The 8 Best Rooftop Pools In NYC
June 15, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
Here, we've rounded up our favorite rooftop pools in the city.
Though our beaches and public pools provide ample opportunity to cool off in the summer, sometimes a person tires of the lines at Ripper's and screaming children at the McCarren Park Pool. The bad news is, some of the best places to post up poolside in this town are atop hotels, and if you're not a guest or exclusive SoHo House member, you might have trouble getting in. The good news is, some of these lofted oases offer day passes or parties for non-fancy people, so you can enjoy a margarita, a dip, and a 360-degree view of Manhattan even if you're not a traveler with a hefty bank account. Here, we've rounded up our favorite more easily accessible rooftop pools in the city; as always, leave yours in the comments.
JIMMY AT THE JAMES: This SoHo hotel's seasonal rooftop pool is only open to guests during the week, but starting at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays plebeians can enjoy their cover-free Jimmy Pool Party, complete with DJs and a cash bar. The pool's not particularly big, but it does come with a stellar view of both Midtown and 1 WTC, and big parties can reserve lounges (for a fee) if you're looking to kick your sunning and drinking up a notch.
Jimmy at the James Hotel is located at 15 Thompson Street between Grand Street and 6th Avenue in SoHo. (212-465-2000, jameshotels.com/new-york)
VALE POOL AT THE WILLIAM VALE HOTEL: Not only does this new-ish Williamsburg hotel boast one of the best rooftop bars in the city (with the best view!), this summer it debuted its spectacular 60-foot rooftop pool. And, yes, that baby's also blessed with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, which you can pair with bites and cocktails served poolside. Non-guests can book day passes for a chance to enjoy this bliss—a weekend lounge chair runs $45, with pergolas, daybeds and cabanas available for a higher fee if you plan to go with a group, and weekday passes are a little cheaper if you've carved out a staycation. Do note, though, that the pool's booking up fast, so it's a good idea to reserve your space now if you can.
The William Vale Hotel is located at 111 North 12th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-631-8400, thewilliamvale.com).
MR. PURPLE AT HOTEL INDIGO: This Lower East Side bar has earned its stripes among fans of elevated drinking in its short lifespan, and it turns out its pool isn't just for Instagram. Though the bar is only offering day passes for groups on select dates this summer, if you've got extra cash and a gang of friends, you can book a table and stage your own pool takeover. (The hotel was unable to confirm the price when we called.)
Hotel Indigo is located at 171 Ludlow Street between Houston and Stanton Streets on the Lower East Side (212-237-1776, ihg.com).
PLUNGE AT THE GANSEVOORT MEATPACKING HOTEL: It costs some serious bucks to take a dip at this 45-foot heated rooftop pool—the Gansevoort's coveted "Play Hooky" deal costs $200 for a day pass, which is considerably more than you'll spend at the Astoria Park Pool. That deal, which is also valid at the Gansevoort's Park Avenue hotel, runs Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes amenities like a bottle of Fiji water, a drink voucher from the bar, and a complimentary copy of the NY Post to peruse while you lounge. Plus, a pool!
Gansevoort Meatpacking Pool is located at 18 9th Avenue between W. 13th Street and Little W. 12th Street in the Meatpacking District. (212-206-6700, gansevoorthotelgroup.com).
LA PISCINE AT HOTEL AMERICANO: It's only $40 for non-guests to pay a visit to this lovely Chelsea rooftop pool from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week, making it a welcome alternative to some of the city's pricier elevated swimming holes. Even better, it's free from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily, but like all free things, you might have to spend a chunk of time on line beforehand. Once you're in, though, visitors can lounge in daybeds, take in 11-story views of Manhattan and the Hudson River, and sample Mexican fare and margaritas between dips.
La Piscine at Hotel Americano is located at 518 West 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues in Chelsea (212-525-0000, hotel-americano.com).
SIXTY LES Hotel: The bad news about this LES hotspot is that the pool isn't typically open to non-guests. The good news is, the hotel does play host to a number of pool parties over the summer, some of which are free (and might come with free beer), which you can find by signing up for online event services like pulsd. If and when you do manage to get in, be sure to scope out the Andy Warhol film strip printed on the pool's bottom; it's a real trip.
SIXTY LES is located at 190 Allen Street between 1st Avenue and Stanton Street on the Lower East Side (212-460-5300, sixtyhotels.com).
THE BEACH AT THE DREAM DOWNTOWN: This sweet little oasis in the heart of Chelsea offers $65 day passes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, which is a pretty good deal for anyone privy to those Summer Fridays I hear so much about. And you're even luckier if you've got Mondays off—the pool fills up fast, though the $16 cucumber smashes are worth shoving bodies out of the way for.
The Dream Downtown is located at 355 West 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues in Chelsea (212-229-2559, dreamhotels.com/downtown).
MCCARREN HOTEL & POOL: The McCarren Hotel's popular pool isn't technically on the roof, though it's both elevated and excellent enough to warrant inclusion on this list. A weekend day pass to the pool runs $65, and that rate goes down to $55 Mondays through Thursdays, with non-guest swim hours stretching from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Though the pool and its surrounding area are quite large, it does fill up quickly with hip Williamsburg visitors and residents, so it's best to grab your chicest swimsuit and get here early.
The McCarren Hotel & Pool is located at 160 North 12th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-218-7500, mccarrenhotel.com)