The best NYC rooftop bars open during the winter

Located on the 11th floor of Sister City hotel—from Atelier Ace, the creative studio behind The Ace Hotel—is this new Lower East Side rooftop bar. Bites are crafted by Chef Joe Orgodnek and served with a side of panoramic views. And with close proximity to the New Museum, it feels ripe for eavesdropping on art world gossip. 

This Broken Shaker has the same electrifying energy as the Miami original. And yeah, the Broken Shaker may not be new, but it’s still one of the only truly cool places in Gramercy for rooftop drinks. The oasis’s indoor bar is one of our favorite places to blow off steam in the whole city. And what better way to do so than with one of their signature tropical drinks, reminding you of warmer days?

At first, it may feel awkward strolling through a quiet apartment building’s bright lobby at 9pm, bypassing the doormen (PSA to residents: they let us right in) and hustling into a packed elevator with three cranky, middle-aged European tourists. But once you reach the 26th floor of Beekman Tower, you’re instantly welcomed into a decadent barroom fashioned with soaring cathedral windows, jewel-tone blue walls and glass showcases filled with vintage oddities. 

Run by Major Food Group (The Grill, The Pool, Carbone, and Dirty French) The Polynesian is a handsome tiki bar in Hell’s Kitchen located in Pod Times Square Hotel.  Awash in deep-turquoise walls and old-world landscape murals under high ceilings with wooden beams, it's the crown jewel of tiki-themed bars, where there's actually buried treasure inside.

The team behind Dear Irving and Raines Law Room opened the second outpost of the former in midtown. Dear Irving on Hudson is a bi-level cocktail bar that takes up the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel in Times Square. While the bustling location is worlds away from the quiet block of Irving Place, the founders are sticking to some familiarities. Most noticeably, a handful of cocktails and a "time travel" theme, with one floor akin to 1960s James Bond and another decked out in Art Deco finishes.

Located on the the roof of the Lower East Side's PUBLIC hotel, this is a can't miss rooftop bar accompaniment to one of Ian Schrager's hottest new hotels.  Although the PUBLIC has been flooded by Instagram It-Girls as of late, if you want to feel like one for the night, this might just be your go-to spot. A 360-view that appears to be floating amongst the sky line makes it all worth it. 

A stylish glass box capping Williamsburg's tallest skyscraper. Take the dedicated elevator 22 stories up to the industrial yet swank space—set with black-and-white tiled floors, bright globe lights and a beamed ceiling—to experience a hotel rooftop bar that has all the goods to be a standalone New York cocktail den. 

This Williamsburg Hotel cocktail bar is set in its sky-high "water tower." Aptly titled, The Water Tower, the cylindrical structure sits above the hotel's outdoor pool, with view of Williamsburg, the East River and Manhattan from the steel-encased, floor-to-ceiling windows. The inside is decked out with velvet couches and chaises and the back wall is covered in murals painted by local artists. On weekend nights, the space will turn into a nightclub soundtracked by international DJs.

With glazed brick walls, a leather-topped wood bar and working fireplaces, it makes for a cool hangout even if you can’t venture outside. Natural materials and jewel tones dominate the hotel’s decor: Reclaimed wood floors, slate tiled bathrooms and works by local artists give the hotel a plush feel. 

Inspired by a beloved Wisconsin supper club of the same name that was opened for 80 years, the Bushwick revival continues the kitschy, decadence of the original in a sprawling 5000 sq-ft. 60-seat restaurant and rooftop bar. The rooftop deck has been winterized with a sort of red bouncy castle vibe and is outfitted with holiday decorations throughout. 

Located on the 10th floor of the 1 Hotel, right next to the Brooklyn Bridge, is Harriet's Rooftop and Lounge. Enjoy a panoramic view of the bridge and Manhattan beyond as you enjoy a classic cocktail like an Old Fashioned or a Ricky Rose. 

During the colder months, a cabin-themed watering hole temporarily taks over the rooftop of the McKittrick Hotel. The bar is designed to resemble a cozy alpine retreat and offers the same level of detail as the set of Sleep No More. Though there are plenty of cozy bars in the city, the Lodge takes its theme to a new level—Visitors can snuggle on bunk beds or sit at a desk covered in pinecones and rolled parchment.

Getting past the doorman can be tough work at the rooftop bar of the still-trendy Standard Hotel, but your trials will be rewarded with stunning views of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan. The bi-level boîte boasts an artificial-turfed alfresco bar with garden chairs. Don’t just bypass the lower-level room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a Jacuzzi—it hosts appropriately hip parties with top-notch DJs, like the weekly Nouveau York bash.

Most rooftop bars rely on their expansive vistas to woo the crowds, noting the sky-high vantage as the main attraction. For Magic Hour, its view of midtown and the Empire State Building is just a footnote. The place plays up the idea of an “urban amusement park” in its palatial 10,000-square-foot space, with rotating carousel seating, a topiary garden and Foreplay, a putt-putt course filled with animal statues in NSFW positions.

Part of the Hotel Indigo’s 26-floor expansion on the Lower East Side, this cocktail den sprawls across two outdoor terraces with a swimming pool and soaring views of the Manhattan skyline. The loft-inspired lounge is decorated with exposed-brick walls, reclaimed-wood tables and free-hanging light fixtures inside, while a flowing canopy and strings lights deck the terraces. 

This newly opened rooftop is the tops in the Seaport District. The chic, 60-seat space was designed by Rockwell Group (Nobu, W Hotels, EDITION, Moxy) and is outfitted with a blue and white marble bar, two fireplaces, candlelit tables and outdoor seating in the summer with views of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The team will serve craft cocktails and modern American small plates.

This LES rooftop offers a palm-studded oasis with white chaise lounges. On Saturdays between 10pm and 1am, the spot is often packed with large group reservations (fortune, it seems, favors the popular and organized). Head there on Sundays and Mondays for two-for-one well drinks.

This rooftop lounge at the Kimberly Hotel offers views of the Chrysler Building. Sleek leather couches and wicker chairs decorate the airy space. Choose from cocktails, like the Oh Yoko, and small plates, such as lobster sliders, salmon fritters and yellowfin tuna tartar.

Santa knows the deal—up on a rooftop is the place to be this winter. At New York’s highest rooftop bar, Bar 54 at the Hyatt Centric Times Square, you can hang out in comfy igloo-like bubbles. If you’re determined to partake in outdoor drinking even during below-freezing temps, a reservation isn’t required to visit, though you can reserve a private table inside one if you’d like. You’ll have access to the bar’s full menu of food and house-made cocktails, and you get stunning views of the Chrysler Building and Manhattan.

Mondrian Park Avenue is located in New York, 550 metres from Empire State Building in the NoMad district. And its here you'll find a pop-up bar that looks like a ski resort on its terrace. Expect Swiss raclette fondue, mulled wine and a photo booth (the pop-up lasts until February 2020). 

In New York City, you can still drink on a rooftop and be cozy as f*ck thanks to 230 Fifth’s rooftop igloos! On the partially heated top deck, the see-through PVC igloos can hold up to eight people and keep out the chill while you enjoy skyline views and seasonal quaffs like spiced whiskey martinis and rum-spiked hot apple cider.

This rooftop bar, 17 stories above ground, offers a view of the East River and craft cocktails from bar manager Sam Anderson (Hotel Delmano, Freemans). Sip the Weathervane, a mixture of rye whiskey, rosemary, ginger, Campari and lemon juice, while gazing at the vista.

Warm up with the best hot toddies in NYC, which come splashed with booze and steeped with winter spices