To visit rooftop bars in New York is as natural and popular as visiting the Statue of Liberty, Metropolitan or any other famous place in the Big Apple.
If you travel with your family and smaller kids, you should also be able to enjoy the fantastic views these venues has to offer. Therefore, we have assembled a list of great kid and family friendly rooftop bars in NYC, New York.
When you visit rooftop bars with smaller kids and teenagers, the simple rule is that you should aim to do it during daytime or early evening. When darkness sets and the clock turns a little later, pretty much all rooftops do not allow people under 21, which is the legal minimum age for alcoholic consumption.
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Here is our list of the best kid and family friendly rooftop bars in NYC, New York.
Named after its iconic location at 230 5th Avenue, this fantastic rooftop bar is not only one of NYC's most famous, but also one of the largest. With enough room to fit almost thousand guests, and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Empire State, it's easy to understand what draws crowds to this impressive destination.
230 Fifth Rooftop Bar offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with comfy lounge sofas and dining tables making up most of the furnishings. The indoor lounge is fully enclosed with floor to ceiling windows, which gives you uninterrupted views of the city.
The rooftop menu features a wide selection of food and drinks, such as beer, wines, and cocktails, both classic and signature. The food selection covers bar bites and full-fledged meals, like salmon, fish & chips, burgers, and a sizeable sushi selection.
There's also a delicious and highly popular weekend rooftop brunch, served between 11.30am to 4pm. Reservations to the 230 Fifth aren't necessary, as walk-ins are accepted, but we recommend them if you're trying to score a spot at the brunch buffet.
The 230 Fifth is open year-round, as it offers enormous umbrellas during the summer, and outside heaters for cold nights. Come winter, the 230 Fifth transforms into a winter wonderland, with rooftop igloos, and hot drinks popping up for the coldest season of the year.
Best of all for family visits, 230 Fifth always allow children of all ages as long as they are accompanied by their parent, with the exception of Friday and Saturday after 7pm.
230 FIFTH ROOFTOP BAR
The Cantor Roof Garden Bar is located on top of one of the world's most famous museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum itself is, of course, a thing of beauty, located smack in the middle of Central Park and giving visitors access to beautiful works of art.
The Cantor doesn't fall far behind, as it offers stunning views of the park and the surrounding skyscrapers, as well as a large and lush rooftop garden with park benches and comfortable tables to sit at. You can also sit down on the lawn if you're so inclined.
Wine by the glass, house-made lemonade and specialty cocktails make up the drink menu, but you can also find sandwiches and salads in case you get hungry.
Open during the warmer months, access to the rooftop is available to all museum visitors. And filled with a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere, it is a great spot to bring children and enjoy the lush views.
THE CANTOR ROOF GARDEN
Set on top of the The William Vale in Williamsburg, Westlight is a dynamic and beautiful rooftop from Chef Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality Group.
Blending indoor and outdoor seating, the 22nd floor rooftop comes surrounded with sweeping views over the Manhattan skyline, East River and the surrounding buildings in Brooklyn.
The rooftop menu features both classic and original cocktails, alongside a long list of wines, craft beer, rare spirits and some small plates with inspration of global street food.
Perfect for sunny sessions with an amazing view, but Westlight also turns into a cosy Winter Village during the colder months.
A trendy, chic and often vibrant spot during evenings, Westlight do welcome guests under the age of 21 until 6pm daily. So for visits with younger ones, try to make it on a weekend, when the rooftop opens already at noon.
WESTLIGHT
Located just above the Italian megastore Eataly, SERRA operates both as a bar and a restaurant, offering a relaxing and charming environment and a fantastic culinary experience.
While the views aren't amazing, as SERRA is an enclosed terrace, the garden-like atmosphere more than makes up for it, as you can enjoy a delicious meal in a veritable urban oasis. SERRA's greenhouse-like atmosphere is complemented by the restaurant's rustic furnishings, as well as its signature botanic-infused cocktails and cozy ambiance.
Up here, you can enjoy down to earth Italian dishes, delicious wines, craft beers, classic cocktails, and even handmade lemonades, with the menus changing by the season.
Open for lunch and dinner, SERRA does not offer a special kids menu, but as long as the younger part of the family are into Italian food, a visit here is bound to be a success. Especially during the day, when the atmosphere is more casual.
SERRA BY BIRRERIA
A large rooftop located right next to McCarren Park in Brooklyn, Berry Park is a fantastic sports bar with even better city views. From up here, you can enjoy the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn's rooftops while watching the big game, as Berry Park is best described as a soccer bar and beer garden.
As that description implies, beers are the most popular drink in Berry Park, and you can find a vast variety of them, with German and Belgian beers at the forefront. If beer isn't your thing, you can always enjoy wines, spirits, and a handful of signature cocktails.
Food-wise, expect to find bratwurst, fries, and other dishes with German influences, as well as a choice of American pub classics. There's also a brunch menu, which you can enjoy every weekend.
While the weekend nights at Berry Park might be a bit to vibrant to bring kids, other times it is a great option for a family looking to mix pub-grub and views. Especially the soccer interested family, as the rooftop opens early for Champions League and Premier League games.
BERRY PARK
Located on top of the luxury boutique hotel Sancturay Hotel, just steps away from Times Square, Haven Rooftop is an urban oasis in the heart of Manhattan.
Open all year round, the rooftop is a French Riviera-inspired hot-spot during summer, and a winter wonderland ski lodge themed venue during the colder months.
Surrounded with sprawling views of the Midtown Manhattan skyline, here you can enjoy American cuisine with a twist, as well as tasty handcrafted cocktails, wines and a good set of beers.
Open for weekday lunch and happy hour, weekend brunch, and daily dinner and bar service, Haven Rooftop has something to offer to everyone for all occasions. And happily for families, guests under 21 are allowed up until 10pm.
HAVEN ROOFTOP
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
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