Mad 46 is one of many rooftop bars open in the city.
photo: Evan W. Miller
Why take the jitney to the Hamptons when you can take an elevator to the clouds? Skyscrapers are the new boardwalks, it seems, with rooftop bars like Mad 46 and Highbar popping up across the Midtown skyline. But all those lofty terraces can blur together after awhile, so we've put together a map to help you avoid altitude-induced disorientation. Grab a cocktail, soak up the view and imagine you're king or queen of the world – or at least Midtown.
A
210 W. 55th Street (between Broadway and Seventh Avenue); 212-956-7020
With "awesome views" down Broadway, this "small yet sophisticated" Midtown “aerie” merges a penthouse lounge with a roof deck for those willing to "pay a premium" in both bucks and "attitude."
B
299 Madison Avenue (41st Street); 212-983-4500
Reminiscent of the (imaginary) “rooftop of your own Manhattan apartment”, this “oasis above the Midtown fray” is “expensive”, but the “tight quarters” are still thronged with “Euro tourists” and other “cosmopolitan” types.
C
554 W. 28th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues); 646-473-1866
“You can’t find more machismo” in Chelsea than at this “trashy, trampy” tavern where “rough-and-tumble” “daddies, bears” and assorted leathermen are on the “prowl”; Still, nobody can resist the “friendly” Sunday afternoon beer blasts on the roof deck.
D
251 W. 48th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue); 212-956-1300
Hell’s Kitchen’s latest rooftop, this velvet-ropey newcomer is a sleek double-decker that employs bamboo shoots, tropical plants and Hudson River views to draw its cool-cat crowd; much of the medium-size space is covered so inclement weather is never a problem here, and there’s a totally enclosed downstairs den for VIPs.
E
405 W. 39th Street (Ninth Avenue); 646-354-9062
A “trendy place” in a “weird location” behind Port Authority, this slick bi-level venue "on the pricey side" lures a “cute”, “decidedly gay” crowd with an “airy” space equipped with “upscale” extras like an “amazing” loftlike lounge under a retractable roof.
F
641 W. 51st Street (between 11th and 12th Avenues); 212-247-2460
Spread out over an entire city block in Way West Hell’s Kitchen, this mammary mecca is a mix of “quality” strippers, “neon lights” and ultrapricey cocktails; of course, no one’s “really there for the drinks” anyway, so sit back with the “high rollers” and “bachelor party” attendees and “enjoy the scenery.”
G
1 Penn Plaza (33rd Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues); 212-629-7070
The newer Garment District satellite of this "twentysomething" bar is more arresting than its sibling thanks to a “cool rooftop” deck where “sloshed commuters” are entertained by “amazing Penn Station people-watching.”
H
45 W. 35th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues); 212-279-3535
This “surprise” rooftop crowning a Garment District hotel boasts a roomy if “plain” setup “overlooking the nearby Empire State Building”; a low-maintenance spot to meet “after work”, though the unimpressed protest it’s “a little too shabby” for the “pricey” tabs.
I
160 E. 46th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues); 212-883-7373
There’s “atmosphere” galore on the rooftop bar of this Midtown steakhouse where “pricey”, “top-notch” cocktails and “finger food” draw “after-work suits and ties.” Sadly, there’s “no late-night fun” to be had since they close fairly early (and they’re also closed weekends).
J
303 Lexington Avenue (37th Street); 212-481-1999
Like the name says, “beautiful” Midtown panoramas are the draw at this “relaxed” seasonal rooftop bar that’s just the ticket on a “breezy summer night”; expect the usual “pricey drinks”, long lines and “tightly packed elevators”, so for best results “go early to avoid the craziness.
K
47 E. 29th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues); 212-447-1820
“Three floors with different themes” (a bar, a “curtain-draped” lounge and a tiki-themed “outdoor deck”) make this Gramercy Parker a “solid” enough destination; surveyors split on the vibe – “loads of fun” vs. “loud and crowded” – but most agree the “decor is pretty cheesy.”
L
700 Fifth Avenue (55th Street); 212-903-3097
A slight reworking of the Peninsula Hotel’s former Pen-Top bar, this ritzy rooftop offers inspiring Midtown views from its two outdoor terraces and glass-enclosed bar, now redone with a vague ‘Shanghai deco’ look (think lacquered screens and Chinese daybeds); of course, skyhigh tabs come with the lofty territory.
M
1015 Second Avenue (between 53rd and 54th Streets); 212-207-3777
An “awesome” roof deck is the “main attraction on summer evenings” at this longtime Midtown triplex, while the lower floors are pretty “generic” and “personality free.”
N
411 Third Avenue (29th Street); 212-382-1059
The "solid roof deck" at this “stylish” Gramercy “mega-bar” boasts views of the Empire State Building; the crowd is “young”, and the decibels “loud.”
O
230 Fifth Avenue (between 26th and 27th Streets); 212-725-4300
This “sprawling”, vaguely “tropical” deck crowning a Chelsea office building is “swamped” with “suity” “mingling singles” marveling at the “awesome cityscape” vistas and disregarding the “snooty service” and “steep” tabs; the upstairs “top-of-the-world” scene is the “only place to be during the summer.”
P
45 E. 45th Street (between Madison and Vanderbilt); 212-725-4300
The latest arrival in the burgeoning rooftop-bar genre, this new Midtown nest is perched on top of the Roosevelt Hotel near Grand Central Station; look for a block-long, runway-narrow space featuring western skyline views, waitresses in itty-bitty black dresses and the usual pricey specialty cocktails and snacks.
Q
268 W. 47th Street (Eighth Avenue and Broadway); 212-398-2188
Further evidence of the Theater District’s nightlife renaissance, this revamped rooftop (formerly known as Jade Terrace) may lack sweeping city vistas, but its open-to-the-sky atrium design does offer ample drinking-by-starlight opportunities; it’s already an after-work destination thanks to some hard-working party promoters.