Five Freshly-Opened Roof Bars To Defy The Rain & Rapture

<strong>Above 6:</strong> The hotel Six Columbus in Columbus Circle is run by <a href="http://www.thompsonhotels.com/">the same hotel group</a> that does the Thompson LES, so naturally they're not going to let a good roof go to waste. Above 6 just opened a couple of weeks ago; it's operating under the auspices of Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill. As you can see, the views are spectacular and the atmosphere is swish. Cocktails range from $8 on the low end to $13, and include such options as the Hummingbird, (Avinyo Cava, St. Germain, Club Soda, and Yama Momo), reinventions of old standards such as the Siberian Sunrise (Zyr Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, and fresh lime juice), and a selection of sakes, wines, and spirits.<br/><br/><em>6 Columbus Circle, (212) 204-3000, 5 p.m. - 2 a.m., Tuesday - Saturday</em>
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Above 6: The hotel Six Columbus in Columbus Circle is run by the same hotel group that does the Thompson LES, so naturally they're not going to let a good roof go to waste. Above 6 just opened a couple of weeks ago; it's operating under the auspices of Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill. As you can see, the views are spectacular and the atmosphere is swish. Cocktails range from $8 on the low end to $13, and include such options as the Hummingbird, (Avinyo Cava, St. Germain, Club Soda, and Yama Momo), reinventions of old standards such as the Siberian Sunrise (Zyr Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, and fresh lime juice), and a selection of sakes, wines, and spirits.6 Columbus Circle, (212) 204-3000, 5 p.m. - 2 a.m., Tuesday - Saturday
Gothamist

<strong>Le Bain:</strong> This <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/06/24/first_underlit_look_at_the_standard.php#photo-1">spectacular rooftop lounge</a> opened at the top of our <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/01/13/the_standard.php">beloved Standard hotel</a> last June, and a week ago reopened for the season. If you ever want to wow a friend visiting from the provinces and/or drunkenly mack on some models, this is the place. We stopped by on opening night and strolled in with no problems at the door, but it's our understanding that weekend nights can be tough, so roll up early to make sure you get in. One floor under the roof you'll find a big cacophonous black tiled bar with a small pool where models will swim topless the moment you leave. And across the hall, maddeningly out of reach, the impenetrable holy of holies: The lounge formerly known as <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/03/11/robin_standefer_and_stephen_alesch.php?gallery0Pic=1#gallery">The Boom Boom Room</a>, which is just so overwhelmingly seductive it would give a eunich wood. <br/><br/><em> 848 Washington Street; 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and 2 p.m. â 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday</em>
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Le Bain: This spectacular rooftop lounge opened at the top of our beloved Standard hotel last June, and a week ago reopened for the season. If you ever want to wow a friend visiting from the provinces and/or drunkenly mack on some models, this is the place. We stopped by on opening night and strolled in with no problems at the door, but it's our understanding that weekend nights can be tough, so roll up early to make sure you get in. One floor under the roof you'll find a big cacophonous black tiled bar with a small pool where models will swim topless the moment you leave. And across the hall, maddeningly out of reach, the impenetrable holy of holies: The lounge formerly known as The Boom Boom Room, which is just so overwhelmingly seductive it would give a eunich wood. 848 Washington Street; 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and 2 p.m. â 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday
Gothamist

<strong>Upstairs at The Kimberly:</strong> This stunning lounge opened at the tail end of last summer on the 30th floor of the Kimberly Hotel. There are three bars in this joint, which wraps around several sides of the hotel, and sports a fully retractable roof and heated floor to keep you comfortable when the inevitable monsoon sweeps through. The views of the Chrysler building and city skyline are boffo, and the furnishings are elegant sexy-Gothic, with black leather armchairs, ivy walls, a blue marble bar, and strings of incandescent bulbs. But this place is not for those with a fear of high prices: cocktails are in the $18 rage. They are very good cocktails, but still, brace for impact. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/09/14/eat_cetera_22.php#photo-2">The food is less cost-prohibitive</a> and tastier than you might expect. <br/><br/><em>145 East 50th Street, 212-702-1600, Monday - Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday until 3:30 a.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.</em>
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Upstairs at The Kimberly: This stunning lounge opened at the tail end of last summer on the 30th floor of the Kimberly Hotel. There are three bars in this joint, which wraps around several sides of the hotel, and sports a fully retractable roof and heated floor to keep you comfortable when the inevitable monsoon sweeps through. The views of the Chrysler building and city skyline are boffo, and the furnishings are elegant sexy-Gothic, with black leather armchairs, ivy walls, a blue marble bar, and strings of incandescent bulbs. But this place is not for those with a fear of high prices: cocktails are in the $18 rage. They are very good cocktails, but still, brace for impact. The food is less cost-prohibitive and tastier than you might expect. 145 East 50th Street, 212-702-1600, Monday - Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday until 3:30 a.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Gothamist

<strong>Bar dâEau: </strong>Located on a roof at the <a href="http://www.trumpsohohotel.com/">Trump Soho</a>, this big sexy rooftop bar just opened for the season this week. Again, it's the kind of place where the cocktails run upwards of $12, but you're paying for the real estateâand the tantalizing pool, which is only open to hotel guests. Signature cocktails include the Spicy Margarita, which is made with red peppers "for a hot night out," and the Bramble gin cocktail, made with berry jam. They also serve upscale comfort food snacks, such as truffle butter popcorn, and coconut panna cotta with passion fruit and basil seeds. But if you eat, you have to wait an hour before going swimming (and getting thrown out by security). <br/><br/><em>246 Spring Street, (877) 828-7080, open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, closing at 9:30 pm on Sundays. </em>
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Bar dâEau: Located on a roof at the Trump Soho, this big sexy rooftop bar just opened for the season this week. Again, it's the kind of place where the cocktails run upwards of $12, but you're paying for the real estateâand the tantalizing pool, which is only open to hotel guests. Signature cocktails include the Spicy Margarita, which is made with red peppers "for a hot night out," and the Bramble gin cocktail, made with berry jam. They also serve upscale comfort food snacks, such as truffle butter popcorn, and coconut panna cotta with passion fruit and basil seeds. But if you eat, you have to wait an hour before going swimming (and getting thrown out by security). 246 Spring Street, (877) 828-7080, open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, closing at 9:30 pm on Sundays.
Gothamist

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraclay/4447789476/"><em>Ultraclay's Flickr</em></a><br/><br/><strong>Me Bar:</strong> Here's less swank roof option to make up for all the bourgy ones we've included here. Located right under the chin of The Empire State Building on the roof of the budget La Quinta in, this festive roof bar features nice views, a diverse crowd, and reasonably priced drinks. There's no food at <a href="http://mebarnyc.com/">Me Bar</a>, but guests are encouraged to bring their own or order delivery from their selection of takeout menus. On Saturday they'll be c<a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/18/no_plans_for_judgement_day_5_places.php">elebrating the end of the world</a> ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank_God,_It%27s_Doomsday">wait for it... wait for it</a>..."), and the invitation from whoever is promoting the party reads, "The Rapture is supposed to start at 6 p.m. with an earthquake in EACH TIME ZONE. How exciting! Get to the roof at 5:30 so we can watch people fly into the sky."<br/><br/><em>17 West 32nd Street, (212) 290-2460</em>
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Ultraclay's FlickrMe Bar: Here's less swank roof option to make up for all the bourgy ones we've included here. Located right under the chin of The Empire State Building on the roof of the budget La Quinta in, this festive roof bar features nice views, a diverse crowd, and reasonably priced drinks. There's no food at Me Bar, but guests are encouraged to bring their own or order delivery from their selection of takeout menus. On Saturday they'll be celebrating the end of the world ("wait for it... wait for it..."), and the invitation from whoever is promoting the party reads, "The Rapture is supposed to start at 6 p.m. with an earthquake in EACH TIME ZONE. How exciting! Get to the roof at 5:30 so we can watch people fly into the sky."17 West 32nd Street, (212) 290-2460
Gothamist