Now that the weather has finally warmed up, you’ll want nothing more than to be outdoors in the sunshine and breathing that fresh spring-scented air. Dining al fresco at a sidewalk café is always a nice way to relax on the weekends but the view isn’t always appealing. Who wants to look at people cleaning up after their dogs and inhaling taxi cab exhaust while they eat lunch? Thanks to the hundreds of thousands of high rises in the city, you’re options are numerous if you want to eat outside but without the distractions of the streets of Manhattan. Here are five of our favorite rooftop eateries and lounges to help you escape from the city’s hustle and bustle this spring.
Moscow Mule
1.7 oz. of Russian Standard
5 oz. of ginger beer
Serve it in a copper mug and garnish it with a lime wedge. Enjoy!
Electrolyte (served Upstairs at Kimberly Hotel)
4 big chunks fresh watermelon- muddled
½ oz. pineapple juice
juice from half a lemon
1½ oz. vodka (non-flavored)
Serve in a highball glass with ice and a vertical watermelon slice garnish.
Broken Basil
2 oz. Broken Shed Vodka
crushed basil leaves (generous amount)
Have you ever watched a scene in movie when a character takes an elevator up to the top floor and steps out onto a rooftop overlooking a breathtaking Manhattan skyline? I have, and I've always wondered, where exactly are they? Well, now I know: they're in places like this.
Upstairs is a picturesque little lounge perched atop Midtown's Kimberly Hotel. You might be thinking, well, that's nice for the summer, but not now, amidst all this rain. But the people of Upstairs have thought of everything and constructed a retractable roof for such occasions. And, if it's a bit chilly, you can stroll by the fire or seek respite in the closed library nook (with its own bar).