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9 Impressive NYC Hotel Rooftops to Visit Year-Round
No matter the season, New York City’s hotel rooftops are some of the best spots to soak in your surroundings. Check out the city skyline, enjoy inventive cocktails and snacks and maybe even take a dip in a heated pool at these nice gravity-defying bars and hangouts. Whether you’re a longtime local or a first-time visitor, these rooftops are not to be missed.
Courtesy, Castell Rooftop
AC Hotel New York Times Square
AC Hotel was founded in Madrid, Spain, by brand visionary Antonio Catalán. At its rooftop bar, Castell, you can enjoy classic NYC cocktails like martinis and Manhattans right in Times Square. Take in the lights and sounds of the City on the outdoor terrace among greenery-filled archways while you sip an Aperol spritz or warm up around the indoor fireplace and granite bar. With wood plank flooring and sleek, contemporary seating plus unforgettable views, the rooftop is ideal to visit any time of year.
Photo: Noah Fecks
Aliz Hotel Times Square
One of Manhattan’s best cocktail bars has set up shop on the 40th and 41st floors of this stylish boutique hotel. Dear Irving on Hudson is an offshoot of the deservedly famous Dear Irving cocktail bar in Gramercy. With 360-degree views and inventive craft cocktails, it’s a must-visit for those in search of a unique hotel bar experience. The decor is stylish and sumptuous, with jewel-toned velvet couches, mod chandeliers and an Instagram-worthy Mad Men vibe.
Courtesy, Versa Rooftop
Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
Versa, atop the stylish Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel, fittingly in the Garment District, has a retractable roof so you can feel you’re in a garden conservatory no matter the season. They offer a full menu of New American dishes for lunch and dinner. Dine on a wide variety of classic NYC fare while sipping a selection of craft cocktails, wine, beer or seltzer. The space overlooks Madison Square Garden.
Photo: K Tamburella
Ink 48 Hotel
Ink 48’s Press Lounge—the “ink” part of its name recalls the hotel’s former life as a theatrical printing press in the 1930s—is one of Hell’s Kitchen’s coolest bars, offering a lush green outdoor space. Spend an evening drinking and dining near the reflecting pools and fireplaces on the sprawling terrace and take in views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River. The seasonal craft cocktails and light bites are made with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients courtesy of the lounge’s full-time forager who works with farms and local suppliers, both for the Print Restaurant onsite and the Press Lounge.
Chase Daniels
Arlo Midtown
Atop modern boutique hotel Arlo Midtown—the hotel group’s third micro-hotel in NYC—The Rooftop at Nearly Ninth is an ideal sanctuary above the bustling City. Situated on 38th Street right between Times Square and Hudson Yards, the outdoor rooftop lounge is named for its proximity to Ninth Avenue. Take a seat at the modern wooden banquettes or tables and enjoy light bites like charcuterie and crudité, and drinks from their extensive menu, including natural wines, craft beer and innovative cocktails.
David Mitchell
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC
After a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Gansevoort Meatpacking has become one of downtown Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels. With 360-degree views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline, the chic rooftop bar and lounge is filled with plant life, and offers plenty of seating including wraparound couches. There is a heated pool, open until 9pm, and guests can order drinks and food poolside. The bar—open to the public—serves inventive cocktails and farm-fresh dishes inspired by the Union Square Greenmarket.
Courtesy, Moxy East Village
Moxy East Village
Designed by the Rockwell Group, the chic rooftop at the Moxy East Village pays homage to the neighborhood's artist vibe with eclectic decor and a bar built from colorful milk crates. A retractable roof creates a year-round oasis filled with plants and strung with Edison bulbs, making you feel like you’re at a garden party thrown by the chicest person you know. Tacos and other bar snacks accompany frozen cocktails, local beers and other boozy treats.
Steve Freihon
Graduate Roosevelt Island
As the only hotel on Roosevelt Island—the skinny stretch of land in the East River between Manhattan and Queens—the Graduate has a rooftop with views of the City that you can’t find anywhere else. Take the Roosevelt tram from Manhattan to experience the Panorama Room, an indoor-outdoor bar and lounge that’s a throwback to the ’70s with a distinct Studio 54 vibe: berry-colored velvet couches, glass and chrome tables, and glittering views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
Courtesy, TWA Hotel
The TWA Hotel
Quite possibly the most stylish airport hotel in the world, the TWA Hotel surprises guests and visitors with incredible architecture and unique experiences. Watch planes take off from JFK Airport while you relax in the heated rooftop pool or grab lunch at the Pool Bar and observation deck. Open daily from 11am to 11pm, the Pool Bar serves specialty cocktails, beer and wine. The food menu includes snacks like crudités and hummus alongside sliders, flatbreads and nachos. While you’re there, don’t miss Connie, the 1958 airplane that’s been converted into a mid-century cocktail lounge.
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