the Hudson River.
Map Hotels in This List
Go to Hotels in This List
Free Oyster Newsletter
- Insider tips
- New hotel alerts