Ever wondered how to spend the weekend afternoon while in New York City? Well, probably not. But in between all other things to see and do, you have to eat. And the very best option would be to have a rooftop brunch in NYC!
Not only will you silence the little hungry fella in your stomach, but at the same time you can soak in panoramic views over the Big Apple. Brunch with a view is a win-win in all ways possible.
To help you out we have put together the ultimate guide to the best spots for a rooftop brunch in New York. From Hell's Kitchen to Lower East Side. Looking for a bottomless brunch in NYC? We got you covered.
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Here's our list of the best rooftop brunches in NYC
Perched on top of the five star Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards, Electric Lemon is an impressive 8,000 square foot rooftop garden. And not at all just impressive in size, as the very stylish terrace comes complete with a monumental Jaume Plensa sculpture and fantastic views over Hudson River and the city skyline.
Celebrating the passionate farmers, growers and artisans of the Mid-Atlantic, transforming their pristine products into clean, conscious cuisine served as light bites and seasonal offerings nightly, Electric Lemon also serves a lovely rooftop brunch every weekend.
The brunch menu is divided into Cold & Raw, From The Garden, Getting Started (bowls), Brunch & Farm Eggs and Sandwiches. A lot of options, and surely there is something for everyone.
Complemented with freshed squeezed juices and a full drink menu, Electric Lemon is a special place perfect for special occasions.
ELECTRIC LEMON
Haven Rooftop NYC is found smack in the middle of things. Perched on top of the luxury boutique Sancturay Hotel, you are just about one minute away from both Times Square and Rockefeller Center.
The light and airy rooftop bar offers great views over Midtown Manhattan, along with modern American cuisine. And on weekends, this cuisine is served as a fantastic rooftop brunch. The generous brunch menu includes a wide selection of Brunch Classics (with a brunch pizza), Salads, Haven Sliders and a lovely Lobster Roll.
To keep the brunch-mode on top, the regular drinks and cocktails can be replaced with Bottomless Mimosas. 1 hour of free flow cost $28 per person.
Set over several levels, and with dining areas both out on the terrace and inside panoramic glass walls, Haven Rooftop is both spacious, vibrant and beautiful. And popular, so it's not a bad idea to make reservations for your Saturday and / or Sunday rooftop brunch.
Note that the Have Rooftop dress code is business casual, which means no gym gear, hats, denim shorts, sneakers or flip flops. So dress for a rooftop brunch success.
HAVEN ROOFTOP
A luxurious cocktail bar, located on the 30th floor of the fantastic Kimberly Hotel & Suites, in the east part of Midtown Manhattan. So usually a spot for fancy drinks and great views of many of New York's skyscrapers. But on weekends also for a lovely rooftop brunch.
Served between 11am to 4pm, the brunch menu is quite impressive. Here you find starters like Seasonal Fruit & Berries, salads, different type of eggs, some sweets like Blueberry Pancakes and Buttermilk Waffles, and more filling stuff like the Kobe Burger or Upstairs Lobster Roll. There are also some healthy and fruity Wake Up & Refresh smoothies.
No brunch is complete without some drinks, and Upstairs at the Kimberly have you covered. There is a great selection of spacialty cocktails and martinis, and a wide array of sparkling and wines.
This stylish and sophisticated rooftop terrace also comes with a retractable glass roof. This means you can visit for weekend rooftop brunch all year round.
UPSTAIRS NYC
Set on top of the Stage 48-building in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan, Cantina Rooftop is a colorful year-round rooftop restauarant and lounge. Up here, authentic Mexican food is combined with panoramic views over the Big Apple all days of the week. And on weekends: one of the best rooftop brunches in NYC.
Or as Cantina put it: "New York’s most important meal of the weekend". The menu (of course) include lots of spicy Mexican selections, like Huevos Rancheros, Cantina Burrito, Quesadillas, Pollo Rostizado and the Cantina Burger.
Not full yet? That's more than ok, since you should definitely check out the brunch dessert menu. Maybe a Cheese Cake Confetti or a Cantina's Flan? Or just go all in with a Cantina Dessert Platter.
Cantina Rooftop also offers a special brunch cocktail menu. Here you find everything from Fruit Forward Margarita’s, frozen cocktails, Sangria and Micheladas. Or if you wanna go bottomless, 90 minutes of unlimited Sangria, Bellinis or Mimosas cost $25.
Fun, friendly and vibrant atmosphere means that every Saturday and Sunday is a great time to stop by Cantina for a rooftop brunch. As mentioned, it is year round thanks to a climate-controlled retractable glass roof. And it is also popular, so make your reservations here.
CANTINA ROOFTOP
Located in Midtown Manhattan, at the 5-star Refinery Hotel, Refinery Rooftop is a fashionable and dymanic venue, made for many occasions.
Open 7 days a week and year-round, you can visit for a sunny rooftop lunch, relaxing afternoon cocktails, or nightly drinks and bites in a vibrant atmosphere. And luckily, also for a weekend NYC rooftop brunch.
The Refinery brunch menu is not the largest on this list, but it is packed with quality and made with healthy, natural and sustainable products. Enjoy French Toast, Smoked Salmon Platter, Eggs Benedict or a Deluxe Sandwich. Combined with mixology signature cocktails, it's bound to make for a brunch to remember.
Surrounded with amazing views over the Empire State Building and Manhattan skyline, it is no surprise that the Refinery Rooftop is a popular place. So resevations for the weekend brunch is highly recommended.
REFINERY ROOFTOP
Panorama Room is a unique venue, as it is the first rooftop bar on Roosevelt Island available to the public.
Perched on top of the fabulous Graduate Roosevelt Island, this luxurious and dramatic venue is always a prime spot for creative signature cocktails, seafood, and breathtaking 360° views over the Manhattan skyline, East River and the boroughs.
During weekends, you can head to the island, and indulge in the Panorama Room rooftop brunch.
The menu features everything from 'Chicken & Ube Waffle', 'Brioche French Toast' and 'Spiced Watermelon Salad', to 'Avocado Toast' and 'Bourbon Bacon'.
For a really special experience, go for the 'Seafood Tower', including seasonal oysters, cocktail shrimp, lobster, yuzu kosho mignonette & house cocktail sauce.
To go with the food, you can choose the option of 'Rose Tasting', or 'Rose All Day', with Whispering Angel Rose served for 1.5 hour.
PANORAMA ROOM
Magic Hour is a large indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and lounge, found on the 18th floor of the fantastic MOXY NYC Times Square. Always colorful, fun and vibrant, the rooftop often comes with a theme: from The Pink Rose Garden to the Pink Bunny Beach.
The energetic and elevated setting also includes a lively NYC outdoor rooftop brunch, served to all ages every weekend.
The impressive brunch menu includes everything from pastries for the table, granola, Egg White Frittata and Crispy Chicken Sandwich, to the must try Pink AF Pancakes Stack.
No need to go thirsty, as the menu also include cold pressed juices, signature cocktails, buckets, Magic Mimosas and rosé champagne. Just to name a few items.
As mentioned, the Magic Hour rooftop brunch is open for all ages to enjoy food, drinks, vibes and fantastic views over the Empire State Building.
MAGIC HOUR
230 Fifth rooftop bar is one of the largest and most famous rooftop bars in NYC, named after its location at 230 5th Ave. Home of some truly magical views of the Manhattan skyline, with the Empire State Building bang in the middle. And also home of one of New York's most famous rooftop brunch.
Every weekend, what used to be a large brunch-buffet has been turned into Bottomless Brunch. $45 gives you 90 minutes of bottomless Mimosas, Bellinis and Coffee, as well as an Entree.
Entree's range from Breakfast Burrito and Avocado Taost to Banana Pancakes and Salmon Bagel. If you want more than what is included in the bottomless package, you of course just order more.
Reservations for the rooftop brunch are not mandatory, and quite opposite, 230 Fifth encourage walk-ins. But to be on the safe side, reservations can be made here.
230 FIFTH
The Empire Rooftop is located rigth by Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, and just a 150 meter stroll from Central Park. Perched on the 12th floor, the rooftop has both an indoor lounge along with East and West terraces, offering adorable views over Lincoln Center, Brodway and Central Park.
While it is a great night-spot, the rooftop usually also serves breakfast every weekday, and on weekends, a lovely rooftop brunch. The food menu is not huge, but includes enough treats to keep most happy. You can go for Empire Benedict, Breakfast Flatbread, Avocado Toast, or a B.E.C, with applewood smoked bacon, fried egg and cheddar.
If the food menu is on the smaller side, the drink menu is more filling. Along with the rooftop 'regulars' of specialty cocktails, wine, beer and coffe, there are also brunch cocktails. You can order Mimosa, Bloody Mary and Bellini, either by the glass ($15) or by the carafe ($50) and share with your friends.
Cool and stylish in vibe and setting, and the Empire Rooftop dress code is business casual. So dress up a bit to match the beautiful views.
THE EMPIRE ROOFTOP
If you feel like playing with words, you could say that the Gallow Green rooftop really puts the green in green. Cozy, rustic and lush in an almost overgrown way, this rooftop bar and restaurant is truly a garden oasis above the concrete jungle.
Found above the McKaittrick Hotel (which is not a hotel but an on-site theatrical experience) in Chelsea, the park-like rooftop serves dinner and cocktails every day of the week during the warmer season. And on weekends, one of New York's best and most popular rooftop brunch.
The brunch is served buffet-style, and you can enjoy a wide array of goodies, along with live entertainment. The buffet includes and Omelet Station, Cold and Hot Buffet with stuff like Yellow Tomato & Mozzarella and Suckling Pig. There is also a section of Pastries & Sweets.
To go with all the food you can order lots of specialty craft cocktails, including a large selection of Bloody Mary cocktails. Seating at the rooftop come as a mix of regular dining tables and more community picnic benches, so if you are lucky you might get some new friends.
The rooftop brunch at Gallow Green is highly popular, so reservations are recommended. You can get your tickets right here.
GALLOW GREEN
Republica NYC brings all the Dominican vibes to Inwood, the northernmost neighborhood in Manhattan. And it does so over three floors, with restaurant, lounge and a spacious rooftop terrace.
Lush and filled with colors, the Republica rooftop comes with both heaters and covers, so it is available for gourmet Dominican dinners and late night vibes year-round. And during weekends also for the El Patio and El Tieto E’ Brunch.
The brunch menu comes packed with everything from 'Berry Cheescake French Toast' and 'Pancakes with fresh fruits', to the 'Sandwich de Pierna', with mozzarella cheese and pickled onions.
For $42 you get a 2 course meal, plus bottomless Mimosas & Sangria. There is also a wide selection of unique signature cocktails and bottle service.
Expect live DJs and a fun and vibrant atmosphere, prefect to kick-start any weekend. For rooftop brunch at Republica, reservations are highly recommended.
RUPUBLICA
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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