The best rooftop restaurants in NYC

Located by the former Fulton Fish Market and the waterfront at Pier 17, The Fulton provides an authentic seafood experience on the East River. It’s one of the many brainchildren of Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, a love letter to the sea in its location, menu, and decor. Murals and design pay homage to maritime culture and nautical motifs, while wooden beams and roped lighting fixtures evoke a seafaring ambiance.

The changing menu is, of course, seafood-centered, offering crudos and raw bars as well as classic fish dishes and meats for the contrary among you. Drinks include craft cocktails, beers and a middling wine menu. Group diners can enjoy Jean Georges’ Friends & Family Feast, a family-style meal of the Chef’s favorite signature and seasonal dishes. There are six private dining options to choose from, from 12 seated guests in the intimate private dining room or 70 seated on the breezy outdoor terrace. A full buyout accommodates up to 150 guests.

60 floors up the iconic 28 Liberty Street tower is Manhatta, a sleek 38,000 sq. ft. restaurant and event space celebrating the majesty and beauty of New York City. Depending on where you sit, the floor-to-ceiling windows expansively frame Uptown, Downtown, and Brooklyn, but the view is just a bonus.

Manhatta’s New American menu features soulful, refined dishes that use both traditional and experimental techniques and ingredients. Splurge on three or four courses, which include hamachi with kumquat and saffron, dry aged duck with strawberry and pistachio, or farro verde with mushrooms and comté cheese. The wine list is long and includes their acclaimed Burgundy selection, and a section of their cocktail list highlights neighborhood-inspired drinks like the Chinatown and the Astoria.

There are several options for private dining and events. A full restaurant buyout accommodates up to 150 seated guests, the East River-facing dining room seats 35, and the Whitman ballroom, a dedicated event space, hosts 175 seated guests or 250 standing.

Situated atop the Penny Hotel in Williamsburg, the windows at elNico present a privilege view of the neighborhood, showcasing both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. The interior is colorful, with a bright, textile-inspired rug and vibrant lounge seating, lined with cacti and palms.

The menu is inspired by the chef’s childhood in Mexico. You’ll find small plates like mushroom tetela and fluke aguachile, along with tacos and larger dishes like carne asada. Bar has Mexican-influenced cocktails and well-loved classics, using agave-based spirits to create the Cranberry Hibiscus Margarita or the New York Sour.

Events can be accommodated indoors or outdoors on the terrace. Contact the venue to learn more.

This 14th-floor oasis evokes the lush greenery and laid-back ambiance of the Southern Italian countryside. The enclosed space is brimming with flowers and vines, which change with the seasons to keep it festive, and a backdrop of the Flatiron District means you get the best of both worlds.

Chefs use seasonal ingredients to transport diners through vibrant, authentic, and fresh dishes. The pastas are made in-house daily and include spring pea & asparagus ravioli and squid ink cavatelli. Or, you can opt for a main dish like Halibut or Branzino. The cocktail list features twists on classics like the Dill Martini or Spring Old Fashioned, and an impressive wine list is also available.

Rent the space for 120 seated guests or 200 standing. Contact the venue for more details.

Among the volleyball courts and playgrounds of Brooklyn Bridge Park, you’ll find Fornino, a casual rooftop pizza spot offering wood-fired pies and views of Manhattan and Lady Liberty. Ideal in the summer, enjoy a slice with friends at the communal picnic tables under festive string lights.

To start, you can order apps like meatballs and mac and cheese. The pizza includes calabrese, truffle & mushrooms, fig & prosciutto, and a Chef’s special using “Michael’s whim”. What does whim taste like, you may ask? You’ve just got to try it to find out. If pizza isn’t your thing, we’d be shocked, but you can also order salads, sandwiches, and hot dogs. Wash it all down with wine, beer, seasonal sangria, and cocktails like Respect Your Elders, made with rose petal gin, lemon, and mint.

The rooftop hosts up to 50 guests, but you can also book the ground-level terrace (max. 200) or the indoor cafe (max. 110) for private events.