The Best Rooftop Restaurants in NYC

summer dining is better on a rooftop . It might be the NYC skyline , it might be the altitude , or it might be the seven specs of frosé you waste : Eating anddrinking on a rooftopis like MSG for ambiance .

Sky - high and outdoors , on a rooftop , pack of cards , or in a syndicate , cocktail are colder , fresh Maine lobster rolls are chunkier , and ice ointment sundaes are sweet . And with the sunshine ’s amber hue dismount your face , and the warm air in your hair’s-breadth , you might even be a little best look . Prepare to wanton at NYC ’s greatest rooftop restaurants .

Alma

You come to Alma for the rooftop views , and you stay because two long , narrow flights and an even longer walk back to the nearest subway after a pitcherful of margaritas are hazardous attempt . House - made fervid hot sauce is funneled into Corona bottle and tastes a little unlike with each pot ; fajitas come sizzling with charred veggies and marinated Angus skirt steak ; and the moleanythingis utterly addictive . This is the sorting of place you ’d fare to corrode ( and drink ) even if it were n’t rooftop - posit .

Bia

Bia is the rooftop you ’ve been looking for . fold into South Williamsburg , far from the foot dealings streaming from the Bedford L , the place is rarely crowd together . The inside is faint and industrial – divier than a typical Vietnamese eatery – with wooden snap tabular array and scattered chairs on an unassuming rooftop deck . While food is nottechnicallyallowed on the roof , people have been known to sneak some up .

Penthouse 808

Atop the Ravel Hotel , Penthouse 808 boasts sweeping views of the Queensboro Bridge ( take that , Williamsburg ) . The kitchen sling a lovesome - weather condition appropriate light bite of the salad and sashimi variety . Opt for forte household rolls ( think tunny , yellowtail , coconut , mango , and jalapeño ) , or the sticky porc abdomen rib . The shiny - dress set will enjoy club vibes and ice cold lychee martini .

Gallow Green

The McKittrick Hotel has plenty of prominent offerings beyond its signature synergistic theater production , Sleep No More . Its rooftop restaurant and garden , Gallow Green , is just as dramatic . The office is like an enchanted woods , encased in greenery and soft tea light . Pizzas make it top with burrata and cherrystone clam clams , grilled octopus is served in a pool of romesco sauce , and the crispy handwriting - rationalise French fries are among the city ’s all right .

Azul at Hotel Hugo

Hotel Hugo ’s Azul is a little cut of Old Havana , land - locked in SoHo . vivacious colour and palm tree fronds physical body community table and plush sofa , all situated on the receiving end of that perfumed Hudson River breeze . Frozen cocktail machines whir while brunch guests feast on Cubano breakfast sandwiches load with ham , egg , and Swiss , or marinated roast pork and scramble bollock taco . Stick around until Sunday eventide for Cuban bandGrupo Irék ’s hebdomadary execution .

Serra by Birreria

This summer haven by Eataly is the near you ’ll get to the Italian countryside on this side of the Atlantic . Fourteen flights up , Serra is lined with light oak tables and hanging industrial plant . Helmed by executive chef Tom Bohan , the menu promises farm bracing cup of tea like fried fleeceable tomatoes in ramp aioli and Creekstone pork shoulder with deep-fried rosemary . wait plate as colorful as Mario Batali ’s prison jumpsuit .

Mr. Purple

Mr. Purple ’s rooftop is about as chic as any spot visited bySVU ’s Detective Olivia Benson after a Centennial State - ed meets her untimely end . A pool sits between plush deck chairwoman , and lift tables and low couches fill out the space . There ’s an enclosed area for poor weather ( sometimes you take a wintertime Elvis of rooftop , too ) , and the kitchen pumps out food for thought all twenty-four hours . commence with brunch ( you ’ll require the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and the Balthazar pastry basketful ) or halt by late dark for a prosciutto flatbread and a humous disc . Or rather , come ahead of time , and rest all day . No snitches .

Refinery Rooftop

It ’s not so easy to negotiate a misstep to Midtown , but Refinery Rooftop is worth the trek . Will there be bros in courting ? Yes . Will the solid food be good enough to justify the bunch ? We think so . exact a mesa , order a trade cocktail from a skilled , flashy bartender , and settle in for a flatbread with roast mushroom , fennel sausage , and burrata . Snacks shine , too – think Maine lobster tots , grilled octopus skewers , and the once omnipresent , still delicious truffle fries .

Northern Territory

This Australian rooftop spot begin intellectual nourishment help at 5 pm and boasts beautiful Manhattan apparent horizon views – especially at twilight . Of coursethere ’s avocado toast on the lowly bites menu , along with an Aussie meat Proto-Indo European and a sausage and fries photographic plate . Heartier options include a sharable fish fry and an Aussie beef hamburger .

Hotel Chantelle

This rooftop was seemingly airlifted from the Left Bank and neglect on Ludlow Street . The floor is tiled black and bloodless , and vintage - style sinister lamppost straighten out the space after darkness . Dine on butternut squelch cavatelli with glace walnut and browned salvia butter , or stick with braise forgetful rib on a bed of creamy Parmesan polenta . Brussels sprouts are dip in apple cyder and served on the stalk , and if you ’re on a particular date , dispatch the fondue . It ’ll make anyone melt .

Westlight

Twenty - two stories over the luxe William Vale hotel , Westlight offer prize indoor and outdoor space . Inside , you ’ll dine in spite of appearance by candlelight at low - fend marble tables . Andrew Carmellini ’s computer menu is a ethnic melange of burgers , empanadas , tempura , and coconut palm tres leches bar . Outside , you ’ll bask unobstructed skyline views , cocktail in script .

Ample Hills

We are of the class that support Methedrine cream for dinner party . Named for a Walt Whitman poem , Ample Hills dishes out some of the city ’s tastiest , most effete ice ointment . try out the Nonna D ’s ( brownish dough cinnamon ice cream lace with hunk of Nonna ’s oatmeal cookie ) , or The Munchies ( pretzel - infused ice cream with clusters of Ritz cracker bonbon , potato chips , pretzels , and M&Ms ) , then take you hilly loving cup or cone up to the sunny roof pack of cards . Nothing tastes better than ice rink pick in the sun – especially with a peppering of that ol’ Gowanus aroma .

Graziella’s

Graziella ’s is a Clinton Hill secret . The minute , romantic Italian join is a neighborhood staple with one of the most idyllic rooftop din position in the city . String lights weave around lattice fences , and guest dine on classic Italian fare , overlook rows of the neighborhood ’s classic brownstone . The antipasti and the smart pastas are worth ordering , and the standout option is the made to order wood - fired pizza pie . Go white ( gorgonzola and grilled onion ) , red ( creamy burrata with love apple and sweet basil ) , or order your pizza pie in calzone form – and do n’t you dare request any substitutions .

Juliette

If you ’re look to avoid the indefatigably rose hip Williamsburg romper crowd , Juliette is not your in effect bet . But this rooftop Gallic bistro is a local favorite in malice of its wealthy hipsters . The casual excerption of French regional and local high mallow is brilliant ; the crispy duck’s egg confit is as succulent and juicy as you ’d wait of any Seine - side French bistro ; and the strong apple tarte tatin is perfectly brown . The wine-colored is just as impressive as the food , and it all tastes that much better when deplete on a gay , broad terrace .

The rooftop at Penthouse808