darlenef17

I'll be in NYC with my adult daughter in May. We arrive at LGA at 10:45 on a Friday night and leave the following Tuesday in the afternoon. We have shows at 8:00 pm on Sat. and Mon. While we are there we wanted to have drinks at a rooftop bar, and have the best of both worlds by going at 7:00pm. We'd see NYC in the daylight, experience sunset, and see the lights at night. Because of our show commitments, Sunday was the preferred day.

The original plan (7:00 drinks at Bar Sixty-Five in the Rainbow Room; 8:30 - Dinner at Marea) hit a snag: Bar 65 is closed that day for a private event. This leaves me with the choice of going there on Monday after the show and only having the night view, or of going to another rooftop on Sunday.

Two questions:
1) Is the view at Bar 65 so superior to other rooftops that one view (nighttime only) would be better than a sunset view from the others?

2) If you think that the day/sunset/night experience is the best, please make suggestions for another place.

About me:
I'm not interested in loud music; a trendy, hip, for the "beautiful people" atmosphere; or being surrounded by a lot of intoxicated young people. I'm okay with it being "touristy" - I am a tourist... I'm looking for a nice rooftop bar with a wonderful view and nice atmosphere. Since we will be eating at Marea at 8:30, I'd like it in that general area.

Some of the places that I'm looking at are: Upstairs at the Kimberly; Print Lounge at the Ink48 Hotel; Salon de Ning at the Peninsula. I don't think any of these have the view that Bar 65 provides, and certainly not of the ESB, but opinions of each and suggestions are needed. Perhaps it's best to just go to 65 at night and get the evening view.

Inakauaidavidababy

We've stayed at the Kimberly a couple of years ago, and may return next month. We adored our suite with a balcony. And the aquarium in the lobby. We liked the roof top bar overlooking the Chrysler building. Nothing too fussy. Nice night air.

My mom was a guest one night to see a show. She loved the view, as she was a home healthcare aid to one of the architects of The Chrysler.

I've not been to the others.

darlenef17

Thank you for that information. It sounds like the Kimberly may be a sound choice. Did it seem open to you or did you feel as though you were surrounded by too many other taller buildings? It's hard to tell from the pictures I've seen.

gailscout

It wouldn't hurt to call the hotel or bar the day of to see if there are private parties booked. In mid-March on a very cold Thursday at 5:30 pm, we were turned away from 3 roof top bars due to private parties. These were around Penn Station. I'd have a good list on hand. That being said, the roof top bar at the Kimberly is very nice.

Inakauaidavidababy

Oh gosh, it was really just a nice experience and I don't have other rooftop bars to compare with. Mum was a care giver to the wife of one of the architects, not the architect. H loves his memories of that rooftop bar and hotel suite, which was just two floors down.

Beware the rooftop that gets closed for a private party before you go out of your way.

Inakauaidavidababy

What gail said!!! LOL!

ekscrunchy

Darlene I wish I could help but I have visited just a handful of these bars in the last 20 years or so, none recently. I won't tell you the last time I was at the Rainbow Room! I know that Eataly has a rooftop space but I've not been there, either. I'm sorry!

https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/...atiron/sabbia/

darlenef17

EKS - Thanks for taking a look. I think we will just go to Bar 65 @ the RR after our show on Monday. The views of the ESB look spectacular; I don't think it will be overrun by the "party crowd"; and, it seems the best option given the other choices.

We will miss out on sunset, but I'm not sure that sunset over NYC is a deal breaker. We'll also miss the day views, but we've seen those from other "high spots" in the city.

Truly, the compelling factor was the crowd that most roof top bars draw. At my age, no. Just, no.

Sixy-five with a night only view will have to do! =)

Rhea58

I've been to the rooftop bar at Eataly and there is no view - it is more of a beer garden so I would skip it

Odin

> Do you mean the Press Lounge?

darlenef17

Yes. Press. Print is the restaurant at Ink 48. My bad.

ekscrunchy

Here is a new 31st Floor rooftop place, with pizza, with a view of the Empire State, atop the Arlo NoMad Hotel:


http://www.arlohotels.com/new-york/n...nk/the-heights

http://www.theheightsarlonomad.com/

HappyTrvlr

Also take a look at Gansevoort Hotel in Meatpacking District for their rooftop bar.

luxuryjourneytrend

The most popular are Gansevoort Hotel in Meatpacking, Le Bain, and PHD Rooftop. This article has great alternatives for the best night clubs in NYC. https://goo.gl/AR5R0z

darlenef17

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really like the sound of the atmosphere at Bar Sixty-five, so we're foregoing a rooftop sunset view, and instead have made reservations there for after one of our shows. The night view of the Empire State Bldg. should be wonderful.

EKS - I'll be watching the Arlo. It hasn't opened yet, so as the new kid on the block, it may be very crowded and/or difficult to get into in mid-May. Since they haven't opened, I don't know whether they take reservations or not. Thanks for the link. It will definitely be on my radar as a Plan B.