12 Best Rooftop Restaurants in NYC [2022 UPDATE]
Skyscrapers, night lights, endless cityscape – New York City has it all. And while there are endless of wonderful restaurants to spend a nice night out over dinner and a glass of wine, a breathtaking view might seal the deal.
To help along the way, this guide presents that NYC rooftop restaurant not to miss. It doesn’t matter if you are a visitor or a homegrown New Yorker, we are sure you’ll find something you like.
For the best places to have pre- or post dinner cocktails with a view, check out our full guide to the best rooftop bars NYC.
Here is The Rooftop Guide’s listing of the 12 best rooftop restaurants NYC
1.
Westlight
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Westlight | Photo: www.westlightnyc.com/
Westlight NYC is found in Brooklyn, on top of the trendy hotel William Vale. With location outside Manhattan, this 22nd floor venue comes with an amazing and complete panoramic view over the skyline.
The rooftop restaurant and bar offers seating both in the stylish indoor lounge (with floor-to-ceiling windows), and out on the wrap-around terrace.
With an impressive and dynamic selection of classic and original cocktails, craft beer and rare spirits, Westlight might be a bit more towards a rooftop bar serving food than a full-blown rooftop restaurant. But the small plates served come in large numbers, and they are so good you would probably not mind making a full dinner out of them.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Westlight | Photo: www.westlightnyc.com/
Made by Chef Andrew Carmellini, the rooftop food menu takes inspiration from global street food. Here you can enjoy everything from Tuna Tartare Puff and Shrimp Cocktail Dumplings, to Spiced Chicken Empanadas and the Westlight Burger. Topped of with some sweet bites.
The bites are perfect to share, either as two-on-one or a larger group filling up the table. Together with the amazing views, stylish decoration and great atmosphere, Westlight is NYC rooftop restaurant perfect for most occasions.
Open nightly on weekdays and from early afternoon on weekends, Westlight is a popular spot, so reservations are recommended to make sure you get a table.
WESTLIGHT
111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Global street food
Bites: $9-32
More info
2.
Electric Lemon
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Electric Lemon | Photo: https://electriclemonnyc.com/
Hudson Yards, the newest and trendiest neighborhood in NYC, should of course have a swanky rooftop restaurant. And it sure does, thanks to the beautiful Electric Lemon.
Perched on the 24th floor of the five star Equinox Hotel, this venue is truly impressive, in more ways than one.
A sleek and expansive dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows is complemented with an 8,000 square foot rooftop garden, equipped with a monumental Jaume Plensa sculpture, fire pits, water features. And some fantastic views over Hudson River and the NYC skyline.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Electric Lemon | Photo: https://electriclemonnyc.com/
Aiming to provide ‘clean, conscious cuisine that puts flavor at the forefront’, Electric Lemon serves fresh and seasonal American dishes. The food menu is available as weekday lunch, daily dinner, as well as rooftop brunch during the weekend.
The dinner menu is divided into ‘Crudo’, ‘From The Farden’, ‘Warm and Soulful’, and mains, like the ‘Dry Aged Duck’ with confit leg, savoy cabbage & pear, or the ‘Contramar Inspired Rainbow Trout’ with poblano, avocado salsa and warm tortillas.
Make reservations for dinner and brunch, and try to get a table on the terrace. Otherwise you might have to settle for a seat at the bar, which is actually not to bad either.
ELECTRIC LEMON
33 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
Modern American
Main: ~$40
More info
3.
Republica
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Republica | Photo: www.republicanyc.com/
Set over three floors, Republica is a restaurant, lounge and rooftop, bringing a large slice of Dominican vibes to the Inwood neighborhood in Uptown Manhattan.
From the more sleek and stylish lower levels up to the lush and colorful rooftop, Republica is available year-round on all floors, thanks to covers and heaters up on the rooftop.
Open daily for dinner, and during weekends also for rooftop brunch, the large menu includes a wide selection of gourmet Dominican dishes, including an extensive array of meats and seafood prepared to perfection, served with authentic Latin sides.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Republica | Photo: www.republicanyc.com/
From appetizers like Ceviche Pop, Chimi Sliders and Quesadilla, to more filling dishes like Pasta Marinera, La Yola De Boca Chica (deep fried whole red snapper) and Rib Eye Steak, there should be something for everyone.
Monday to Friday you can also go for the ‘Tres x 3 Special’, which gives you a 1 Appetizer + 1 Entrée + 1 Drink for $30.
Apart from the tasty Latin food, Republica also offers handcrafted signature cocktails and bottle service, and you can easily stick around after dinner and continue the night in a great and vibrant atmosphere.
REPUBLICA
160 Dyckman St, New York, NY 10040
Dominican
Main: ~$30
More info
4.
RH Rooftop Restaurant
Rooftop restaurants NYC – RH Rooftop Restaurant | Photo: https://rh.com/
Found in the Meatpacking District, the upscale furniture store Restoration Hardware does not only offer five floors filled with stylish stuff for the home, it also comes with a beautiful sixth floor rooftop restaurant.
Called RH Rooftop Restaurant, the top floor venue looks quite a lot like the floors below, dressed with marble surfaces, glimmering chandeliers and fountains, but also plenty of greenery.
Blending the indoors with the outdoors, seating is available inside the garden like glass-and-steel atrium, but also on the open-air terrace, where you get the very best views over downtown Manhattan.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – RH Rooftop Restaurant | Photo: https://rh.com/
Open daily for lunch (brunch during weekends) and dinner, RH Rooftop Restaurant offers an ingredient driven, timeless and classic menu with American fare. From the RH Burger to Lobster Roll and Charred Ribeye Steak.
The food is complemented with a curated selection of craft beers and artisanal wines from esteemed vintners around the world, available both by the glass and by the bottle.
Sophisticated and chic in setting and atmosphere, RH Rooftop Restaurant is a great spot for a business lunch or a special occasion dinner. Reservations are recommended.
Elevated RH dining can also be found at other places across the US, and one of them is among the best rooftop restaurants Dallas has to offer.
RH ROOFTOP RESTAURANT
9 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014
American
Main: ~$40
Visit website
5.
SERRA by Birreria
Rooftop restaurants NYC – SERRA by Birreria | Photo: www.eataly.com/
On top of the Italian megastore Eataly in the Flatiron district, you find the rooftop garden La Birreria. The last couple of years it has been “taken over” by the pop-up restaurant SERRA, hence the name: SERRA by Birreria.
Serra means ‘greenhouse’ in Italian, and this is indeed a very lush venue. It is almost like leaving New York City and stepping into the Italian countryside.
Thanks to a retractable roof, the rooftop restaurant is open year round. Colorful during the warmer months, and with a cozy, snow-covered atmosphere in winter.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – SERRA by Birreria | Photo: www.eataly.com/
The SERRA menu also changes by the season, but always has firm roots in the rustic and Italian, as well as products from local and regional producers.
As you would expect from an Italian menu, it ranges from antipasti (starters) through insalate (salads) to piatti (plates). ‘Calamari Fritti’, ‘Prosciutto e Mozzarella di Bufala’, ‘Risotto alla Barbietola’ or a ‘NY Strip Steak’, it’s all up to you.
To go with the food, there is a large selection of natural and biodynamic wines (you are almost in Italy), a large selection of beer (it is La Birreria), but also an impressive range of creative and seasonal botanical cocktails.
SERRA by Birreria is open for both lunch and dinner, and as it is a popular NYC rooftop restaurant, reservations are recommended. Especially for dinner. Expect a fun and vibrant atmosphere in a large crowd.
SERRA BY BIRRERIA
200 Fifth Ave, New York, 10010
Italian
Main: ~$30
More info
6.
Sushi Lab
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Sushi Lab | Photo: https://sushilab.nyc/
Sushi Lab is a recently opened NYC rooftop restaurant, perched on top of the luxury boutique Sancturay Hotel in the heart of Times Square, and neighbor with the Haven Rooftop Bar.
With hanging greenery and basket lights, the outdoor rooftop terrace overlooks Midtown, in a setting that is towrads intimate and charming. There are plenty of regular tables, but also 8 seats at the chef’s counter.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Sushi Lab | Photo: https://sushilab.nyc/
Up here you can enjoy both unique creations on traditional sushi. Go for a 15-course omakase menu, or choose between nigiri, sashimi, maki and other Japanese delights from the á la carte menu. Complementing the food is a selection of sake, Japanese whiskey & beer, creative cocktails and wine.
Open for lunch and dinner, Sushi Lab NYC is the perfect rooftop for a tasty lunch or a romantic dinner. Or just about anytime you want a Japenese dining experience to remember.
SUSHI LAB
132 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
Japanese
Rolls: ~$18 / Omakase: $60-120
Visit website
7.
VERSA NYC
Rooftop restaurants NYC – VERSA | Photo: www.versanyc.com/
With a prime location, just around the corner from Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, VERSA NYC is a modern rooftop restaurant with generous opening hours.
Available from early breakfast to late dinner, this trendy and spacious venue offers seating both indoors and out on the rooftop terrace. A retractable roof makes sure the terrace can be used for both open and airy summer days, as well as cosy winter nights.
Set five floors up at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel, VERSA is not sky-high, but still comes with impressive views of the Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – VERSA | Photo: www.versanyc.com/
With the generous opening ours comes several menus, and VERSA has seperate ones for breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. But they all take inspiration from modern American gastro food.
Choose between pasta, salads, flatbreads, burgers and sliders. The VERSA rooftop restaurant menu will most likely hold something suitable for everyone.
Visit for a sunny lunch, a fun dinner or start the weekend with a great NYC rooftop brunch. Walk-ins are welcome and the rooftop is spacious, but reservations are still recommended, especially for larger parties.
VERSA NYC
218 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
American gastro food
Main: ~$20
More info
8.
Gallow Green
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Gallow Green | Photo: https://mckittrickhotel.com/
Set on top of the McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea, NYC, Gallow Green is truly a green oasis above the concrete jungle. The epithet ‘rooftop garden’ is oh so fitting for this rooftop restaurant.
Surrounded by plants and greenery, the rooftop terrace still offers an open and airy feel, and you can catch cool glimpses of the Manhattan skyline. Even though there are venues with more dramatic views, Gallow Green is still very well worth a visit.
Especially thanks to the lovely ambience. Fun, casual, vibrant, and as many of the seats are at community benches, so you should be prepared to make some new friends.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Gallow Green | Photo: https://mckittrickhotel.com/
The dinner menu at Gallow Green rooftop restaurant is fresh, but pretty simple, with a selection of Salads, Pizzas and some Sandwiches (ranging from Burger and Cubano to Lobster Roll). There is also a Raw Bar with Oysters and Shrimp Cocktail.
To go with the food, there is a nice selection of NYC area brews, a few choices of wine and a really nice list of specialty cocktails.
The McKittrick Hotel is also home to the popular show ‘Sleep No More’, so Gallow Green is the obvious choice for a rooftop dinner / cocktails before or after a show. Or forget about dinner and visit for the famous weekend brunch buffet. One of the best rooftop brunches in NYC, mixing tasty food and live entertainment.
The rooftop garden at Gallow Green is seasonal, so it’s only available during the warmer months. But part of the winter, the rooftop transform into The Lodge, where you can enjoy food and drinks inside a mountainside ski cabin.
GALLOW GREEN
530 W 27th St, New York, 1000
Salad / Pizzas / Sandwiches
Main: ~$22
More info
9.
Social Drink & Food
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Social Drink & Food | Photo: www.onfournyc.com/
Social Drink & Food is located on the 4th floor of YOTEL, and the al-fresco terrace is NYC’s largest outdoor hotel space.
With room for about 400 people, it is not only spacious, but also offers great views over Times Square and the surrounding skyscrapers.
Open daily for both lunch and dinner, and a popular after work-spot, the Social Drink & Food rooftop is also used for other activities from time to time. Like NYC rooftop cinema, miniature golf and other events.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Social Drink & Food | Photo: www.onfournyc.com/
The Social Drink and Food rooftop menu offers delicious, global-inspired street food. Here you can enjoy stuff like ‘Falafel Sandwich, ‘Labanese Burrito’, ‘Laffa Kebab’ or a ‘Chicken Schnitzel’.
Relaxed and “loungy” in setting and atmosphere, most seating on the rooftop terrace is either comfy sofas or community benches. So it is not your NYC rooftop restaurant for a fancy dinner, but rather a great place to grab some food and drinks with a view.
The Social Drink & Food terrace is open during the warmer season, but the rooftop bar and restaurant also share floor with the indoor venue Green Fig. Here you can indulge in New American cuisine from breakfast to late-night, year round.
SOCIAL DRINK & FOOD
570 10th Ave. New York, NY 10036
Global street food
Main: ~$18
More info
10.
230 Fifth
Rooftop restaurants NYC – 230 Fifth | Photo: www.230-fifth.com/
New York’s largest outdoor rooftop garden, and one of the most famous rooftops in NYC. Mostly for the nightlife vibe, weekend brunch and winter igloos. But 230 Fifth also serves a pretty impressive food menu throughout the day.
While they state: “We are primarily a bar that serves food, not a rooftop restaurant”, you can definitely visit 230 Fifth for a late lunch or dinner, without fear of walking away hungry.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – 230 Fifth | Photo: www.230-fifth.com/
To some really magical views of the Manhattan skyline, with the Empire State Building as a mighty focal point, you can indulge in a varied menu. There are appetizers great to share, like ‘Beef Sliders’ and ‘Mini Chicken Tacos’, along with more filling entrees, like ‘Miso Glazed Salmon’ and ‘Burger’.
There is also a sushi-menu, with a large selection of different rolls. And during weekends, a fantastic NYC rooftop brunch.
230 Fifth rooftop is a year-round venue, not only thanks to the fully enclosed indoor lounge with panoramic windows. The outdoor terrace is also equipped with heaters and rooftop igloos, so it’s even an outdoor/indoor venue year-round.
230 FIFTH
230 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
American / Sushi
Main: ~$20 / Sushi Roll: ~$18
More info
11.
Cantina Rooftop
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Cantina Rooftop | Photo: https://cantinarooftop.com/
Found in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan, Cantina Rooftop is a colorful year-round rooftop restauarant and bar, mixing authentic Mexican food with panoramic views over the NYC skyline.
With a climate-controlled retractable glass rooftop, the spacious Cantina is a great venue for all weather conditions. And with a fun, friendly and vibrant atmosphere, it is pretty much perfect fo all moods as well.
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Cantina Rooftop | Photo: https://cantinarooftop.com/
Open daily for dinner, the Cantina Rooftop menu includes everything from ceviches, guacamoles, tostaditas and tacos to signature house specials like the Grilled Black Angus Arrachera Steak with roasted potatoes, or the Pollo Campestre served with Grandma’s mole negro and green rice.
Apart from colorful food, the rooftop bar serves a wide and fun selection of signature cocktails, including the Don Diego Santa Skull Margarita. During weekends you can also head up to Cantina for one of the best rooftop brunch NYC has to offer.
Walk-ins are welcome, but Cantina Rooftop is a popular place, so reservations are recommended, especially if you plan to eat.
CANTINA ROOFTOP
605 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
Mexican
Main: ~$25
More info
12.
Refinery Rooftop
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Refinery Rooftop | Photo: https://refineryrooftop.com/
Open 7 days a week and year-round, Refinery Rooftop is definitely a NYC rooftop restaurant and bar for many occasions.
Found at the five star Refinery Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, this is a venue packed with an industrial chic design, fashionable and fun vibes, as well as majestic views of the Empire State Building and the Manhattan skyline
Rooftop restaurants NYC – Refinery Rooftop | Photo: https://refineryrooftop.com/
During daytime you can head up to Refinery and enjoy a full lunch menu created by Culinary Director Jeff Haskell, including everything from Double Patty Burger and Fennel Sausage Flatbread, to Caesar Salad and Pan Roasted Atlantic Salmon. By night, the focus is more on small bites, crafted signature cocktails and vibes.
With a focus on healthy, natural and sustainable products, Refinery Rooftop also offers a great rooftop brunch every weekend. From 11am to 3.30pm you can indulge in Waffles, Eggs Benedict and brunch cocktails.
REFINERY ROOFTOP
63 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018
New American
Main: ~$25
More info
Tip: Looking for more elevated dining with majestic skyline views? Check out our list of the best rooftop restaurants Chicago. Or maybe mix it up with some ocean views at one of the rooftop restaurants Los Angeles has to offer.
Written by:
The Rooftop Guide
– The world’s leading experts on rooftop venues