{"id":251998,"date":"2026-06-02T09:34:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/251998\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T09:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:34:16","slug":"celebrate-summer-in-nyc-in-high-style-high-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/251998\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate summer in NYC in high style high up"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past winter in New York City<\/a> was a humdinger\u2014blizzards shut down the MTA, sidewalks stayed slick with greasy ice, and it was still chilly in early May. But a punishing winter has a silver lining: we relish balmy weather all the more once it arrives. At long last, picnic baskets have returned to Domino Park, miniskirts to the West Village, and revelry to our fair city\u2019s rooftops.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll grant that some rooftop bars are gimmicky, relying on views to sling overpriced drinks and mediocre food to hapless tourists. But others would be destination-worthy even if they weren\u2019t perched half a mile above Manhattan. In sky-high sanctuaries like Overstory and elNico, the mixology is elite, the kitchens hold their own, and the ambience compels you to linger. Skyline vistas are a bonus, not the main point.<\/p>\n

Little darling, it\u2019s been a long, cold, lonely winter. But here comes the sun<\/a>. There\u2019s no better place to greet it than from a penthouse perch with a refreshing libation in hand.<\/p>\n

Overstory<\/p>\n

\"Alcohol,<\/p>\n

\t\tOverstory \/ N<\/p>\n

Getting to Overstory<\/a> is half the fun: first, an elevator ride up 63 stories, then an ascent up a travertine staircase to the wood-paneled crow\u2019s nest of the American International Building, an Art Deco skyscraper in FiDi. Ranked No. 6 on North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars, Overstory serves cocktails as visually striking as the tower\u2019s Jazz Age flourishes. Order the Bananarac, a banana-infused riff on the Sazerac, and sip it on the wraparound terraces overlooking Lower Manhattan, the East River, and Brooklyn\u2019s skyline. The bar serves light bites, but if you need heartier fare, head downstairs to Saga<\/a> or Crown Shy<\/a>, two of FiDi\u2019s best restaurants.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elsie<\/p>\n

\"Brunch,<\/p>\n

\t\tElsie<\/p>\n

Long before Wall Street had its wolf, Park Avenue had Elsie de Wolfe. An actress, boulevardier, and interior designer to Gilded Age aristocracy, Elsie left us with gems like, \u201cBe pretty if you can, witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you.\u201d (Pretty and witty are out for me, but I do aspire to graciousness.) She richly deserves an elegant bar named in her honor.<\/p>\n

Elsie Rooftop<\/a> sits in the 25th-floor penthouse of a Midtown tower overlooking Bryant Park. Adorned with velvet banquettes, crystal chandeliers, and gilded mirrors, it pays homage to the inimitable style and panache of its namesake. Order the Elsie de Wolfe\u2014a sparkling blend of cucumber vodka, mint, lemon, rose water, and ros\u00e9\u2014then settle in to watch the Empire State Building glow in the sunset.<\/p>\n

Guardian at the W<\/p>\n

\"City,<\/p>\n

\t\tW New York- Union Square \/ Mi<\/p>\n

The Guardian Life Building, a Beaux-Arts gem crowned by a red neon marquee, is one of my favorite buildings in New York. Following a $100 million renovation, Marriott reopened the Union Square landmark as a W Hotel, one of its luxury brands.<\/p>\n

Tucked behind the famous illuminated sign, the indoor-outdoor Guardian at the W<\/a> feels like a secret clubhouse above one of Manhattan\u2019s busiest crossroads. Mercer Hospitality, the team behind Lure, Fishbar and Bowery Meat Company, oversees the food and beverage<\/a> program. The tuna tartare, Maine lobster rolls, and prime beef sliders are menu highlights. On a warm summer evening, it\u2019s one of the finest perches in Manhattan to sip a cold martini and watch rush hour melt into twilight.<\/p>\n

Refinery Rooftop<\/p>\n

\"Person,<\/p>\n

\t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n

The Refinery Hotel was once a hat factory in the Garment District, and the building still carries that same blend of old New York grit and glamour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Few rooftops frame the Empire State Building better than the Refinery Rooftop<\/a>. Pair a Paloma or Espresso Martini with truffle fries and sliders, then settle in as Midtown\u2019s lights begin to flicker on. After a few rounds above the skyline, duck downstairs to Winnie\u2019s Jazz Bar<\/a> to enjoy virtuosic live jazz in a gorgeous, speakeasy-like room.<\/p>\n

Ophelia Lounge<\/p>\n

\"Architecture,<\/p>\n

\t\tOp<\/p>\n

The historic Beekman Tower has been a Midtown East landmark since 1928. Its rooftop bar, Ophelia Lounge<\/a>, is an Art Deco sanctuary suspended above the East River. Brass fixtures, velvet banquettes, and black-and-white harlequin tile evoke the Roaring Twenties, while cutting-edge mixology keeps things firmly in the present. For the full shebang, order the Omacocktail tasting menu, an indulgent procession of miniature cocktails paired with luxurious bites like caviar bumps and tuna tartare spoons.<\/p>\n

Somewhere Nowhere<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n

Somewhere Nowhere<\/p>\n

With tropical cocktails and a rooftop pool, Somewhere Nowhere <\/a>feels like a Miami\u2013New York fusion experiment. The indoor-outdoor venue, 39 stories above Chelsea, draws a crowd that is young, hot, and eager to celebrate. Order a frozen margarita, claim a seat by the pool, and enjoy the spectacle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Fridays, Sinatra Under the Stars brings live jazz to the rooftop, while weekends ratchet up the energy with EDM DJs. For a party with a view, look no further.<\/p>\n

elNico<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tPhoto (c) 2024 Jenna Haar
\nwww.jennahaar.com El Nico \/ Je<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unconvinced that Brooklyn\u2019s skyline views can rival Manhattan\u2019s, spend an evening at elNico<\/a>, the penthouse of The Penny Williamsburg<\/a>. It\u2019s a superb date spot, even beyond the sweeping views of the East River and Williamsburg Bridge. The noise level hits that elusive Goldilocks zone\u2014lively enough to feel like New York, quiet enough to sustain a conversation.<\/p>\n

For agave devotees, the bar is practically Valhalla. Primo tequilas share shelf space with mezcals that can be difficult to find even in CDMX. Sample a flight of neat pours, but don\u2019t leave without trying the boozy horchata, creamy enough almost to be dessert.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This past winter in New York City was a humdinger\u2014blizzards shut down the MTA, sidewalks stayed slick with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251999,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[17605,17,75,9,26318,56,63,65,64,8368,11304],"class_list":["post-251998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-cocktails","tag-culture","tag-manhattan","tag-new-york","tag-newyorkcity","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-parties","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/251999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}