Eight Rooftop Bars You Won’t Want to Come Down From

By Rae Witte

A quality drink can be tough to come by at any height above sea level. But it’s the dog days of summer, the concrete is blistering, the city is now entering a fifth year of subtropical climate classification, and, with outdoor dining getting 86’ed across the boroughs, who could blame you for looking to the sky for reprieve? When you’re on the hunt for a little breeze and a big break from the humidity, the best rooftop bars in Brooklyn offer both and plenty more.

So here’s where to go for views, brews, and whatever vibes you might be looking for.

Courtesy of Harriet’s

Harriet’s at One Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
60 Furman St.

Harriet’s is the One Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s rooftop, and it’s arguably the best view on this list. The Statue of Liberty, the whole of downtown, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, jet skiers up the Hudson with the sun setting below Battery Park–it’s all really beautiful and fully in-view from their perch along the park. Outside of the pool, it’s open to the public. But it’s also a top-shelf hotel (and accordingly pricey). Both rooftop and lounge locations require a minimum spend per person ($75 to $125), depending on the day of the week.

Courtesy of elNico

elNico at The Penny Hotel
288 N 8th St.

elNico is more than just a view. Unlike some of your elevated options here, The Penny Hotel’s haunt holds up in all weather. The boucle dining chairs and couches complement the greenery inside and out. A massive but understated Yuko Nishikawa mobile adds more color, and together they make for a bright spot up high to shelter you from any summer thunderstorm or otherwise. This spot is awesome for groups and/or dates, the cocktail list is fun (each specialty drink has an IYL comparison), the chef is new, and the FOH team knows just which bottles to pair with your food orders.

Photo by Lucas Vasilko for Bar Blondeau

Bar Blondeau at The Wythe Hotel
80 Wythe Ave.

This summer deserves at least one sunset at Bar Blondeau, which sits on the sixth floor of The Wythe Hotel and is the sexiest on this list by any metric. The lighting is sexy, the pale green marble tables are sexy, the glassware is sexy, the curve of the mirrors on the unironic wood-paneled walls is, you guessed it, sexy, and the food especially presents beautifully. It is also perhaps the least touristy of the hotel options here. Pull up for happy hour (exclusively at the bar, Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and grab a seat facing west for breathtaking skylines and stellar sunsets.

Courtesy of Cherry on Top

Cherry On Top
379 Suydam St.

White wrought iron furniture, picnic tables, and string lights backdrop this natural wine bar in Bushwick. The regular menu includes picky food—like tinned fish, bread, and olives—which is routinely supported and expanded by events and pop-ups. This can be anything from cake decorating for Mother’s Day to hot dogs and champagne for the 4th of July. Already reasonably priced, they have $9 pours at their happy hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and their wine selection is extensive. There’s no table service, but that adds to the unfussiness of it all. A cute walk to the bar and back presents a perfect opportunity to scan the floor and return to the table with a proper scene report just in time to catch a sunset without any high rises in the way.

Courtesy of Hank’s Bar

Hank’s Bar
613 Bushwick Ave.

Located where Stanwix Street intersects with Bushwick Ave (right by Rebecca’s), Hank’s doesn’t exactly have a view—but it’s busy, right off the Myrtle/Broadway stop, and it’s the newest of the bunch. From the outside, it looks like you could pick it up and drop it in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it wouldn’t at all be out of place. The interior is wood-paneled and furnished with quirky vintage decor, and the drink prices are also seemingly borrowed from another area code. Most beers are under $8, wines are $12, and cocktails are $14-ish, so there’s no need to worry about what damage you’ve done the next morning.

Courtesy of Westlight

Westlight at The William Vale
111 N. 12th St.

At a time when great service is few and far between, Westlight impresses. Much like elNico, the cocktail menu is inventive, but also lets you know which of the classics most resemble their specialty offerings. As it’s located in one of the more luxurious Brooklyn properties, Westlight looks and feels like Manhattan if it had a view of itself, which makes it a great option if you have family and friends visiting or just want a more upscale venue for a date that doesn’t require cabbing through a bridge or tunnel.

Courtesy of Juliette

Juliette
135 N 5th St.

More of a brunch vibe or for an earlier evening, this cozy French bistro off the bustling main strip of Bedford Avenue has a surprisingly relaxed, very chic rooftop. Even in the heart of Williamsburg, it manages to feel tucked away. It’s sunny without being sweltering, with a covered bar and plenty of umbrellas.

Courtesy of Vacations

Vacations
48 Cypress Ave.

Vacations is as if a dive bar—a la the late Max Fish or 101 Wilson—cleaned up their act and added a sprawled out terrace to their space. Think: Bushwick’s Margaritaville, where there’s plenty of seating, millennial hits, and solid views. It’s dog-friendly, there are bar games, and more than likely, there will be shots. It might feel like your Tinder or Feeld message graveyard IRL, but who wouldn’t have fun with that? Happy hour is $2 off everything, which is amazing because their drink prices are already more than reasonable.