The Best Rooftop Bars in NYC This Summer

It's rooftop season again. The second it's warm out, everyone's group chat turns into a rooftop-planning committee. Here's my actual list, the spots I keep going back to, not a press release.

Gallow Green — Chelsea

On top of the McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea. Ivy trellises, string lights, more secret garden than rooftop bar. Good for a date, gets loud later in the night. The small plates are solid enough to make a meal of it. Go early if you want a table.

Ivy-covered trellises and string lights at a garden-style rooftop bar in Chelsea

The Skylark — Midtown

Above 39th Street, and it still feels like a locals' spot despite being in the middle of Midtown. Big windows, low lighting, a solid view of the Empire State Building after dark. Drinks are creative, crowd skews a little older, less bachelorette-party energy than most rooftops this size.

Skyline view of the Empire State Building at dusk from a Midtown rooftop bar with low lighting

Roof at Park South — NoMad / Flatiron

My go-to when a group just wants to show up. On top of the Park South Hotel near Flatiron, tables are communal, and the view runs over the NoMad rooftops toward the Empire State Building. Pours are generous and the staff actually keeps up, even when it's packed.

Communal tables on a Flatiron district rooftop bar with the Empire State Building visible in the distance

Mr. Purple — Lower East Side

Take the elevator up to 15 from the Hotel Indigo lobby on Orchard Street and you get a near-360 view of the city. A Lower East Side staple at this point. There's a line on summer Fridays but it never feels as packed as you'd think once you're up there. There's a pool too, not for swimming, just for the look. Best at sunset, when the light hits the Williamsburg Bridge.

Nearly 360-degree rooftop view of the Lower East Side skyline and Williamsburg Bridge at sunset with a rooftop pool

230 Fifth — Flatiron

Yes it's a tourist magnet, but it's popular for a reason. It's the biggest rooftop in the city and the Empire State Building feels closer here than anywhere else. Gets crowded, drinks are average, but it's still the move if you've got out-of-towners and want the postcard shot. Get there before 7 for a seat outside.

Crowded outdoor rooftop terrace at 230 Fifth with the Empire State Building towering directly overhead

Westlight — Williamsburg

22nd floor of the William Vale in Williamsburg. Best Manhattan skyline view from the Brooklyn side, bridges lit up at night. Leans more lounge than bar, DJ set, moody lighting, better for a night out than a quick drink. Reserve ahead, walk-ins can mean a real wait.

Manhattan skyline view across the East River from a Williamsburg rooftop lounge at night

Bar SixtyFive — Rockefeller Center

Small, more of a proper bar than a sprawling rooftop, which is the appeal. Straight shot view down Fifth Avenue toward Central Park. Business-casual crowd, no flip-flops, but it's classic old-New York without trying too hard.

Intimate rooftop bar above Rockefeller Center with a straight view down Fifth Avenue toward Central Park

Planning Your Rooftop Summer

Most of these places have some version of a dress code, no athletic wear, no flip-flops. Reservations for the bigger names fill up days ahead on weekends. Weeknights are the better bet if you actually want to talk. And if a night up there has you eyeing apartments with a view like that year-round, that's basically half my job, more on that in my guide to rooftop terraces and private outdoor space in NYC real estate. Current listings are a good place to start.