In the poem, City of Orgies, Walt Whitman writes,
as I pass O Manhattan, your frequent and swift flash of eyes offering me love,
Offering response to my own—these repay me,
Lovers, continual lovers, only repay me.
Though these lines of poetry preceded the growth of the great skyscrapers, they seem all the more true when gazing at the city, or the city within the reflection of lovers’ eyes from the rooftop bars of New York. Trendy, romantic, and sometimes redundant, these social hubs are becoming a destination unto themselves. The backdrop of a million lights shining through the pores of surrounding edifices primes the canvas of the perfect night out, which can become the perfect date.And at night the star put on a show for free…up on the roof.
The whistling wind from many stories above the frenetic pavement does nothing to distract oblivious paramours from etching their affection upon the life of another.
When it comes to atmosphere and class, there is no topping the rooftop bar and lounge area at Dadong Restaurant at 3 Bryant Park.
Besides boasting “the best of China in the heart of New York City,” Dadong restaurant also offers a 3785 square foot outdoor garden on the second floor and an 858 square foot terrace on the third floor. Designer George Wong explained the inspiration for his designs as, “a modern adaptation of the column and beam structure of the long corridor of the Summer Palace in Beijing.”
The most immediately noticeable feature is the open pergolas which create a bold and welcoming canopy to the space, and which Wong points out, are “often seen in traditional Suzhou gardens” with “warm, natural wood tones.”
In addition, artistic elements decorate the visual space with both metallic, modern sculptures as well as classic casts of white ducks which, in Chinese culture, symbolize loyalty and good fortune.
This is fitting since a visit to the rooftop lounge at Dadong, with its serene architecture, gourmet cuisine, and the feeling of being nested in Midtown Manhattan, encourages customers to return regularly. The signature cocktails, which are paired with the spirits of music legends, are aptly named “Kiss Me Baby and Tell Me Twice,” “Like a Virgin,” and “Nice Work if you Can Get It.” Prior to an evening under the lights of the city, make Dadong the choice for dinner as well.
A fairly new venue in the rooftop experience is the Skylawn Bar and Social Space at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Midtown. This new hotel in the Garment District, fashioned to adhere to the local milieu, opened its doors in January 2018, and recently unveiled its outdoor space reminiscent of a Brooklyn backyard with comfortable seating, faux grass lawn, and neighbors whose high brick walls hug the space and offer a feel of privacy and cosmopolitan charm. At 60 West 37th Street, the Skylawn is also accessible from the street level, and can be rented to host special events.
A stone’s throw away is The Top of the Strand, considered one of the top rooftop bars in the world, is a romantic spot at 33 West 37th street, that sits 21 stories above the Big Apple, at the Marriot Vacation Club Pulse, and offers a retractable roof, fine cocktail, beer and wine menus, and a view of the city that will impress NY resident and tourist alike.
The comfortable sofa seating brings immediate intimacy to the couple who wishes to raise their relationship up a notch, those few extra stories, that special page in the scrapbook.
For a wilder scene, Skyroom at 330 West 40th Street, at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriot, is more a throwback to Studio 54, but the average customer was raised on Blues Clues rather than on I Love Lucy. Pulsing lights and bodies swaying to the beat in a mass of feckless hedonism is especially present on Friday and Saturday nights as Skyroom draws in the decadence and seeming dominance of the mostly millennial crowd. Among the signature cocktails are “Hemingway in Stockholm,” “Evening Kiss,” and “Privacy Please.” With 6500 square feet of indoor/outdoor usable space, there is plenty of room to show some skin and air out the patchouli oil.
Salvation Taco at 145 East 39th Street is the site of Taquiera, Cantina and Rooftop Bar. Located in the Pod 39 Hotel, this rooftop experience exceeds expectations. There are many places to chat with friends, congregate as a group, or escape to a private corner under the gaze of the Empire State Building.
The space is decorated with strings of hanging lights, stone columns as if in a Roman arena, indoor seating with throw pillows to break the fall from the stresses of life, and all genuinely presented in an eclectic mass of celebration. Mexican Tapas and Margaritas are among the magical pairs of tastes available to spice up the evening, tastes that remain captive like cherished memories.
Back to the Garment District, The Refinery Rooftop which sits atop the Refinery Hotel, is a massive space that offers comfortable outdoor seating, with wood and brickwork, a holdover from its former days as a hat factory. The rooftop offers signature cocktails, a classic menu from beef sliders to Octopus skewers, tuna tartar, flatbreads and truffle fries, which only scratches the surface. Also, it’s a hopping events space, especially on New Year’s Eve.
Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar is a chic terrace space with a respectable cocktail menu and a great view of Lower Manhattan. Located in the Conrad New York at 102 North End Avenue, Loopy Doopy is the ideal spot to chill for a relaxing lunch, or after a long day of work, or party like a champ every evening with its specialty, Prosecco and Ice Pop Cocktail. If that is not your thing, there are many other quaffs to quench your thirst.
During the colder months, party like an Eskimo at 230 Fifth Rooftop Igloo Bar. When the chill of a New York winter threatens to give night owls the cold shoulder, kayak over to the Igloo Bar. Besides the usual cocktails, 230 Fifth offers customers a hot drink menu which features Kahlua, Bailey’s and Virgin Hot chocolates, Apple Pie Cider, and Hot Fireball Cider, to name a few. Whichever drink is selected, rooftop explorers can gather and enjoy the transparent, heated “igloos” which appear as psychedelic bubbles rather than Inuit structures. On busy nights, there might be a wait before space in an igloo is available, so be ready to squeeze in if necessary. However, it’s more about the Eskimo with whom you rub noses than the space inside the igloo.
Rooftop bars can be found in most developed countries. Yet, New York, which has become synonymous with skyscrapers, can loudly boast its wealthy array of rooftop bars. New York’s own Walt Whitman, whose voice has transcended the decades and the miles, announced, “I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.” For sure, he would have been the life of any rooftop gathering.
