New York, New York: “the capital of the world”, “the city that never sleeps”. We all know this fantastic city is known for the high buildings and skyscrapers, where you can enjoy the most amazing views. But to do it with a drink or two is even better.
Where should we toast then? Conde Nast Traveler recently made a selection of the best rooftops bars around the city. If you’re lucky to live in NYC or to be there right now, make sure you don’t miss these places.
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This evergreen rooftop has a new Hamptons’ beach chic look thanks to a May 2016 renovation. Get a table on the East Terrace, where you can overlook the shops of Fifth Avenue from 23 stories up. Tables are first-come, first-serve with one exception: the best spot in the house, the “Corner Couch,” which can be reserved in advance. Settle in and order a “Ning Sling,” a gin-based passion fruit mojito topped with lychees.
The Big Apple’s larger than life personality and skyline shine in fully glory from this snazzy rooftop lounge on the western edge of Hell’s Kitchen. Here, you’ll find no bachelorette parties, no DJs, and no sloppy bridge-and-tunnel folk: Instead, there are twinkling lights, fire pits, artisanal cocktails, and unobstructed panoramas to help you revel in big city beauty.
PH-D Terrace is one of the city’s more intimate and well-decorated rooftops, strewn with colorful designer cushions. Sure, there are partial views of Times Square, the Time Warner building, and Broadway from 15 floors up, but you’ll hardly want to take your eyes of your “Pomegranate Rickey”—a fruity concoction of vodka, ginger beer, lime, and pomegranate liquor, swimming around a huge block of pomegranate-seed ice.
The cool kids love to play, stand, and pose at this sky-high bar that crowns the Standard, High Line in the Meatpacking District. Even better? The wraparound views of the Manhattan skyline and Jersey City are sublime as are the pitcher-sized libations. Arrive at 4 p.m. for a chance at grabbing a coveted chair or couch.
Toast to the past on the 17th floor of the circa 1916 building now housing the ‘young-minded’ Pod 39 Hotel. Original brick arches and terra cotta columns comprise a roof of century-old ruins, punctuated by crawling ivy, potted plants, and Mexican-tiled tables. You’ll catch a glimpse of Freedom Tower here, the Empire State Building there, but it’s more likely that your eyes will be on the crowd.
During the day, you can splash in the glass-bottomed pool at The Beach at Dream Downtown (non-hotel guests gain access weekdays for $60). Come evening, head to the wraparound terrace atDream Downtown, which has vistas of the Hudson River and sparkling Empire State Building. Regardless of whether it’s day or night, the strong and summery “Strawberry Fields”—tequila, fresh strawberries, and fresh basil—is our drink of choice.
Unpretentious fun is the theme at this bar and lounge above the Park South Hotel. The gregarious crowd, which spans all demographics, can’t get enough of the creative, spirit-forward cocktails like the top-shelf tequila “Margarita;” the frozen, rum-heavy “Overproof Piña Colada;” and the “Duke’s Martini,” frozen Plymouth gin topped with caviar. (The views of the Chrysler Building aren’t bad, either.)
The zenith of the Gansevoort Park Avenue’s tri-level rooftop area, The Drift reopened for summer season in June 2016 with a new surfer-inspired edge and quite possibly the summer’s most delicious and Instagram-worthy cocktail: “frosé”—rosé sorbet and sparkling rosé topped with a skewer of frozen berries.
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