Category: Local Spots (New York)
Featured Image: Empire Rooftop terrace
Ten NYC rooftop bars where daylight does the heavy lifting: from Empire State Building views to ocean air and Brooklyn skylines. We cover hours, prices, reservations, dress codes, pet policies, and the occasional reality check that “rooftop” sometimes means one sad table beside a heating unit. Bring sunglasses, not delusion.
Reading Time: 9 minutes: shorter than the argument over who gets the skyline-facing chair.
New York has enough rooftop bars to make every sidewalk feel like a personal failure. Some offer sprawling terraces, skyline panoramas, and enough sunlight to remind you that your apartment has windows for decorative purposes only. Others offer one outdoor table, a suspiciously powerful heat lamp, and a view of another building’s HVAC system.
This guide focuses on rooftops where the setting genuinely earns the word open-air. Hours, policies, and menus can change with weather, private events, or the mysterious seasonal logic of hospitality, so confirm details before heading out. If you’re searching for rooftop bars NYC, or typing “day drinking near me” while standing under a subway staircase, start here.
1. 230 Fifth Rooftop : NoMad
The giant of the genre, 230 Fifth offers indoor and outdoor spaces, Empire State Building views, multiple bars, food, DJs, and enough square footage to lose a friend without technically leaving the venue. It is less “quiet cocktail overlooking Manhattan” and more “the whole city has been invited,” which is occasionally exactly the assignment.
- Hours: Monday–Thursday, noon–1:30 a.m.; Friday, noon–2 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–2:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m.
- Price point: $$–$$$; cocktails, platters, and full meals are available.
- Reservations: Walk-ins are encouraged. Reservations are available for private rooms and larger gatherings.
- Dress code: Smart casual; relaxed during earlier service.
- Pets: No published regular-pet policy. Confirm directly; assume service animals only.
- Best for: Groups, skyline sightseeing, and people who believe a rooftop should contain more than six chairs.
2. Refinery Rooftop : Midtown
Refinery Rooftop has the rare ability to feel polished without acting like your sneakers have personally offended the maître d’. The Empire State Building view is the headline, but the retractable glass roof, outdoor terrace, warm wood, and substantial food menu make it useful when the weather decides to behave like New York.
- Hours: Monday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Tuesday–Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.–midnight; Thursday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
- Price point: $$–$$$; cocktails, shareable plates, burgers, pizzas, and entrées.
- Reservations: Highly suggested through the venue’s reservation system.
- Dress code: Casual chic comfort.
- Pets: No published pet policy. Call ahead; service animals are the safe assumption.
- Best for: A proper meal with skyline views, weather-flexible seating, and groups that need more than liquid calories.
3. The Empire Rooftop Bar : Upper West Side
Perched atop The Empire Hotel, this 8,000-square-foot rooftop brings sweeping views toward Lincoln Center and Central Park, plus two outdoor terraces, indoor seating, fireside warmth, and Art Deco drama. It is the rooftop equivalent of wearing a blazer to prove you have plans later.
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 2 p.m.–midnight or 1 a.m., depending on the day; Saturday, 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–midnight.
- Price point: $$$; upscale cocktails and rooftop dining.
- Reservations: Available through OpenTable. Seating reservations open one week in advance, and preferred areas are requests: not promises from the rooftop gods.
- Dress code: Smart casual.
- Pets: No published pet policy. Contact the hotel; assume service animals only.
- Best for: Central Park views, celebrations, and an escape from the Times Square gravitational field.
4. Magic Hour Rooftop Bar : Times Square
Magic Hour is built for people who want their cocktail accompanied by a skyline, a DJ, and the faint possibility of becoming content. Atop Moxy Times Square, the indoor-outdoor space looks toward the Empire State Building and stays lively without requiring a midnight arrival.
- Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 5 p.m.–midnight; Thursday, 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Friday, 5 p.m.–4 a.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–4 a.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–midnight.
- Price point: $$–$$$; happy hour includes $6 Estrella, $8 house wine, and $10 spritzes Monday–Friday, 5–6:30 p.m.
- Reservations: Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are recommended. Parties of 15 or more need a custom inquiry.
- Dress code: No formal code published; polished casual is the sensible move.
- Pets: No published policy. Confirm directly; do not assume the rooftop’s outdoor setting means dogs are welcome.
- Best for: Weekend social energy, playful cocktails, and a group that enjoys a little theatrical nonsense with its skyline.
5. Elsie Rooftop : Midtown
Elsie pays tribute to designer and socialite Elsie de Wolfe with a high-style setting, indoor and outdoor seating, seasonally focused food, and cocktails that arrive dressed better than most of us. Weekend service begins at 11 a.m., making it one of the stronger options for a leisurely rooftop session that is not built entirely around pancakes.
- Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday–Thursday, 5 p.m.–midnight; Friday, 5 p.m.–4 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–midnight.
- Price point: $$–$$$; cocktails and upscale light fare.
- Reservations: Recommended but not required. A communal bar area is available when tables are full.
- Dress code: No formal policy published; sophisticated, polished casual fits the room.
- Pets: No published policy. Confirm before bringing an animal; service animals are the safe assumption.
- Best for: Design lovers, weekend afternoons, and anyone who wants a rooftop with an actual point of view.
6. Westlight : Williamsburg
Westlight sits high above Williamsburg with broad Manhattan views, a serious cocktail program, small plates, and the kind of polished atmosphere that makes you sit up straighter without being asked. It is one of the best rooftop bars for a skyline-first outing, provided you understand that the prime seats are not waiting for your spontaneous personality.
- Hours: Monday–Thursday, 4 p.m.–midnight; Friday, 4 p.m.–1 a.m.; Saturday, noon–2 a.m.; Sunday, noon–midnight.
- Price point: $$$; cocktails generally run around $19–$25, with small plates roughly $12–$25.
- Reservations: Recommended, especially for weekends and sunset. Walk-ins depend on availability.
- Dress code: Smart casual; skip gymwear, beachwear, and flip-flops.
- Pets: No clearly published policy. Call ahead and assume service animals only.
- Best for: Brooklyn skyline views, elevated cocktails, and a more composed crowd.
7. Harriet’s Rooftop : Brooklyn Heights
Harriet’s delivers dramatic Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline views from 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. The setting is sleek, open, and very aware that it photographs well. It is also a luxury-hotel rooftop, so the bill may arrive with the confidence of a small utility payment.
- Hours: Monday–Thursday, noon–11 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Weather and seasonal changes may affect rooftop access.
- Price point: $$$; expect upscale cocktails, share plates, and possible minimum spends of roughly $100–$125 per person for select reservations.
- Reservations: Strongly recommended through the venue’s booking platform. Walk-ins may be possible, but prime tables are not a public service.
- Dress code: Smart casual; no beachwear or athleisure.
- Pets: No clear rooftop policy is published. Confirm with the hotel before bringing a pet.
- Best for: Brooklyn Bridge views, polished groups, and a special occasion that does not involve a private dining room.
8. The Rooftop at Pier 17 : Seaport
Pier 17 is not one single bar so much as a rooftop ecosystem with The Greens, R17, seasonal lawns, public areas, and ticketed concerts. The upside is variety. The downside is that you need to know which version of the rooftop you are actually visiting before putting on your “I have made a reservation” face.
- Hours: The rooftop is generally listed as open daily, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; individual concepts and events vary.
- Price point: $$–$$$; The Greens charges reservation fees of up to $40, separate from food and drinks. R17 examples include $22 hamachi crudo and a $32 short rib.
- Reservations: Required for The Greens’ mini lawns and recommended for dining. Concerts require tickets.
- Dress code: Casual and weather-ready; comfortable shoes are wise for events.
- Pets: Only trained, licensed, harnessed service or guide animals are permitted.
- Best for: Waterfront air, group setups, concerts, and people who enjoy logistics with their cocktails.
9. The Rooftop at The Rockaway Hotel : Rockaway Beach
This sixth-floor indoor-outdoor rooftop trades skyscraper density for ocean air, Jamaica Bay views, and a beach-adjacent atmosphere. It opens later than Manhattan’s lunch-friendly rooftops, but the setting feels genuinely different: which is useful when every other plan has somehow become “walk around and find a bar.”
- Hours: Typically Wednesday–Saturday from around 4 p.m. and Sunday from around 4 p.m.; exact hours shift seasonally and for private events.
- Price point: $$–$$$; small plates, craft cocktails, and light fare.
- Reservations: Accepted for indoor and outdoor tables. Walk-ins may use the bar or waitlist, but reserve on summer weekends.
- Dress code: Casual; beach-adjacent clothing works, though swimwear is better suited to the beach.
- Pets: Pets are not allowed; service animals are welcome.
- Best for: Ocean views, DJs, casual groups, and a rooftop outing that feels less like Midtown with an elevator.
10. The Skylark : Midtown
The Skylark is a 30th-floor cocktail lounge with views of the Empire State Building, Hudson Yards, and Times Square. It is not a lunch stop, and its public schedule is weekday-focused, but a 5 p.m. arrival still offers plenty of natural light in the right season. Consider it the late-afternoon specialist.
- Hours: Monday–Friday from 5 p.m.; commonly listed until midnight Monday–Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday–Friday. Closed to the public on weekends for private events.
- Price point: $$–$$$; cocktails generally run $16–$22, with small plates around $14–$30.
- Reservations: Recommended through OpenTable or the venue. Weekend access is generally for private events.
- Dress code: Smart or business casual.
- Pets: No published policy. Confirm directly; assume service animals only.
- Best for: Polished cocktails, elevated Midtown views, and a weekday escape from fluorescent lighting.
Rooftop Rules That Will Save Your Afternoon
Reserve for weekends, sunset windows, large groups, and anywhere advertising minimum spend. Walk-ins are more realistic at larger venues and during quieter hours, but “we’ll just see what happens” is how New Yorkers end up eating standing beside a bike rack.
Dress for the venue, not merely the weather. Outdoor seating does not erase a smart-casual policy, and flip-flops have started enough rooftop arguments already. Bring a light layer, sunglasses, and shoes capable of surviving stairs, elevators, and one unnecessarily long walk to the host stand.
Finally, confirm pet rules directly. Outdoor does not automatically mean dog-friendly, and most rooftops publish policies about as clearly as the MTA publishes platform logic. For more daytime events, local hangouts, and real-world plans beyond another group chat poll, browse the DayDrinking HQ events calendar.
The city has rooftops. The sun is available. Your apartment’s folding chair has had a good run.
