But now that spring has blessed us with its (sporadic) presence and Memorial Day's around the bend, it's time to consider viable alfresco options to take you through the summer. Since nothing beats the glamour of sky-high rooftops or the charm of sweeping balconies, we've highlighted a handful to heighten your open-air cocktail sensibilities.
Rooftops and balconies
Salon de Ning
Newly opened, this rooftop bar and lounge on the terrace of the Peninsula Hotel aims for an East-meets-West vibe, with a subtle emphasis on the glamour and style of 1930s Shanghai ("the Paris of the East," as they're calling it). Offering panoramic views over Fifth Avenue and the Manhattan skyline, the lounge features an intimate interior bar with an eclectic art collection, and two large outdoor terraces with Chinese-style day beds for chilling. A range of signature cocktails and Asian-inspired small plates are on hand, with more to come as the weather heats up. (700 Fifth Ave. at 55th St., 212-956 2888)
Pooldeck
With swimming, lounging, cocktails, massages, and glittering city views on its agenda, the brand new bi-level Pooldeck atop the UWS Empire Hotel is now open for business, though not necessarily yours. Hotel guests (or well-connected shysters) can take advantage of the spectacular, vacation-style space whose top level features the pool and a rows of lounge chairs, and the lower a full bar and technologically-advanced cabanas (wi-fi, flat screens, etc). It’s not completely exclusive—get yourself a room and you’re in. (44 W. 63rd St. at Broadway; 212-265-7400)
Highbar
Easygoing Hells Kitchen locals, start your dreading now. Set to open next week is Highbar, the ICrave-designed, swanky rooftop bar from Greg Brier (Aspen, D’Or, Amalia). Offering a spare modern feel, it comes complete with kicky striped seating, a backyard barbecue menu, jaunty house cocktails and, natch, Miami-esque private beds for lounging. The space can hold around 200 people outdoors and 75 in the adjacent lounge, equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system, DJ booth and visual elements. That's all we know for now, but it is a pricey rooftop bar located a stone’s throw from Times Square, which very likely means two certainties: the "young professional"crowd in all its glory, with tourists thrown in for good measure. (251 W. 48th St., 15th floor, 212-956-1300)
The Eagle
The newest version of this groundbreaking classic "leather & Levi" bar has everything its predecessor did, and more. Still catering to a leather-loving, S&M-embracing gay crowd, to whom the phrase "check your clothes at the door" isn't something completely absurd (especially during the summer months when it's not uncommon to see a patron walking around in a leather harness or their skivvies during the fantastically raunchy underwear parties). The mood is gloriously dark and sleazy—a pleasure considering the squeaky-clean vibe New York City is rapidly acquiring—and music pulsates furiously throughout the bi-level space peppered with pool tables and old motocycles. And now that's summer is fast approaching, the beloved roof deck is open for business—a 2,000-square-foot, fully landscaped affair with a full bar, barbecued grub and scores of shirtless men. (554 W. 28th St. between 10th and 11th Aves., 646-473-1866)
Alma
This hip, three-story space in Red Hook is consistently referred to as one of the best rooftop spots in the city, where the food measures up to the stunning views. Alma skillfully serves plentiful, pan-regional Mexican dishes including enchilada, chili Colorado, tuna amarillo and seafood ceviche. Above the main dining room is the famous rooftop terrace with stunning Manhattan views. Down below sits B61, a bar that is rumored to mix a killer Bloody Mary. (187 Columbia St. at DeGraw St., 718-643-5400)
Me'Bar
Found in the thicket of bustling Koreatown, this semi-hidden and underappreciated bar on the 14th floor of the La Quinta Inn provides a basic approach to outdoor boozing: white picket fence, a smattering of rickety iron tables, potted plants and a wood-paneled floor. What’s not so basic is its thisclose proximity to, and views of, the Empire State Building. Post-work, the space attracts its fair share of young commuters, considering it's near Penn Station, but stick it out a little longer and the crowd often thins out. There’s also a very tiny, skylit indoor area with a handful of tables, for those who prefer covered skies. (17 W. 32nd St. between Broadway and Fifth Ave., 212-290-2460)
The Delancey
Part rock club and part lounge, the interior of the Delancey is a fine-enough place to grab a drink or see a show, but it’s the tropical rooftop retreat that really draws them in. Plentiful potted palms and intense, vibrant lighting give the roof a distinct Miami vibe, while a reflecting pond with frog fountains adds a Zen element. Needless to say, the space rocks hard on summer nights, as both hipster-types and scenier folks flock to sip $10 cocktails from plastic cups and cavort among the foliage. You might want to reserve a patio table for you and your pals on weekend nights, or swing by on Thursday nights where the ongoing Radio F***K You party has set up a weekly residence this summer. (168 Delancey St. at Clinton St., 212-254-9920)
Bookmarks
There’s something decidedly glamorous about the whole idea of "cocktails on the terrace at sundown" and Bookmarks—the rooftop lounge perched atop the Library Hotel—fits the bill with its stacks of classic books, greenhouse solarium and outdoor terrace whose sunroof encloses the fully heated outside space. Test out the decadent specialty cocktails like the eponymous Bookmark: Appleton Estate Rum VX, Grand Marnier, passion fruit juice and Moet & Chandon. (299 Madison Ave., 14th floor, at 41st St., 212-983-4500)
Patroon
At one time, the dining room at Ken Aretsky’s Midtown steakhouse sounded like a trading floor in full cry, with high-rolling suits working their way through $500 bottles of wine and slabs of pricey beef. But then, the Dow dropped, times changed, and Aretsky closed up shop. Reopening in 2002, the restaurant is more modest—patrons, design, menu. More modest is the attractive rooftop for those not hankering for a big, lengthy meal. Decked with low-lit lanterns, cabana-esque striped awnings and heaters for chilly nights, the space is open from April through October and offers a light menu of low-maintenace fare: lobster rolls, sliders, cheese plates, guacamole—as well as a decent list of cocktails popular with the nearby post-work crowd. (160 E. 46th St. between Lexington and Third Aves., 212-883-7373)
230 Fifth
Run by Steve Greenberg (of Roxy and Palladium fame), the slightly overwhelming warm-weather favorite sits atop an unassuming office building across from Madison Park. After steering past the mirrored walls and Deco furnishings in the lobby, head upstairs to the lush rooftop bar, a spacious palm-tree-lined terrace offering almost 360-degree views of the Midtown skyline. 230 caters mostly to the professional (and often B&T) crowd, with bottle service a prideful option—tables are often reserved for private parties after 10 p.m., so show up early. Pair a romli (spiced beef) slider with a golden dream martini (a $12 boozy creamsicle) while you marvel at your server's ability to deliver flawless service in such high, high heels. (230 Fifth Ave., penthouse, between 26th and 27th Sts., 212-725-4300)
Rise
Perched on the 14th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, this award-winning swanky bar draws consistent crowds with its stunning panoramic views of the harbor, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Patrons—a predictable blend of Wall Street professionals, tourists and romance-seeking duos—sip colorful (pricey) martinis from the house cocktail menu like the signature Libertini (Stoli Razberi, Midori, Blue Curacao, pineapple and citrus juices) and snack on small plates like mini-burgers, seared beef, lobster kebabs and artisan cheese plates. (2 West St. at Battery Place, 212-344-0800)
Additional reporting by Bronwyn Clark
Photo: The Pool Deck at the Empire Hotel (courtesy of the Empire Hotel)
Add a comment