NYC's 14 best rooftop restaurants

Among the lowest of these rooftop restaurants, The Fulton still has one of the largest views. See the sparkling East River, two bridge tableau, and the coast of Brooklyn across the way. The waterside spot’s menu is seafood forward (slow-cooked halibut with artichoke barigoule, fried swordfish scallopini), but broad enough to satisfy a preference for land preparations. 

One the best new restaurants of 2022 offers up abundant salatim, a variety of skewers (chicken shishlik, lamb kofta, brisket kebab) and a lovely view from high in The Hoxton hotel. Prepare to wait or book late (reservations are more available than before, but still skew mostly post-10pm) and aim for a window seat. 

Brooklyn Crab is a Red Hook favorite not too far from the East River. It spans three stories, with games on the sprawling, open-air ground level, and oodles of seafood (deep-fried whole snapper, snow-crab steampots), beer, wine, cocktails and frozen drinks throughout. 

Sxi years after opening, Manhatta’s downtown views from 60 stories up in the air are as lovely as ever. It presently serves a multi-course dinner (à la carte items are available at lunch), with a $115 three-course or a $145 four-course option featuring plates like black-truffle dumplings, dry-aged duck and ‎toasted rice mille-feuille.

Saga, near the top of 70 Pine Street's Art Deco dazzler, is very beautiful, very distinctive and very expensive. Its hours-long, multicourse tasting menu is $298 per person, which you must pay in advance. (That is before tax, tip and drinks, natch.) But, for the most special occasions (or if you're just rich!!), it holds a unique, refreshing space among NYC's fine dining destinations, with menu items that might include five regally-plated fluke presentations, caviar, dry-aged duck and a kicky candy dish.

Many of the seats inside Bar Blondeau, located on the Wythe Hotel's sixth floor, have lovely skyline views, and the terrace is open during nicer weather, too. Food includes hot-honey fried chicken, a lobster-and-scallop "hot dog," octopus a la Galicia and a burger au Poivre. The long drink list has all the beer, wine, cocktails and frozens you desire, plus more non-alcoholic options than you'll typicially see elsewhere. 

This is the one you don’t want anybody to know about. It isn’t too expensive as these things go, the drinks are strong and expertly prepared (even the frozen margaritas, which isn’t always a given) and—at just two flights up—the view of lower Manhattan is a dazzler. Try not to lean too far into the people seated in the picture window banquettes when you snap that shot, and add the arroz con queso to every order. 

Daintree opened on the top floor of midtown’s Hotel Hendricks in 2021. The lovely "viewstaurant" has room for 180 inside and 70 more on terrace, all in view of the Manhattan skyline and a closeup snap of the Empire State Building. The drinks list is full of cheery options like juleps and spritzes,  while marinated olives, fried-chicken sliders and kung pao cauliflower are available to snack on. 

A lot of NYC rooftop spots boast metropolitan tableaus of some of Manhattan's most famous skyscrapers. The Rooftop at The Rockaway Hotel has something different to offer: a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Take in the sand and surf with snacks (raw bar items, a dip trio), clam pizza and novel cocktails. 

Yes, the RH stands for Restoration Hardware, the spendy furniture store. And a long, long time ago this type of retail restaurant was viewed askew. But now it seems like every seller’s in the game, and RH Rooftop is a particularly glossy page in the catalog. Its showroom-topping restaurant is lined with greenery, and tables are topped with avocado toast, Caesar salads and ribeye steak at brunch, lunch and dinner. Rosé is, as you might expect, all day. 

One of NYC’s shape-shiftiest rooftop spots, Serra by Birreria changes with the seasons. The most recent iteration aims to evoke the southern Italian countryside across the space and plates, with its sprawling eucalyptus and sage green hues. Some cocktails incorporate fresh floral and vegetal flavors, like a dill martini and a spring old-fashioned. 

You want a candid of you and the Chrysler building in the still-recognizable distance, and you’re gonna get a candid of you and the Chrysler building in the still-recognizable distance! There’s even a cocktail named for the occasion, along with a half-dozen “martinis,” two each of low and no-ABV options, and plenty more vaguely Midtown-themed libations. Sweet and savory plates like Benedict takes and blueberry pancakes are available at brunch, and small plates include steak tartare, satay, sliders, and cheese and charcuterie boards for ascending groups. 

Once you exit the elevator onto the 24th floor of the Equinox Hotel, Electric Lemon is beautiful inside and out. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the dining room stage whisper about the view outside, but the beautiful landscape, especially of the Hudson River to the west, doesn’t really announce itself until you step out onto the sprawling terrace. Almost every inch of the place is photogenic, with water features, carefully considered lighting, and art throughout. Selections from the brief wine, beer and cocktail menu aren't bad either, and a nice Sancerre paired with chilled oysters will make you feel like the king of the gym. 

Sushi Lab is the cherry on top of the Sanctuary Hotel. Its omakase includes several nigiri selections and extras like a bit of Wagyu. The “lab experiment” option (for $100) includes 15 courses festooned with fancy-schmancy ingredients like fresh truffle, Wagyu beef and caviar. À la carte items and a variety of boozy beverages are also available for dining in or take-out.