With a population of more than eight million, real estate is a precious commodity in New York City. Every square metre has been put to good use – which is why rooftops are venues for every activity from sipping cocktails to yoga classes.
Here are 12 amazing things you can do while enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the Big Apple:
First things first. The No. 1 thing to do on an NYC rooftop is drink cocktails – and 230 Fifth is the best place to do so. This vast midtown bar has plenty of seats, generous opening hours and, most importantly, a tempting cocktail list, making it the perfect spot for happy hour.
When it comes to yoga, there’s nothing quite like saluting the actual sun as it sets over Manhattan, so Yo Yoga!, on the cusp of the Upper East Side, is the place to go. It offers both morning and evening classes on its private rooftop, so you can do the downward-facing dog, with the wind in your hair, to your heart’s content.
Outdoor cinemas are a summertime staple in many cities but, in NYC, you can take it a step further at Rooftop Cinema Club. It offers a range of classic films – from Roman Holiday to Pulp Fiction – at two rooftop locations (Yotel in Manhattan and Bushwick in Brooklyn).
After a day of retail therapy at the flagship Bloomingdale’s store in Midtown, head to the rooftop for a delicious lunch with a difference. Perched high above the city, Le Train Bleu is a spectacular French bistro-style restaurant set in an antique train car – an amazing way to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.
A farm is probably the last thing you would expect to find on a rooftop in the middle of a busy city – but never say never. Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint is three storeys up in the air and bursting with plants, vegetables and flowers. It’s open to the public on the last Sunday of the month from May to October.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art features on many tourist agendas – but don’t forget to pop up to the rooftop garden where you can enjoy glorious views of Central Park and see specially commissioned artworks, such as the Psychobarn (by artist Cornelia Parker) that is on display there till the end of October.
Get a taste of the Italian Riviera this summer at Sabbia, a fabulous pop-up restaurant in Flatiron. Order a plate of fritto misto (fried seafood) and a carafe of Sorrento Spritz, kick back in a cabana and pretend you’re sunning yourself on the Amalfi Coast.
Most New York City rooftops afford decent views, but few really match up to the panoramic spectacle offered by The Ides, a chic bar at the top of Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. Sunset is undoubtedly the best time to visit this hotspot, which is perched on the edge of the East River and has pretty much unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline.
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If a rooftop farm is unexpected, then a rooftop winery is really going to blow your socks off. But that’s exactly what you’ll find at Rooftop Reds, a charming boutique vineyard located on the top of Brooklyn Navy Yard. The tasting room is open from Wednesday to Sunday throughout the summer months.
Ice cream and rooftops are an excellent combination – and surprisingly rare in NYC. Luckily, Ample Hills Creamery has you covered. Here, you can work your way through a cone filled with one of its delicious ice-cream flavours, such as butter pecan brittle, and enjoy views of Brooklyn.
There’s nothing quite like having a boogie on a rooftop right in the midst of all the action in the Big Apple, and Upstairs at The Kimberly hotel in Midtown is the place to go for this. Its rooftop bar is buzzing on Friday and Saturday nights, and its pop-heavy playlists will be sure to get you shaking your thing.
For a truly memorable NYC experience, book a ticket to Sleep No More, an immersive-theatre performance by Punchdrunk at The McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea. But get there early and head to Gallow Green, a rooftop garden bar on top of the building, for a glass of rose and yummy little plates of food, such as crispy suckling pig and grilled asparagus.
An adapted version of this appeared in Silverkris.
Like this? Here’s how to enjoy New York City like a local.
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- bars
- new york city
- rooftop bars
- travel
- yoga