Can you access the rooftop cafe without paying museum admission? Various reviews make it sound as if you can just pop in for a drink before dinner (some explicitly say that) but I don't see that you can access the cafe without already being in the museum. Thanks.

You must pay (suggested) admission.

Since the Met asks for voluntary donation ($20) instead of a mandatory admission, you can of course go in without paying. You'll just get the evil eye from the agents at the ticket desk.

If you want to avoid the evil eye, you can pay a smaller amount as your donation.

Keep in mind that the cafe will close without warning due to weather or the whims of the Met.

Thank you, that was very helpful. On one had I think it would be very tacky to visit the museum without paying. But I wonder if I could mention we were just going for a drink. That I'll keep my eyes closed as we walk by the art. Hmmm.

christy1, just to clear things up, you cannot get into the Met without paying something. Yes, you can give them a quarter--or even a penny. (I wish everyone would get over the "evil eye" stuff here )
Not one clerk at the Met will do anything but hand you a receipt and a button acknowledging your contribution, no matter how minimal.

By the way, the view from the roof is lovely but
-the "cafe" is just a small stand selling drinks and snacks
-the exhibit on the roof this year takes over virtually every inch of available standing space. Usually there are sculptures in various spots, but this year it's so crowded that you now have to exit by going down stairs since it's too tight to retrace your steps back to the elevator on which you came up

Go into the museum store on the right, go up the elevator in the back and exit to your right. You're in the museum, no dealing with admissions.

"Go into the museum store on the right, go up the elevator in the back and exit to your right. You're in the museum, no dealing with admissions."

Yes, that's called "sneaking into the museum".
You still have to pass many museum guards along the way to get all the way to the back elevators up to the roof garden. Though they certainly don't spend their day looking for the button that proves that you paid your admission, they still are supposed to, and allowed to ask for it.

I'm going to assume the suggestion was meant as a joke

Christy - Mentioning that you are just going to the roof for a drink will not gain you admission - without a button. You could say the same for the Engelhard Court. These spaces are actually devoted to display of art as are all other galleries of the museum. Posting how to "sneak into" the museum is something less than ethical. Yes - there are posted suggested admission fees for adults, seniors, and young and you can offer what you will. But - the reason the museum has this policy is to encourage those who cannot afford the suggested admission the opportunity to visit. If one cannot afford the suggested admission - offer what you can afford.

When we went to the roof top in July, 2009, it was packed with young people hanging out and sitting all over the place. It was unpleasant. We left quickly so as not to sully our happy memories of the place. HTTY