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20 of NYC's Best Rooftop Bars to Try This Spring and Summer

As the warmer months of spring and summer roll around, here are some of the best rooftop bars of NYC you should try. With picturesque views and delectable drinks, these rooftop bars are prime options for relaxing and enjoying yourself on a nice evening out.

Make sure you take note of opening dates, as some rooftop bars open only for the spring and summer seasons, while others stay open year-round. 

See more details for the bars below the map.
 

MANHATTAN

The Press Lounge at the Ink48 Hotel, 653 11th Ave. in Hell's Kitchen

Open NOW 

Located on the 16th floor of the Ink48 hotel, the rooftop bar is open year-round with its glass-walled interior space. The Press Lounge is classy and comfortable, with some of the city’s most beautiful panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River. The Press Lounge is perfect for a special night out.  

Beer Authority, 300 W. 40th St., Hell's Kitchen

Open NOW on Thursdays and Fridays 

Located just a few blocks from Times Square, Beer Authority has a huge collection of ever-rotating craft beers on tap, running around $9 each, along with a wide variety of canned beers.

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel, 145 E. 50th St., Midtown East 

Open NOW 

This penthouse-level bar and lounge is 30 stories above street level in the Kimberly Hotel. It’s open year-round with a retractable roof, heated flooring and an outdoor patio with its own fireplace. Come here to enjoy the bar's view of the the Chrysler Building and have one of their featured cocktails. 

Henry's Rooftop Bar at the Roger Smith Hotel, 501 Lexington Ave., Midtown East

Opens in May 

Henry’s Rooftop Bar is an intimate and cozy space to spend a relaxing evening 16 floors up in the Roger Smith Hotel. The drinks offered are tasty and affordable. Although they do not serve meals, you can always buy some bar snacks to enjoy. 

Top of the Strand at the Strand Hotel, 33 W. 37th St., Hell's Kitchen

Open NOW 

On the 21st floor of the Strand Hotel, this rooftop bar is open year-round with a retractable glass roof, allowing patrons to enjoy the view rain or shine. An intimate space on the smaller side, Top of the Strand has a great view of the Empire State Building.

Cloud Social Rooftop Bar at the Nyma Hotel, 6 W. 32nd St., Hell's Kitchen

Open NOW 

This casual rooftop bar has a regular happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., they offer Kloud and Stella Artois beer, house wine, Fireball shots, or well drinks — all for $6 each. Get there early to nab a good spot.

VU Rooftop Bar at La Quinta Inn, 17 W. 32nd St., Koreatown 

Open NOW 

As a casual and unassuming place at the top of La Quinta Inn, The VU Rooftop Bar in Koreatown offers some of the most reasonable prices in NYC. During happy hour, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. everyday and all day on Sundays, you can enjoy $5 well drinks, $5 beers and $3 house shots. VU Bar is open all year with retractable awnings, hot drinks and heat lamps all around. 

Rooftop Lounge & Bar at The Pod 39 Hotel, 145 E. 39th St., Murray Hill/Midtown East

Open NOW

Unpretentious and low-key, the rooftop is a “Mexican Shangri-La mixed with high-arched Mediterranean architecture” as one Yelp user put it, with a combination of tacos, tequilas, beaded lights and red-tinted columns lined with vines. It also has some great views of the Empire State Building and Chyrsler Building and space heaters for chilly evenings. 

La Birreria, 200 5th Ave. in Flatiron

Open NOW 

La Birreria is the rooftop restaurant and micro brewery on top of the Italian marketplace Eataly. It has an extensive beer menu and is a great place to enjoy some home-brewed ales and high-end imported beer. The retractable glass roof allows the place to be open year-round.

The Delancey, 168 Delancey St. on the Lower East Side

Open NOW 

The Delancey boasts a garden oasis, which is open year-round thanks to the bar's retractable roof. Pleasant scenery and comfortable couches make this a wonderful place to spend the evening. 

The Roof at Park South, 125 E. 27th St., Flatiron

Opens April 19th 

With a design inspired by New York City’s High Line, the Roof at Park South features an open air space with fireplaces and beautiful views of the New York City skyline. They are located at the top of the Park South Hotel and have a delectable selection of cocktails.  

Gallow Green, 542 W. 27th St., Chelsea

Opens Early May 

In the summer, the cabin on the rooftop of Gallow Green transforms into a beautiful garden with wooden flooring, dim lighting, and greenery everywhere you turn. They offer an eccentric selection of drinks like “Sleep No More,” a combination of vodka, roses, oranges, cranberries, and spiced liquor, or “Midnight Lullaby,” which mixes gin, Benedictine brandy, fresh fruit, and champagne. 

Roof Garden Bar at the MET, 1000 5th Ave. in Central Park

Opens Early May 

Decorated with expansive greenery, the Roof Garden Bar is a magical place at the top of the Metropolitan Museum with a fantastic view of Central Park and the skyline. Take note that the Roof Garden Café opens and closes with the museum, so don’t plan on heading over late in the evening. 

Metro Grill, at Hotel Metro, 45 W. 35th St. in Midtown West

Opens in May or June 

The rooftop bar at the top of the Metro Grill restaurant has a great view of the Empire State Building, which sits just one block away. It’s a great place for catching a drink and relaxing after work.

BRONX

Pine Bar and Grill, 1634 Eastchester Road in Westchester Square

Opens in May 

This restaurant in the Bronx has a beautiful rooftop designed to make patrons feel like they have left the bustling, city-life and traveled to the seaside resorts of South Miami Beach. The bar offers up a variety of specialty cocktails, including the Bronx Bomber, a mixture of Grey Goose, Malibu, Peach Schnapps, cranberry juice, orange juice and sour mix.

QUEENS 

Z Roof at the Z Hotel, 11-01 43rd Ave. in Long Island City

Opens in Summer 

At this 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge at the top of Z Hotel, you can have a cocktail while enjoying gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline, the Queensboro Bridge, and the East River from your perch in Long Island City.

BROOKLYN

Berry Park, 4 Berry St., Williamsburg

Open NOW on Weekends Only (will open daily when weather permits)

At the top of Berry Park is a spacious rooftop with a view of McCarren Park and the city skyline. The rooftop area is furnished with benches and umbrellas and offers a collection of European brews. Come here to relax and enjoy yourself on a warm, summer day. 

Night of Joy, 667 Lorimer St., Williamsburg

Open NOW (weather permitting) 

A pleasant and casual place in Williamsburg, Night of Joy’s rooftop patio is decorated with strings of yellow lights and patio furniture. The bar offers a variety of cocktails, including  fresh lime frozen margaritas everyday.

The Rock Shop, 249 Fourth Ave., Gowanus

Open NOW (Weather Permitting)

At the Rock Shop, you can hear a band perform live downstairs and then have a drink or two on their rooftop patio. Located in Gowanus, the Rock Shop is a casual and down-to-earth place with a great selection of affordable beers. 

Juliette, 135 North 5th St., Williamsburg

Opens Mid-April 

This classic French bistro has a quaint and relaxed open-air rooftop terrace above the hustle and bustle of the streets below. You can choose from a rich collection of dinner cocktails — with all juices squeezed fresh daily — beers, and white and red wine.