7 Best Rooftop Bars In NYC, For Your High-Altitude Drinking Pleasure

Le BainThe spectacular rooftop lounge above the Standard Hotel offers fine fake grass, incredible views, waterbeds, the Standard expensive drinks, not-very-hot hot tubs, crepes, and the chance to drunkenly fool yourself into thinking you might be able to score a model's number. You probably won't—but they've been known to take their clothes off. This roof is literally a panty-dropper. Getting up there at night can sometimes be tough, depending on how and when you roll up, but arrive during the afternoon and you'll practically have the whole roof to yourself. And please note that the roof bar at Le Bain hasn't opened for the season yet—that happens on May 25th, and it will be open at 2 p.m. daily.444 West 13th Street // 212-645-4646In the same vein: Try the less insane door at Ink48's Press Lounge. The views are even better.

<br/><strong><a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/20/defy_the_rain_rapture_on_these_fres.php#photo-2">Le Bain</a></strong><br/><br/>The <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/06/24/first_underlit_look_at_the_standard.php#photo-1">spectacular rooftop lounge</a> above <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/01/13/the_standard.php">the Standard Hotel</a> offers fine fake grass, incredible views, waterbeds, the Standard expensive drinks, not-very-hot hot tubs, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/06/02/new_restaurant_and_bar_openings_4.php#photo-4">crepes</a>, and the chance to drunkenly fool yourself into thinking you might be able to score a model's number. You probably won't—but they've been known to take their clothes off. This roof is literally a panty-dropper. <br/><br/>Getting up there at night can sometimes be tough, depending on how and when you roll up, but arrive during the afternoon and you'll practically have the whole roof to yourself. And please note that the roof bar at Le Bain hasn't opened for the season yet—that happens on May 25th, and it will be open at 2 p.m. daily.<br/><br/><em>444 West 13th Street // 212-645-4646</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> Try the less insane door at <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/04/22/six_rooftop_bars_for_you.php#photo-3">Ink48's Press Lounge</a>. The views are even better.<br/>

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Le BainThe spectacular rooftop lounge above the Standard Hotel offers fine fake grass, incredible views, waterbeds, the Standard expensive drinks, not-very-hot hot tubs, crepes, and the chance to drunkenly fool yourself into thinking you might be able to score a model's number. You probably won't—but they've been known to take their clothes off. This roof is literally a panty-dropper. Getting up there at night can sometimes be tough, depending on how and when you roll up, but arrive during the afternoon and you'll practically have the whole roof to yourself. And please note that the roof bar at Le Bain hasn't opened for the season yet—that happens on May 25th, and it will be open at 2 p.m. daily.444 West 13th Street // 212-645-4646In the same vein: Try the less insane door at Ink48's Press Lounge. The views are even better.

Gothamist

(Aman*Duh's flickr)Berry ParkWhatever we thought of this guy when it first opened, we've moved on. Not least because of that solid and affordable, German-tilting beer list [PDF]. Not to mention the fact that we never say no to a bratwurst with a view, which this joint has in spades. 4 Berry Street, Brooklyn; 718-782-2829In the same vein: Try Red Hook's Rocky Sullivan's for some similarly chill views.

<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlposse/3898068285/in/photostream/">Aman*Duh</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><br/><strong><a href="http://berryparkbk.com/">Berry Park</a></strong><br/><br/>Whatever we thought of this guy when it <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/08/20/new_restaurants_on_the_radar_tratto.php">first opened</a>, we've moved on. Not least because of that solid and affordable, German-tilting beer list [<a href="http://berryparkbk.com/pdf/menu.pdf">PDF</a>]. Not to mention the fact that we never say no to a bratwurst with a view, which this joint has in spades. <br/><br/><em>4 Berry Street, Brooklyn; 718-782-2829</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> Try Red Hook's <a href="http://rockysullivansredhook.com/">Rocky Sullivan's</a> for some similarly chill views. <br/>

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(Aman*Duh's flickr)Berry ParkWhatever we thought of this guy when it first opened, we've moved on. Not least because of that solid and affordable, German-tilting beer list [PDF]. Not to mention the fact that we never say no to a bratwurst with a view, which this joint has in spades. 4 Berry Street, Brooklyn; 718-782-2829In the same vein: Try Red Hook's Rocky Sullivan's for some similarly chill views.

Gothamist

Sky RoomThis not at all small bar above the Marriott Fairfield Inn on West 40th Street holds its own on the 33rd and 34th floors of the hotel with some pretty solid views of everything you'd expect, all spread out over a series of different terraces. You want cabanas? Done. Retractable roof? No problem. Views of Times Square? Sure thing. 330 West 40th Street // 212-380-1195In the same vein: Less massive, but no less classy, is the still fresh Upstairs at the Kimberly a bit uptown.

<br/><strong><a href="http://skyroomnyc.com/">Sky Room</a></strong><br/><br/>This not at all small bar above the Marriott Fairfield Inn on West 40th Street holds its own on the 33rd and 34th floors of the hotel with some pretty solid views of everything you'd expect, all spread out over a series of different terraces. You want cabanas? Done. Retractable roof? No problem. Views of Times Square? Sure thing. <br/><br/><em>330 West 40th Street // 212-380-1195</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> Less massive, but no less classy, is the still fresh <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/20/defy_the_rain_rapture_on_these_fres.php#photo-3">Upstairs at the Kimberly</a> a bit uptown. <br/>

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Sky RoomThis not at all small bar above the Marriott Fairfield Inn on West 40th Street holds its own on the 33rd and 34th floors of the hotel with some pretty solid views of everything you'd expect, all spread out over a series of different terraces. You want cabanas? Done. Retractable roof? No problem. Views of Times Square? Sure thing. 330 West 40th Street // 212-380-1195In the same vein: Less massive, but no less classy, is the still fresh Upstairs at the Kimberly a bit uptown.

Gothamist

(ultraclay's flickr)Night Of JoyWho needs skyscrapers when this Williamsburg bi-level bar's roof offers views of the BQE—which is, when you think about it, also a pretty impressive feat of engineering. The way one Gothamist staffer summed it up last year still holds true: "When I first went I was like 'this is like heaven!' and then I realized that only someone who lives in New York would feel that what essentially is a cement rooftop overlooking the BQE is heaven." Plus, the drinks downstairs are pretty darn solid.667 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn; 718-388-8693In the same vein: It has a very different vibe, sure, but The Delancey's view of the Williamsburg Bridge onramp has its charms.

<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraclay/4748337469/in/photostream/">ultraclay</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><br/><strong><a href="http://nightofjoybar.com/">Night Of Joy</a></strong><br/><br/>Who needs skyscrapers when this Williamsburg bi-level bar's roof offers views of the BQE—which is, when you think about it, also a pretty impressive feat of engineering. The way one Gothamist staffer summed it up <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/04/22/six_rooftop_bars_for_you.php#photo-5">last year</a> still holds true: "When I first went I was like 'this is like heaven!' and then I realized that only someone who lives in New York would feel that what essentially is a cement rooftop overlooking the BQE is heaven." Plus, the drinks downstairs are pretty darn solid.<br/><br/><em>667 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn; 718-388-8693</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> It has a very different vibe, sure, but <a href="http://thedelancey.com/">The Delancey</a>'s view of the Williamsburg Bridge onramp has its charms. <br/>

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(ultraclay's flickr)Night Of JoyWho needs skyscrapers when this Williamsburg bi-level bar's roof offers views of the BQE—which is, when you think about it, also a pretty impressive feat of engineering. The way one Gothamist staffer summed it up last year still holds true: "When I first went I was like 'this is like heaven!' and then I realized that only someone who lives in New York would feel that what essentially is a cement rooftop overlooking the BQE is heaven." Plus, the drinks downstairs are pretty darn solid.667 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn; 718-388-8693In the same vein: It has a very different vibe, sure, but The Delancey's view of the Williamsburg Bridge onramp has its charms.

Gothamist

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(ultraclay's flickr)

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ultraclay's flickr

La Piscine If you want to turn your rooftop bar into a scene all you gotta do is add a pool. Just ask the Gansevoort. To that end, we've got hopes for this new addition to the scene located above the Hotel Americano in Chelsea. Yeah, the pool is small—but you weren't really going to go swimming anyway. And the views of the western Manhattan skyline are sweet.518 West 27 Street // 212-525-0000In the same vein: Oh, there are a few (see, either Gansevoort). But why not start with the less widely known Bar d'Eau?

<br/><strong><a href="http://gothamist.com/2012/05/01/luxe_new_rooftop_pool_bar_la_piscin.php#photo-1">La Piscine</a></strong> <br/><br/>If you want to turn your rooftop bar into a scene all you gotta do is add a pool. Just ask the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/08/11/a_peek_inside_the_new_gansevoort_pa.php#photo-5">Gansevoort</a>. To that end, we've got hopes for this new addition to the scene located above the Hotel Americano in Chelsea. Yeah, the pool is small—but you weren't <em>really</em> going to go swimming anyway. And the views of the western Manhattan skyline are sweet.<br/><br/><em>518 West 27 Street // 212-525-0000</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> Oh, there are a few (see, either Gansevoort). But why not start with the less widely known <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/20/defy_the_rain_rapture_on_these_fres.php#photo-4">Bar d'Eau</a>?<br/>

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La Piscine If you want to turn your rooftop bar into a scene all you gotta do is add a pool. Just ask the Gansevoort. To that end, we've got hopes for this new addition to the scene located above the Hotel Americano in Chelsea. Yeah, the pool is small—but you weren't really going to go swimming anyway. And the views of the western Manhattan skyline are sweet.518 West 27 Street // 212-525-0000In the same vein: Oh, there are a few (see, either Gansevoort). But why not start with the less widely known Bar d'Eau?

Gothamist

The Heights Bar & GrillOkay, so it isn't the highest rooftop bar in the land—not at all—but this entertaining Morningside Heights bar with a semi-retractable roof serves a mean margarita ($7-$12)—and doesn't require you to trek downtown or to the outer boroughs. And the food is pretty affordable, too.2867 Broadway // 212-866-7035In the same vein: For a different kind of college-area rooftop, try the NYU-y Bar 13.

<br/><strong><a href="http://www.theheightsnyc.com/">The Heights Bar &amp; Grill</a></strong><br/><br/>Okay, so it isn't the highest rooftop bar in the land—not at all—but this entertaining Morningside Heights bar with a semi-retractable roof serves a mean margarita ($7-$12)—and doesn't require you to trek downtown or to the outer boroughs. And the food is pretty affordable, too.<br/><br/><em>2867 Broadway // 212-866-7035</em><br/><br/><strong>In the same vein:</strong> For a different kind of college-area rooftop, try the NYU-y <a href="http://www.bar13.com/">Bar 13</a>.

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The Heights Bar & GrillOkay, so it isn't the highest rooftop bar in the land—not at all—but this entertaining Morningside Heights bar with a semi-retractable roof serves a mean margarita ($7-$12)—and doesn't require you to trek downtown or to the outer boroughs. And the food is pretty affordable, too.2867 Broadway // 212-866-7035In the same vein: For a different kind of college-area rooftop, try the NYU-y Bar 13.

Gothamist