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, but broad enough to satisfy a preference for land preparations. 

One the best new restaurants of 2022 opened last year with abundant salatim, a variety of skewers 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, beer, wine, cocktails and frozen drinks throughout. 

Finally open again after a two year pause, Manhatta’s downtown views from 60 stories up in the air are as lovely as ever. It presently serves à la carte items like beef tartare, grilled lobster and dry-aged duck, as well as a $275 per person chef's counter menu. 

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 $295 per person, which you must pay in advance. That is before tax, tip and drinks. 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. It also has some of the best NYC views that money can buy, making it a particuarly good choice when photographic evidence is part of the value. Saga also just added a shorter, $195 option for spring, 2023. 

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 Japanese fried chicken, bacalao fritters, Wagyu beef tongue sandos, steak frites au poivre and raclette. 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. A dedicated martini menu leads its drink list and oysters, tuna tartare and burgers are available to snack. 

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, 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. This round’s iteration aims to evoke the southern Italian countryside across the space and plates. Some cocktails incorporate floral flavors to pair with the recently refreshed menu. 

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 includes 15 courses. À la carte items and a variety of boozy beverages are also available for dining in or take-out.