Best Rooftop Bars in Manhattan
The 10 best rooftop bars in Manhattan, Empire State views, sunset cocktails, FiDi heliports, Standard High Line classics, and the new openings driving 2026 reservations.
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- 1Financial District · $$$$ · 70 Pine St
Also No. 7 on Best Cocktail Bars in Manhattan →
Map ↗verified 7w agoA 64th-floor cocktail lounge atop 70 Pine Street in the Financial District from the Saga / Crown Shy team, small reservation-only room, harbor-and-skyline view, and a James Beard-recognized cocktail program.
Because Overstory is the highest serious cocktail bar in the borough, Statue of Liberty out one window and the Brooklyn Bridge out another, and the drink program is engineered by Harrison Ginsberg rather than treated as a hotel afterthought.
Order The Bee Gees clarified-milk-punch riff with the bar snacks plate.
Book exactly 30 days out at 9 a.m. when the reservation window opens, the room seats around 50 and the slots disappear in roughly 90 seconds for any Saturday.
Good to know
- What is the best rooftop bar in Manhattan?
- Our current #1 reflects a blend of editorial sourcing from Eater, The Infatuation, Time Out, and Grub Street, plus live community votes. The order shifts as votes come in — what is first today may not be first tomorrow.
- Which Manhattan rooftop bar has the best Empire State Building view?
- 230 Fifth in NoMad is pointed almost directly at the Empire State Building from a 22nd-floor open-air deck and is the most-photographed view in the borough. Magic Hour at the Moxy Times Square offers a closer-but-different angle from a more designed environment.
- Do Manhattan rooftop bars require a reservation?
- Most do for tables on weekends. Walk-up bar service is usually available at off-peak hours (Monday through Thursday before 7 p.m.). Le Bain, Overstory, Bar SixtyFive, and Magic Hour all require advance booking on weekends.
- When do Manhattan rooftop bars open for the season?
- Many open year-round with heaters and partial enclosures; outdoor-only spots like Le Bain and the Press Lounge typically run May through October. 230 Fifth has heated igloos in winter. Always confirm hours before going in cold months.
- What is the dress code at Manhattan rooftop bars?
- Most are smart-casual. Le Bain and Overstory enforce a cleaner dress code (no athletic wear, no flip-flops). Hotel rooftops attached to higher-end properties (Bar SixtyFive, the Crown era spots) lean dressier. Always check the specific bar's posted policy.
