When people talk about rooftops in New York most of them only remember one place, 230 Fifth. Everyone goes there for a reason: the view of the Empire State Building. But the truth is that the city has dozens of rooftops with incredible views. During the spring/summer season, the rooftops are super crowded. They are the perfect places to enjoy a happy hour and the sunset. The other day, I was at an event at the Rooftop Refinery, which is very close to the Herald Square area. I loved the place and I ended up going back with a friend to check everything up and talk to you if it was worth it. The verdict? Certainly.
Refinery Rooftop is located on the 13th floor of the Refinery Hotel. If your idea is to go to a rooftop to enjoy a nice view, Refinery Rooftop is your place: right there, not far away, is the Empire State and it is common to see the people taking advantage of the privileged view to take a picture. It’s like the building is watching us … The open area – with the privileged view – has sofas and tables. The inside area – bigger in size; allows the place to be open during the winter – has a very beautiful rustic decoration, with a cozy environment. There is a space with a fireplace, sofas, plus tables and also the bar.
I was there on a Sunday at 6:00 p.m., and I expected to find the place crowded, but no. At Refinery, most people sit, drink and talk – both inside and outside. To sit, you need to book a table – through the website – or give your name to the host. We waited about half an hour for a table, but meanwhile, we kept walking and chatting around the area. Do not forget that you need to talk to the host always – you are not allowed to arrive and sit at empty tables.
On the menu, there are a variety of cocktails, beers and wines. Cocktails cost from $ 14, beers cost between $ 8 and $ 9 and wine glasses cost from $ 14. In addition, Refinery Rooftop also serves food. The menus are different for lunch and for dinner – yes, the Refinery is open for lunch! I think it is very interesting because a lot of people ask me about a place to have lunch with a view, and this is an excellent option. You can check the menus on the website and the prices are reasonable, not very cheap but not outrageously expensive. There are salads for $ 14, sandwiches for $ 17 and burger for $ 22. There are also a variety of appetizers, great for sharing.
It is worth remembering that you must be over 21 years old to attend the place. On Fridays and Saturdays, after 10:00 PM, the rooftop has lounge vibes with electronic music mix. The dress code is very casual, but there are some rules: sportswear, sweatshirts, sneakers, flip flops, hats, tank tops (for men) are not allowed.
loved the place and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get to check out a different rooftop and wonderful view!
Address: 63 W 38th Street –Monday – Thursday from 11:30am – 1:00am – Friday from 11:30am – 3am – Saturday & Sunday from 12:00pm – 1:00am.9
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
