By"best" view mean of skyline or water??
will be in NYC 3rd week of March...I know some of the nice " view "establishments in Central Park do not open until mid April.
Suggestions appreciated...

"best" per your definition would be Top of the Rock" - no better skyline view anywhere.


www.topoftherocknyc.com

New York has literally hundreds of "best" places to get a drink. What type of crowd/age range are you seeking?

Without knowing the answer to that question, a few suggestions:

* Rise, Ritz-Carlton Battery Park -- great views of the Harbor & Statue of Liberty

* PenTop Bar, Peninsula Hotel, 5th Avenue -- great views

* Hotel Gansevoort rooftop bar -- views, hipster crowd ... and look down at the exclusive SoHo House.

There are also any number of places in Times Square for a view of the lights & neon, but I personally avoid those like the plague.

Enjoy!

As far as I know, one can not purchase a drink at the recently reopened "Top of the Rock." But I guess you could sneak up a flask.

Gekko is correct. There is no bar atop the Top of the Rock.

This is a group of late 20's couples. I bet they would like Hotel Gransvoort
roof top bar...I am guessing it is not a place with a strict dress code???
sounds like fun...
Thanks

How about Campbell's apt. in Grand Central (the Vanderbilt side).

The View at the Marriott Marquis is worth a look. http://www.nymarriottmarquis.com/hotel/view.asp