When in New York City, I know you want to see some incredible views. The best way to see the city is from up above, but this doesn’t have to be from the Empire State Building or Edge! Guess what? There are hundreds of rooftop bars around NYC, and here are a few I found while living there this fall.

1. 230 5th Rooftop

This popular restaurant also has a rooftop bar that serves food and drinks until the late hours. You can chose to stand, sit, or be waited on if you’re ordering food. The bar is extensive with great cocktails and, of course, incredible views. I ordered the nachos to share with a friend and they were good-as to be expected for a plate of chips and cheese!

Luckily, there are heat lamps and, surprisingly, bright red robes for customers to wear when it starts to get chilly. And we took advantage! In the winter months, the igloos go up. You can reserve these for groups or show up as a walk-in and see if you get a spot. They also have some cute photo op spots with neon signs, swings, and festive decorations. The backdrop? New York City baby! This is the closest I’ve been to the Empire State Building from a rooftop.

2. Panorama Room

If you’re ok taking the tram from E 59th St to Roosevelt Island, this is one you should not miss! The ride over is beautiful in itself, and costs the usual $2.90 each way with tap or metro card access. At the top of the Graduate Hotel, this bar is beautiful and has some of the best views of the entire city. Plus, because it is on Roosevelt Island, you see both sides of the river which makes for some amazing photo ops. The drinks and the food are both great here! Highly recommend a visit!

3. Refinery

In October, a friend and I decided to buy tickets to Refinery’s Halloween party with an open bar and appetizers. It was so worth it! The space has an indoor/outdoor setup, so it would be good for any weather. I haven’t been there on a normal day, but it has the views and the booze! They went all out with their Halloween decorations, and even had performers. The theme was around the Mad Hatter, so there were acrobats and dancers. It was really impressive and entertaining. As you can see, the Empire State Building was the main backdrop of the city views here! Another great find.

4. Elsie Rooftop

This bar comes in 4th because my friends and I spent New Years Eve here and it was so amazing! The views are really cool, obvious you can see the Time’s Square ball drop. And there are even views in the back with a sign and the Empire State Building. We had an amazing time here for NYE, the food was good and we had bottle service, which made the night that much more fun. During a normal night, I’m not sure if they have a DJ, but we did for New Years and it was so much fun dancing the night away!

5. Mr. Purple

I really liked this place in the cooler months, but if you go to their website, you can see how much fun it would be in the summer when it’s hot out! The drinks here were good and the views were even better! Since it is further south in Manhattan on the Lower East Side, the views are further back from mid-town, but I like to switch it up and see the city from different angles. We went on a random weeknight and it was so chill. Definitely stop in for a drink or a bite to eat.

6. Ophelia Lounge

This bar was a little off the beaten path (if there is such a thing in NYC). The nice thing about that was that it was closer to my apartment. I really liked the vibe of this place, but it is rather small, so it might not be the worst idea to get a reservation. We managed to grab a couple of seats at the bar, which was great! There is a small balcony that you can go outside to, otherwise it is indoors with incredible views if you get a table. The bar is more on the inside, so you don’t see the views as much. The drinks here were delicious!

7. Darling Rooftop

This is one you’ve probably heard of. It’s in the Park Lane Hotel next to The Plaza – both incredible hotels in NYC right by Central Park north. The park and, of course, being on the 47th floor of this hotel make the views here some of the best I’ve seen in New York. However, location, location, location. You will spend over $20 on a cocktail here. The food was good, but they’re pretty small portions for what you pay. I’d definitely recommend coming here for a drink, enjoying the view, and then going to the next place.

That’s all for now, although I may update/add to this list! Have you been to any of these bars? Where did I miss? I’m constantly adding places to my list and I’d be happy to add your recommendations! Want to see more posts on things to do in and around NYC? Check out the US travel link on the top of the page to find what you’re looking for.

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