Best Rooftop Bars in New York to Visit in the Winter

Don’t let the cold weather hinder you from enjoying your favorite cocktail while taking in views of the New York skyline this winter. There are several great rooftop venues open year-round; here are a few of the best.

If you can manage to get into Jimmy at the James, the rooftop bar at Tribeca’s James Hotel, it’s worth the hassle. The 18^th-floor bar offers fireplaces, comfy velvet sofas and views of the Downtown skyline, along with a menu of warming libations like mescal-spiked Mexican hot chocolate.

Located 20 stories above Manhattan, Plunge at Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC offers panoramic views of the Empire State Building and 5^th Avenue from the bar’s rooftop pool and wrap-around terraces. The bar and lounge specializes in brunch, small bites and seasonal menus. For views of the Hudson, head to the other Plunge bar and lounge at Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, offering the same great food and cocktails, served at a stylish bar with a translucent roof offering views and natural light during the cold months of winter.

Scope the city’s skyline 365 days a year from the sleek Press Lounge at Kimpton Ink48 Hotel on the western edge of Hell’s Kitchen. Enjoy seasonal cocktails, fire pits and views of the city lights from the glass-walled interior space on the hotel’s 16^th floor.

In the winter, Eataly’s rooftop beer garden atop the Flatiron marketplace transforms into an Italian ski chalet, where you can cozy up with a blanket on rustic log-constructed furniture beneath heat lamps and pine trees, enjoying warm cocktails and Italian comfort food.

Though sometimes crowded, Refinery Rooftop in the Garment District is a great “outdoor” option in the winter. The bar features exposed brick walls, industrial-style furniture, a fireplace and a retractable glass-covered rooftop, so you feel like you’re outside while staying warm.