Trying to find a rooftop below 59th where the vibe is actually talk to your friends, not scream over a DJ and wait 20 min for a rail spot. I know the big hotel places with wraparound lines and bottle lists. Not doing that on a random Wednesday. Does a mid-size rooftop exist that takes walk-ins after work, has a real drink list, and doesn’t turn into a nightclub by 8? Or is that extinct above 14th? Specifics appreciated.

Extinct above 14th? Pretty much, but there are still a couple holdouts around the high 20s/low 30s that feel more like hotel lobby spillover than a club. The roof at the Ace on 29th is usually slammed by 6:30 if it’s warm, but if you post up at the bar seats early it’s not terrible. Also check the place at 48th and Lex, forget the name, it’s above a hotel mid-block. They used to do no DJ on Mondays/Wednesdays, but that may have changed. If you just want air and a beer, I’d honestly go to a sidewalk bar with a back patio before a rooftop.

Not OP but following this. I moved to the city six months ago and still haven’t found a rooftop that doesn’t treat me like I’m boarding a flight. Do you need to be on a list for the 48th and Lex spot? Also is there a dress code thing? I showed up to one in Gowanus once in shorts and they gave me the 'not tonight' look before I even opened my mouth. Maybe I’m doing these wrong.

@Gowanus_G I forgot about the Lex hotel one — is that the spot with the indoor lounge ahead of the terrace? I think I went years ago and it was dead at 5, then by 7 there’s a line for the elevator. Might try it this week. @new_in_brooklyn some of these places do have a bouncer/gatekeeper setup, especially after work on a nice day. If you go before 5:30 in normal clothes you’re fine. Later, it’s a whole mood.

That’s the one. The terrace is small, so they gatekeep once the after-work wave hits. In shorts I’d say daytime only. Honestly for the 'talk and drink' requirement, I’ve had better luck at the back patio of the Gowanus Inn or whatever that place near the canal calls itself now. Not a rooftop, but nobody is waiting with a clipboard. @new_in_brooklyn if you want a real rooftop with no scene, try Staten Island or Jersey City — but that’s a whole different plan.

Update: I tried the 48th and Lex spot last night around 5:15. Got a seat at the bar no problem, but by 6:30 people were two deep behind me. The view was nice but I could barely hear the bartender after a while. Still, thanks for the tip. @Gowanus_G what’s the name of the Gowanus place? I’m in Brooklyn so that’s easier. Is it outdoor or just a walled patio?

@new_in_brooklyn yeah that’s the thing, even the 'quiet' ones fill up because there are only a handful. If you can swing a Tuesday at 3:30 it’s a dream, but nobody lives like that. I might start doing fire escapes like the old days, ha. But seriously, the Ace roof can work if you grab the bench by the windows, not the bar. Gowanus_G might be onto something with patios.

@new_in_brooklyn I think it’s literally called The Gowanus Inn or Gowanus Social — it’s on 4th Ave near the gas station? The back is mostly open but covered, with that weird canal smell depending on the wind. Cheap and no dress code. @HellsKitchen_H the bench by the windows is the move, but only if two of you go. Three or more and you’re fighting for chairs until 9.

Wait, does Gowanus smell bad? I keep hearing canal jokes but didn’t realize it’s actually at the bar. The outdoor patio sounds great in theory, but if it smells like low tide maybe not for a first date. Do the rooftop spots by the East River just smell like bus exhaust instead? I have so much to learn.

The canal can get funky, especially after a hot day. Not kill-you bad, but if you’re trying to impress someone, maybe do the East River spot on a day with an actual breeze. There’s one over by Beekman area that’s mostly open but still lounge-y. For what you described, I’d do the 48th rooftop early and jump to a quiet bar with a patio after. That’s how we survive.