The 5 Best Rooftop Bars in New York City

Can you guess what you’ll see from your poolside vantage point atop 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge? The sweeping vistas of Lower Manhattan from this AAA Four Diamond® property are postcard perfect, and the historic bridge’s Gothic arches never looked more impressive. The design of this hip, modern Brooklyn hotel unites high-tech minimalism with such earthy, ecologically savvy touches as rough stone, reclaimed wood and coarse, hand-knotted fibers. The result is beautiful, and the theme extends up to The 1 Rooftop, a perfect spot for a casual conversation over drinks.

You don’t need to wait for a balmy night to head up to Rare View Chelsea, the rooftop bar in the Hilton New York Fashion District, a AAA Three Diamond hotel. In summer, Rare View feels like a beachside cantina that just happens to overlook Midtown Manhattan. Guests visiting in winter can still enjoy the skyline beneath a retractable roof that keeps things warm and cozy. And no matter what time of year, featured DJs lift spirits even higher than Rare View’s 23rd-story dance floor.

Visit the AAA Four Diamond Hotel Hugo in summertime, and you’ll have two rooftop bars to choose from: indoor-outdoor Bar Hugo and the seasonal, Cuban-themed Azul on the Rooftop. Both offer amazing views of Lower Manhattan including One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. Arrive in the early evening and settle in beneath strings of festive lights to watch the sun set over the Hudson River.

Sip a cocktail beneath the spire of the Empire State Building atop this historic hat factory turned luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan’s Garment District. The rooftop lounge at AAA Four Diamond Refinery Hotel New York combines the brick and rough planks of an industrial loft with the inviting outdoor seating of a suburban patio. The not-run-of-the-mill drink menu features tasty selections with whimsical names like Rooftop Sparkler and Stormy Skies. And if you can’t make it for a late-night libation, head on up to the Refinery Rooftop for lunch.

Seeming to balance on stilts above Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, The William Vale, a AAA Four Diamond Hotel, looms like an anchored spaceship. Westlight, the swank rooftop bar on the 22nd floor, makes the most of its city views by keeping sightlines clear. They’ve even installed mounted binoculars to enhance your visual experience. Take in the nearly 360-degree perspective as you sample selections from the excellent cocktail list.