Skip to content 
New York City rooftop bars capitalize on its stunning skyline views and offer some of the best drinks in the city. Even though the temperature slides down in the negative during winters, the rooftop bars in New York City are always packed and good fun.
Here is a list of my favorite rooftop bars in New York City that provide the best views, drinks, and ambiance:
Le Bain
Skyline View ˑ Swimming Pool ˑ Indoor Heated Lounge ˑ Club | The Standard, High Line, 848 Washington St, New York
Le Bain is located on the roof of the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District. Le Bain provides exclusive views of the New York skyline along with some amazing cocktails. The first floor of Le Bain is a club/lounge area with a heated pool. People usually flock the club area during winters and late at night. The second floor or the roof area is where the magic happens. Overlooking the Hudson River, Jersey City, and NYC Downtown skyline, the roof is an open area where you can spend hours at length without realizing it. It is very common for people to sit down on the turf for the evening as the sun sets on the Jersey side of the Hudson River.
I would highly recommend going to Le Bain for a sun-downer since the queues are a lot shorter and you can get in easily. Later at night, the queues can get really long (like really really long) and you could easily spend up to an hour waiting downstairs and then being declined.
Monarch Rooftop
Skyline View ˑ Indoor Heated Lounge ˑ Club | 71 W 35th St, New York
Monarch Rooftop in Midtown is one of the gems in New York City. It offers an indoor and outdoor lounge area where the indoor area is usually occupied for dancing late at night. The outdoor area gives you sweeping views of the Empire State Building since it’s right about the next block. I usually tell my friends who don’t want to spend money to get up the Empire State Building to visit Monarch. At least, you can enjoy a cocktail or two at the same price. The DJ is really amazing and the cocktails are worth the cost.
Monarch is one of the more famous Midtown rooftops, as such, there is usually a long queue downstairs at night while it’s usually quieter during the evening. However, Monarch is worth the wait at night.
Mr. Purple
Indoor Heated ˑ Lounge ˑ Club | 180 Orchard St 15th floor, New York
Mr. Purple is an amazing rooftop and one of my favorites in Lower East Side. They have a really good selection of drinks and food. The indoor area is pretty chill and great for a larger group. The outdoor area is more casual and usually packed. They also have a rooftop pool, which is only open to hotel guests.
Mr. Purple is also really good for brunch, unlike other rooftops which usually open in the evening. Since Mr. Purple is really well-known expect long wait times. I would definitely encourage reservations in advance.
Gallow Green
Heated ˑ Rooftop Garden | 542 W 27th St, New York
Gallow Green is a rooftop lounge on top of the McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea. During summer, Gallow Green is a rooftop garden with amazing summer cocktails and punch bowls. When winter arrives, they convert Gallow Green in something called ‘the Lodge’ which is a winter cabin serving winter-based cocktails. Out of both the themes, I personally like the winter cabin.
Though you don’t get amazing skyline views, the cocktails in Gallow Green are really amazing and make it a fun evening with friends and family. Gallow Green is one of the quieter spots in this list, as such, don’t expect loud music or dancing. Aey, not that I am complaining!
Pro tip: If you’re in the Chelsea area, visit Sleep No More before coming to Gallow Green. Totally worth it!
Press Lounge
Indoor Heated Lounge ˑ Skyline View | 653 11th Ave, New York
Press Lounge is an upscale rooftop in the Hell’s Kitchen area providing a scenic view of the New York City skyline on one side and the Hudson River on the other. This is a perfect date spot especially during summer as the winds from the river make the atmosphere super chill.
I really enjoy the service at the Press Lounge especially the blankets provided during fall. The cocktails are on the expensive side.
Honorary mentions
There are so many rooftops in New York City that it would be impossible to cover all of them in one post (or 100 posts for that matter). But here are a few other rooftop bars in New York City that I enjoy in a Google Maps list linked below-
A few things to remember
- Rooftop Bars in New York City are a big thing – be prepared for the wait
- Dress nicely – please avoid flip flops at all costs. Some places might allow you in shorts during summer if you’re visiting them in the evening. But at night, it’s a strict no!
- Why is the 230 Fifth Rooftop bar not here? No locals go to the 230 Fifth. It’s a tourist trap with expensive cover and mediocre drinks. It provides some good views and music is good but again there are a lot of rooftop bars in New York City that will provide you the same
- Drinks will be somewhat expensive if you compare them to other cities
There you have it. Those are my personal favorite Rooftop Bars in New York City.
