New York invented the rooftop bar. Other cities have higher buildings and warmer nights, but no skyline rewards a good view like Manhattan's — the Empire State Building lit up from 17 floors below, the Chrysler at dusk, the Hudson catching sunset, the bridges glowing across the East River. The best NYC rooftops aren't just bars with chairs on them. They're some of the best seats in the city.
The catch: NYC has more so-called "rooftops" than almost any city on earth, and many of them are mediocre hotel terraces hoping you won't notice the view is mostly the building next door. We've worked through every venue in our New York directory — 62 of them — and ranked the 12 that actually earn the trip up.
These picks are organized so you can choose by mood: iconic skyline views, romantic dinners, hidden cocktail bars, party rooftops, and the spots that are still worth it without burning a hundred-dollar bill.
01230 Fifth Rooftop Bar — the most famous rooftop in New York
NoMad · 1150 Broadway · Empire State view
If there's one rooftop everyone in NYC has been to, it's 230 Fifth. It sits directly across from the Empire State Building — and we mean directly: the Empire State takes up half your field of vision and looks close enough to touch. With nearly 25,000 Google reviews and a 4.3 rating, it's the most-reviewed rooftop in the city by a huge margin. The drinks are fine, the food is fine; you're not here for those. You're here for the view, and the view delivers like nothing else in Manhattan.
02Vintage Green Rooftop — the highest-rated rooftop in NYC
Murray Hill · 303 Lexington Ave · 16th floor
A 4.9 rating across 2,200+ reviews is exceptional for any NYC bar, let alone a rooftop. Vintage Green has quietly become one of the most loved rooftops in the city — it's plant-filled, intimate, and feels worlds away from the see-and-be-seen NoMad scene a few blocks away. Smaller than the famous spots, which is the point. Come for an actual conversation with someone you actually like.
03Hide Rooftop — the best Downtown rooftop
Financial District · 24 John St · 20th floor
Most NYC rooftops live in Midtown. Hide is one of the few Downtown ones worth crossing town for. From the 20th floor of the Artezen Hotel you get a totally different city — One World Trade close up, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, the harbor in the distance. With 4.7 stars across 200+ reviews, it's smaller and quieter than the Midtown giants, and that's exactly the appeal.
04Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge — the party pick
Times Square · Moxy Times Square · 18th floor
Magic Hour is the largest indoor-outdoor hotel rooftop in NYC, and it's a scene. Mini-golf carousel, themed décor, a packed bar, and a Times Square location that draws a strong tourist-and-locals mix. At 5,200+ reviews and 3.9 stars, it's polarizing — people who want a quiet skyline drink will hate it; people who want a party with a great Manhattan backdrop will love it. Know which one you are before you go.
05Refinery Rooftop — the most reliable Midtown choice
Garment District · 63 W 38th St
Refinery has been one of NYC's most consistently good rooftops for years. The view down 38th gives you a clean shot of the Empire State Building, the space mixes indoor and outdoor cleanly (which matters in NY weather), and the food is a step above the usual rooftop bar fare. 4.4 stars across more than 4,000 reviews is the kind of track record most rooftops can only dream about.
06The Skylark — the smart-cocktail rooftop
Times Square · 200 W 39th St
The Skylark feels less like a hotel rooftop and more like a proper cocktail lounge that happens to have a view. It's narrower than 230 Fifth but the Empire State sits perfectly framed in the window, and the drinks are some of the most thoughtfully made of any rooftop on this list. 4.4 stars across 2,000+ reviews. Best for the post-work or pre-dinner slot.
07Lost in Paradise Rooftop — the LIC star
Long Island City · 11-01 43rd Ave
Cross the river. Lost in Paradise sits in Long Island City and gives you something Manhattan rooftops can't: a view of the Manhattan skyline. The Chrysler, Empire State, and the entire Midtown East skyline lined up across the East River. With 4.7 stars across more than 6,400 reviews — among the most-loved rooftops in the entire NYC area — it's worth the subway ride alone.
08Dear Irving on Hudson — the date-night pick
Hell's Kitchen · 310 W 40th St
Dear Irving's original speakeasy on Gramercy is a NYC institution. The Hudson rooftop branch took the same dim, time-traveling, throwback aesthetic and put it 30 floors up with a Hudson River view. The cocktail program is one of the best on this list, the room is intimate enough to talk, and at 4.5 stars across 1,500+ reviews it has the consistency the famous spots often lack.
09RT60 Rooftop Bar & Lounge — the all-weather one
Times Square · 159 W 48th St
RT60 is one of the few NYC rooftops genuinely designed for year-round use, with a retractable roof that lets it run through the winter without losing the rooftop feeling. View of the Times Square neon plus the Midtown skyline. 4.3 stars across 800+ reviews. A solid pick for January through March when most rooftops are basically closed.
10Spyglass Rooftop Bar — the Empire State alternative
Garment District · 47 W 38th St · 22nd floor
If 230 Fifth is full (and it usually is on weekends), Spyglass is the answer. Same Empire State view, similar sightline, and you can usually walk in. 4.3 stars across 850+ reviews. Less famous, less mobbed, just as photogenic.
11RoofTop at Exchange Place — the best skyline shot
Jersey City · 1st Street
A controversial pick, because it's not technically in NYC. But the best photograph of the Manhattan skyline you can take from a rooftop bar is from Exchange Place. The whole of Lower Manhattan, One World Trade, and the harbor stretched out in front of you. 4.2 stars across more than 3,400 reviews. PATH train, ten minutes, totally worth it.
12ART SoHo at Arlo Soho — the Downtown design pick
SoHo · 231 Hudson St · 11th floor
ART SoHo at the Arlo Soho hotel is the rare SoHo rooftop that doesn't try to be a club. It's a smart, cleanly designed terrace with a Hudson River and Downtown skyline view, decent food, and a crowd that skews a bit older and quieter than the Midtown rooftops. 4.4 stars across 700+ reviews. Strong choice for a SoHo dinner that ends upstairs.
How to do rooftop bars in NYC well
Season matters
May through October is rooftop season. November through April, most outdoor rooftops close or radically scale back — only the ones with retractable roofs (RT60, Magic Hour) stay fully open in winter. Always check before you go.
Reservations
Friday and Saturday nights at the famous spots, you need a reservation. 230 Fifth, Magic Hour, and Refinery in particular fill up. Most other rooftops accept walk-ins outside the peak Friday-Saturday-evening slot.
Sunset timing
NYC sunset is roughly 8:30 pm in midsummer and 4:30 pm in deep winter — plan around it. Arrive at least 45 minutes before for a good view seat.
Dress code
Smart casual at most NYC rooftops. The hotel rooftops (Magic Hour, RT60, Skylark) are stricter — no athletic wear, no flip-flops. Downtown rooftops (Hide, Bar Hugo) are more relaxed.
Cost
Expect $18–25 cocktails at the famous Midtown rooftops, $14–18 at the smaller Downtown and Queens venues. Add tax and tip — a NYC rooftop round of four can clear $130 fast.
Weather
Rain closes outdoor sections almost everywhere. The retractable-roof venues are the only reliable rainy-night option.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous rooftop bar in New York City?
230 Fifth, hands down. It has a direct view of the Empire State Building and is the most-reviewed rooftop in the city by a wide margin.
What is the best rooftop bar with a view of the Empire State Building?
230 Fifth has the closest and most iconic view. Spyglass and Refinery are excellent alternatives if 230 Fifth is full.
Are NYC rooftop bars open in winter?
Most outdoor rooftops close or limit service from November to April. RT60 and Magic Hour have retractable roofs and stay open year-round.
How much does a cocktail cost at an NYC rooftop?
Expect $18–25 at major Midtown rooftops, $14–18 at smaller venues in Downtown, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Do I need a reservation?
For 230 Fifth, Magic Hour, and Refinery on Friday or Saturday night, yes. Most other rooftops on this list accept walk-ins outside peak weekend hours.
What's the best rooftop bar in NYC for a view of the skyline?
For a view of the Manhattan skyline itself, Lost in Paradise in Long Island City and RoofTop at Exchange Place in Jersey City are the two best options.
