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A skyline like New York’s never gets old, which is why New Yorkers love a good rooftop bar. Experience new views and vibes—not to mention some of the city’s best-kept secrets—by taking the road less traveled (and the drink less tasted). Make every hour a happy one at New York City’s best secret rooftop bars.


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Berry Park

Enjoy the game and a few beers at Berry Park

For rooftop drinking without the pretension, look no further than Berry Park. Situated on the border of Bushwick and Williamsburg, this two-floor bar features everything from projector screens to a cozy fireplace to a foosball table, ensuring diverse entertainment and an even more diverse crowd. The Park’s fan-favorite spiked huckleberry lemonade, pickleback, and frozen drinks pair perfectly with its views of the Manhattan skyline.

Gallow Green

Gallow Green

Satisfy your craving for rollicking rooftop fun year-round at Gallow Green. Situated atop the McKittrick Hotel, Gallow Green is a Scottish-inspired “secret garden” during the summer that transforms into a “mountaintop ski cabin” featuring a real pine forest come winter. Complete with a popular weekend brunch, daily dinner service, and a thriving bar scene, this elevated destination is always a good idea.

Tavern29

Beer buffs should bookmark Tavern29, a three-floor bar boasting 34 draft lines and a focus on local and small-batch breweries. Snag a seat at the tavern’s rooftop American biergarten to enjoy bottomless brunch on weekends, the daily happy hour from 11 am to 6 pm and 11 pm to 2 am, and pre-Prohibition cocktails, a whiskey library, and a bounty of brews anytime.

Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar

Cocktail connoisseurs will love Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar (and forgive its silly name) after sampling the bar’s signature drinks. Cocktails with names such as “I Can’t Even” and “Cool Story” appeal to the bar’s trendy clientele almost as much as its famous Prosecco and Ice Pop cocktail featuring People’s Pop ice pops and Prosecco or rosé from Loopy’s own tap. Complete one of the city’s most Instagram-friendly experiences by taking in the bar’s surroundings, which include the Statue of Liberty and Hudson River.

Kimoto Rooftop

Kimoto Rooftop Restaurant & Garden Lounge, Duffield Street

Feel grounded in this elevated “zen garden” bringing American fare with an Asian flair to Downtown, Brooklyn. At Kimoto Rooftop, guests can enjoy the best of two worlds as they sip cocktails featuring plum wine, lychee-infused liquor, and muddled Asian pear amidst New York’s towering buildings and unique energy. Tip: Don’t miss Kimoto’s rarely seen selection of Asian craft beers hailing from Laos, Taiwan, and beyond.

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge

Enjoy Times Square’s hectic energy without the headache at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge. As New York City’s largest hotel rooftop bar, this Marriott-affiliated establishment comprises 10,000 square feet of amusement park-inspired space, featuring a miniature putt-putt, “adult” art installations, and state fair-style bar bites. Oh, and the stunning skyline views at Magic Hour? They’re just as fun.

Bookmarks Lounge

Bibliophiles flock to Bookmarks Lounge, the Library Hotel’s literary-themed bar. The out-of-the-box (or should we say book?) selections at this perennial 14th-floor retreat include cocktails such as the Tequila Mockingbird and the Rye whiskey-spiked Catcher in the Rye, as well as single malt scotches, ports, and other library-approved libations. Complete with city views, an enclosed greenhouse, and penthouse-inspired décor, Bookmarks is an ideal spot to settle down with good booze and an even better book.

Good Behavior

Governed by the belief that “experiences are the new luxury,” Made Hotel’s Good Behavior specializes in memorable bar concoctions. The Maison Premiere veterans behind this plant-packed oasis emphasize Tiki-inspired cocktails, craft beers, and “large format cocktails” designed for sharing. With its panoramic views of New York City’s skyline, indoor and outdoor spaces, and occasional live music, it’s easy to stay at Good Behavior long enough to start making some bad decisions.

The Crown

Brought to you by the same team behind local favorites Talde Brooklyn and The Heights, The Crown is the latest addition to Chinatown’s burgeoning bar scene. Since opening this summer, the 21st-floor bar and lounge has attracted drinkers from across the city with its tea and Asian fruit-infused cocktails, the Korean rice liquor soju, and other exotic offerings. Equipped with two outdoor terraces, The Crown provides views to the north and south, which include the Empire State Building, Freedom Tower, and beyond.

About the author

Splitting her time between Miami and New York, Julia is a writer currently based in Brooklyn. She enjoys foreign films, 70s cookbooks, and bad detective novels.

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