The best rooftop restaurants in NYC for dining with a view

What is it? The Le Crocodile team's take on a rooftop bar and resto. 

Why we love it: Many of the seats inside Bar Blondeau, located on the Wythe Hotel's sixth floor, offer lovely skyline views, and the terrace is also open during nicer weather. Food includes scallops in a Thai chili broth, octopus a la Galicia and steak frites that hit under $35. The long drink list has all the beer, wine, cocktails and frozens you desire, plus more non-alcoholic options than you'll typically see elsewhere. 

Best seat in the house: Snag the booth that curls right against the floor-to-ceiling windows, though any of the outdoor tables are equally clutch.

Address: 80 Wythe Ave 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 5pm–midnight; Sun 1pm–midnight

What it it? An omakase counter that takes to the sky. 

Why we love it: Omakase's can often spell exclusive, hidden away affairs, where it is just you, the chef and the quiet theater of it all. Not the case at Saishin. Meaning “something new," the restaurant located inside the Gansevoort Hotel shakes things up as this omakase counter is paired with rooftop views that look out onto the city beyond. But there is no competition when it comes to the sights as executive chef Isaac Kek keeps things plenty entertaining during his 14- or 19-course menu, slicing fish and handing freshly made nigri over the threshold. 

Best seat in the house: Counter seats are nice if you want both views of the food and the skyline. But if you don't plan on going in on the omakase experience, snag the booth right on the edge of the roof and order a la carte. 

Address: 18 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 6–10pm; Sun 5–9pm

What is it? Jean-Georges' ode to seafood that's parked steps away from the East River.

Why we love it: Among the lowest of these rooftop restaurants, The Fulton still has one of the largest views. See the sparkling East River, two bridge tableaus, and the coast of Brooklyn across the way. The waterside spot’s menu is seafood forward (Black Bass en Croûte, Fried Swordfish Milanese and $1 oysters for HH), but broad enough to satisfy a preference for land preparations. 

Best seat in the house: If you want views of that glorious Brooklyn Bridge whilst enjoying the air conditioning inside, request table 48 or 50 upstairs or any booth near them.

Opening hours: Dinner Mon–Sun 5–10pm; Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm; Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30am–3pm

What is it? A Philly import from chef Michael Solomonov found inside The Hoxton. 

Why we love it: 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.

Best seat in the house: Sure, it seems self-explanatory, but aim for one of the two- or four-tops closest to the windows.

Address: 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Opening hours: Sun–Wed 5–11pm; Thu–Sat 5pm–1am; Sat, Sun 11:30am–3pm

What is it? NYC's only rotating restaurant where tourists and New Yorkers alike can find solitude. 

Why we love it: The original rotating restaurant opened atop Times Square in 1985 but quickly fell out of New Yorkers' orbit—until Danny Meyer got a hold of it. Now the 47th and 48th floors tap into into Americana classics, like jumbo lump blue crab cake and seared duck breast, set to the spinning skyline.  

Best seat in the house: Aim for one of the tables in the middle of the revolving room, as they offer the most unobstructed panoramic views of the city skyline.

Address: 1535 Broadway between 45th & 46th Street, New York, NY, 10036

Opening hours: Lounge 4pm–midnight; Restaurant 5–10pm

What is it? A seafaring shack where crab and lobster is the calling card.

Why we love it: 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. 

Best seat in the house: Head up to the roofdeck and beeline for one of the teal booths that flank the sides of the space.

Address: 24 Reed St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Opening hours: Sun–Thu noon–10pm; Fri, Sat noon–11pm; Downstairs bar only: Fri, Sat 11pm–2am 

What is it? Danny Meyer's love letter to New York comes in the form of a sleek rooftop bar in the sky. 

Why we love it: Seven 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.

Best seat in the house: There's really no bad seat here, especially since the restaurant staff is quick to pass out pairs of binoculars so you can take in every inch of that spectacular view.

Address: 28 Liberty St 60th floor, New York, NY 10005

Opening hours: Daily 11:30am–2pm; Dinner Sun–Thu 5–9:30pm, Fri, Sat 5–10:30pm

What is it? A hotel rooftop only mere steps away from Rockaway Beach. 

Why we love it: 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. 

Best seat in the house: Given that it's located on a peninsula, both sides of the rooftop offer waterfront views—however, if you want those classic skyline views, grab an outdoor table on the side facing Beach Channel Drive.

Address: 108-10 Rockaway Beach Dr, Queens, NY 11694

Opening hours: Sun, Wed, Thu 3–10pm; Fri, Sat 3–11pm 

What is it? Crown Shy's sister restaurant that's housed 63 floors up above it. 

Why we love it: 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.

Best seat in the house: The private balconies are the 63rd floor have stunning sightlines of the Brooklyn Bridge, but the floor-to-ceiling windows on floor 62 also offer excellent views.

Address: 70 Pine St 63rd Floor, New York, NY 10005

Opening hours: Daily 5–9:30pm

What is it? One of the few rooftops in Cobble Hill where you can also find some delightful Mexican food.  

Why we love it: 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. 

Best seat in the house: Those aforementioned picture window banquettes, duh. 

Address: 187 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 5–9pm; Thu, Fri 5–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm Sun 11–9pm 

What is it? A hospitable hotel bar and restaurant in midtown.

Why we love it: 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. 

Best seat in the house: With all that lush greenery and velvet barstools, the interiors are undoubtedly pretty at Daintree, but if you want truly mind-boggling views of the Empire State Building, snag the outdoor sofas facing south. 

Address: 25 W 38th St 29th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Opening hours: Mon, Tue 4–10pm; Wed–Sat 4pm–midnight

What is it? A rooftop restaurant housed in one of the city's most iconic buildings. 

Why we love it: 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. 

Best seat in the house: A buttery leather sofa set near the outdoor bar have your name written all over it. 

Address: 45 E 50th St #149, New York, NY 10022

Hours: Mon–Wed 5pm–midnight; Thu 5pm–1am; Fri 5pm–1am; Sat noon–2am; Sun noon–11pm Brunch: Sat, Sun noon–4pm