We all feel the need to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple from time to time. But with city traffic, desk jobs, and plain ol’ life holding up most much needed getaways, we’ve come up with the perfect alternative: rooftop bars and lounges.
The pool at Jimmy
1. 230 Fifth [Flatiron] From the year-round rooftop bar, NYC presents a spectacular skyline that has to be seen to be believed. The Rooftop Garden Bar is partially heated and cozy fleece red robes and oversized blankets are provided in case you need a little extra warmth. The enclosed Penthouse Lounge offers a more private, elegant option for hanging out sky high.
2. Empire Hotel Rooftop [UWS] Located on the 12th floor of the distinctive New York City luxury hotel, The Empire Hotel Rooftop Bar & Lounge offers magnificent views of Lincoln Center as well as the Broadway & Columbus Avenue gateway to Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
3. Hudson Terrace [Hell's Kitchen] Looking for a little Miami on the Hudson? This rooftop lounge comes complete with white leather couches, pink drinks, a remixed eighties soundtrack, and views of cruise ships parked in the harbor.
4. Plunge at the Gansevoort [Meatpacking] Enjoy incredible city views while reclining by the heated rooftop pool, open year-round. This urban oasis is the perfect place for daytime sunning or sipping a cocktail in the landscaped terrace and lounge area.
5. Sky Room [Times Square] With 360 degree views of Manhattan and the Hudson River from the city’s highest rooftop lounge, Sky Room takes NYC nightlife to the next level. Perched atop the midtown Marriott Hotel, it offers five versatile spaces: the Times Square Lounge, the Cube balcony, the Private Salon, the North terrace with a retractable roof, and the South Terrace with private cabanas.
6. Le Bain [Meatpacking] Considered the younger, sexier version of its neighboring Top of the Standard, this bi-level roof bar and club isn’t for the faint of heart. Its most noticeable feature is a hot tub in the back, and keeping with the pool theme are the low plastic string lounge chairs, stacks of neatly rolled white towels strewn about the Astroturf lawn, and three large, round pink waterbeds.
7. Top of the Strand [Midtown West] Designed by Lydia Marks, set designer for Sex and The City, the Top of the Strand includes a sliding roof element which offers an urban oasis among the concrete buildings of the garment district. When things warm up, the panels slide open to let in the breeze.
8. High Bar [Midtown West] Reminiscent of a luxe penthouse in St. Tropez, Highbar is a breezy hideaway sixteen stories above the bustling city during the sweltering summer months. The terrace is sprinkled with sprawling day beds and plush love seats, giving the space a unique feeling of tranquility.
9. The Park [Chelsea] The Penthouse at The Park opens up to a spacious rooftop patio that is open in the summertime warmth and enclosed and heated in the winter for year-round use. With stunning sunsets and a direct view of the High Line, the Penthouse is the perfect location for an after-work cocktail reception or a seated dinner.
10. Jimmy [Soho] 18 stories high atop The James Hotel, this rooftop space is a year-round destination, offering an inside lounge area with plush upholstered seating perfect for cold winter months. In warmer weather, the experience spills onto the roof deck, where guests can enjoy chaise lounges, a pool, and unparalleled city views.
