The High Life Atop New York's Hotels: 16 Rooftop Heated Bars for Winter Celebrations

Manhattan’s high life is hotter than that of many major cities, including the home turf of the visiting Super Bowl teams. Denver has a scenic Rocky Mountain backdrop, and Seattle has the famous Space Needle. But the Big Apple has a growing number of hotel rooftop lounges with panoramic skyline views. The heat is on at many of these bars, now winterized with tents, heat lamps, or glass-enclosed with retractable roofs. So revelers can capture the outdoor spirit and sip a “Mad Mojito” without the Arctic chill. PRNewser compiled a list of rooftop venues where you don't need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the festive ambiance. Nearly all are open to the general public and can be set up for private events, though a few are for hosting groups only. These bars, located in midtown and downtown, on the east and west sides, range from casual to chic. But be sure to check ahead to see if the space is booked that night, or you may end up back on ground control. The upcoming Super Bowl will attract 80,000 spectators to the Meadowlands, and another 400,000 are expected to converge on New York for related events. At these lofty escapes, you may still be able to look out towards New Jersey over the Hudson River (or perhaps spot traffic on the now infamous GW Bridge). While hardcore football fans will brave the elements, literally blanketing the open-air stadium, cameras are the only gear needed for the elevated bar scene. However, the Super Bowl isn’t the only game in town, or out of town, this season. There are plenty of other occasions this winter to raise the roof, including: • Sports events: Australian Open tennis tournament, Sochi Winter Olympics, March Madness basketball • Media/Entertainment events: Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, Social Media Week, Fashion Week NY Here’s a brief profile of the hotspots, with Images below courtesy of each venue. They’re not rank-ordered, but organized according to location, from midtown to downtown. Midtown West and Lincoln Center Area 1. Empire Hotel - Rooftop Location: West 63rd Street Views: of Lincoln Center Atmosphere: upscale Space design: wraparound terraces, indoor lounge Decor/Features: modern, earthtone motif 2. Ink 48 Hotel - Press Lounge Location/ # Floor: West 48th Street/16th floor Views: of Hudson River and sunsets Atmosphere: upscale Size of space: holds up to 172 patrons Decor/Features: large deck with reflecting pool, portable fireplace 3. Sanctuary Hotel - Haven Bar Location: West 47th Street (not far from Super Bowl Blvd., on Broadway from 37-47 Sts) Views: of midtown NYC Atmosphere: casual Size of space: 2,500 square feet Decor/Features: tented and heated, cabanas, greenery 4. Refinery29 Hotel Roortop Location: West 38th Street (not far from Super Bowl Blvd.) Views: of Empire State Building Atmosphere: trendy Decor/Features: brick fireplace, wood paneled 5. Strand Hotel – Top of the Strand Location/ # Floor: West 37th Street/21st floor (not far from Super Bowl Blvd.) Views: of NYC midtown skyline Atmosphere: chic, casual Decor/Features: retractable roof 6. Marriott Courtyard - Monarch Lounge Location: West 35th Street (not far from Super Bowl Blvd.) Views: of Empire State Building (also image upper left) Atmosphere: casual Size of space: 5,000 square feet, holds up to 500 patrons Decor/Features: Outdoor enclosed terrace, glass ceilinged indoor bar Midtown East 7. Peninsula Hotel - Salon de Ning Location: 5th Avenue and 55th Street Views: of midtown NYC, MoMA sculpture garden Atmosphere: luxury, chic Space design: 2 large outdoor terraces and lounge Decor/Features: Asian influences, Shanghai deco, art collection 8. Kimberly Hotel - Upstairs Location/ # Floor: East 50th Street, 31st floor Views: wraparound vistas includes Chrysler Building and East River (also image upper right) Atmosphere: upscale Space design/Size: 3 separate indoor/outdoor areas, 3,000 square feet, holds up to 250 patrons Decor/Features: greenery, fireplace, heat lamps, 2 flatscreen TVs for Super Bowl Sunday 9. Roosevelt Hotel - Mad46 Location/ # Floor: East 46th Street/19th floor Views: of western midtown NYC Atmosphere: upscale Space design: glassed-in indoor lounge Decor/Features: home of the 'Mad Mojito' * Private events only in winter 10. Library Hotel - Bookmarks Location/ # Floor: East 41st Street/14th floor Views: cityscapes of midtown NYC Atmosphere: casual salon style Decor/Features: high ceilinged greenhouse * Private events only in winter Flatiron, Gramercy, Fashion, Meatpacking Districts 11. Gansevoort Hotel Park Avenue - Rooftop Location/ # Floor: East 29th Street/ 20th floor Views: of Empire State Building Atmosphere: trendy Space design: 6 separate areas, atrium style Decor/Features: pool, indoor/outdoor fireplaces, wraparound terraces 12. Hilton Fashion District - Rare View Rooftop Location: West 26th Street Views: 360 degree views of NYC skyline Atmosphere: casual Space design: wraparound glass enclosed terraces Decor/Features: hosts Game Day events 13. Gramercy Park Hotel - Gramercy Terrace Location/ # Floor: East 21st Street/18th floor Views: of Gramercy Park, downtown skyline Atmosphere: luxury, chic Size of space: 1,500 square feet, multiple areas hold up to 250 patrons Decor/Features: outside gardens, interior salons, modern artworks * Private events only year-round 14. Gansevoort Hotel - Meatpacking - the Plunge Location/ # Floor: on 9th Avenue near Hudson Street/15th floor Views: 360 degrees of Hudson River and sunsets Atmosphere: trendy Space design: wraparound balconies Decor/Features: indoor loft, DJ booth Downtown: SoHo and Lower East Side 15. Hotel Chantelle - Rooftop Location: Ludlow Street, lower east side Views: of downtown NYC Atmosphere: casual Decor/Features: hotel in name only, picnic style benches 16. Jimmy at the James Hotel Location/ # Floor: Thompson Street in SoHo/18th floor Views: 360 degree vistas river to river, Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge Atmosphere: trendy Decor/Features: pool deck, working fireplaces, enclosed bar That wraps up our “sweet 16” of the heated rooftop bar scene. As locals and PRs know, and visitors will discover, it’s not just New York style hospitality and pizza (with or without a fork) that makes the city worth a trip.

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The High Life Atop New York's Hotels: 16 Rooftop Heated Bars for Winter Celebrations

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