Brooklyn Rooftop Bars That Deserve A Visit This Spring
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by Spring has (allegedly) sprung. With nice weather returns one of Brooklynites’ favorite pastimes: outdoor drinking. To spend time with friends, loved ones, or even alone, breathing in that fresh Brooklyn air with your favorite adult beverage in hand invigorates the mind and body in a way that few activities can. As nice as it can be to imbibe in the elements at home, heading to a rooftop bar provides an enjoyable change of scenery and a bevy of new sights, smells, and people.
Unfortunately, many Brooklyn rooftop bars and restaurants rest on the healthy laurels afforded by prime real estate and a breathtaking Manhattan skyline view. Yelp reviews of several of these rooftop spots reveal inattentive, bordering on offensive service that somehow doesn’t deter the hordes of people descending upon these bars every weekend. While it’s nearly impossible to escape the crowds of a nice rooftop bar, competent service makes a crowded environment infinitely more tolerable and allows customers to focus on the gorgeous scenery.
Below is a handful of bars to check out when you want to grab an outdoor drink on top of a building. If the glitzy, “Buzzy and Chic” aren’t your scene, check the humbler, “Down to Earth” section (just know that “down to earth” describes both the atmosphere and the physical structure, and that you’ll be sacrificing the quality of the view).
Buzzy and Chic
The Ides
The spectacular view offered atop of Williamsburg’s Wythe Hotel draws a serious crowd every weekend. After waiting in the line that frequently extends onto the sidewalk outside the hotel, bar-goers will have their choice of warm weather-inspired house cocktails, classic cocktails, a short wine and beer list, and small bites. The house cocktails offer something for every palate, from the spirit-forward Bordello Glow (bourbon, lemon, bitters) to the sweeter Sixth Floor Sling (gin, allspice, apricot, cherry, lime sherbet). The $16 price tag is a bit steep, but all prices at The Ides include gratuity, which makes them a bit easier to stomach given the prime location and view the bar offers.
Westlight
Line at The Ides too long? Pop around the corner to Westlight on the top floor of The William Vale Hotel. Boasting an unobstructed, 360-degree view, an extremely unique cocktail list, and an eclectic selection of gourmet small bites from all over the globe, Westlight offers an experience you can’t find anywhere else. Such distinctiveness comes at a premium, though. Sophisticated cocktails like the Sanshi Slip, featuring scotch, banana, Brooklyn Roasters cold brew, and coconut cost $17. Caviar-topped crispy potato skins go for $18 and tequila cured salmon with crushed avocado costs $17, so be prepared to treat yourself if you decide to visit.
1 Rooftop Bar
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If you prefer beer and wine to cocktails but still want the upscale rooftop environment with skyline views, check out 1 Rooftop Bar in DUMBO. Its menu features twice as many wines and triple the beers of The Ides and Westlight. However, the four cocktails–still $17–are much less intriguing. Like the cocktails, the fare at 1 Rooftop is also much simpler, but it’s cheaper too. The $14 burger and the $8 fried mochi bites with scallions and tofu dressing will satisfy the less adventurous eaters without blowing an entire paycheck. The real kicker at 1 Rooftop Bar is the Plunge Pool, though. Normally open only to hotel guests, 1 Rooftop will throw adult pool parties from 1-6pm every weekend this summer. It’s a perfect place to day drink and still make it home in time for a nap before dinner.
Down to Earth
Night of Joy
A 10-minute walk southeast of Williamsburg’s ritzy rooftop bars sits Night of Joy. Swap out the Manhattan skyline for views of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at this happy hour-friendly hipster joint. What Night of Joy lacks in view, it makes up for with humble charm and delicious, affordable drinks. The nightly happy hour features $6 cocktails and margaritas and $4 beers. The simple cocktails make for easy drinking, with fresh ingredients and straightforward recipes like orange blossom rum lemonade or jalapeño and black currant tequila. Inside, the bar sports funky retro decor with comfy, patterned couches that would make your eccentric aunt proud. With DJs performing every Wednesday and Thursday night and liquor distributor-sponsored open bars, this laid-back bar is an excellent place to fill your lungs with fresh air and your gullet with booze any night of the week.
Our Wicked Lady
A Bushwick bar for artists and musicians may sound extremely cliché, but Our Wicked Lady is anything but. Just down the street from Cape House, the once abandoned warehouse that is now Our Wicked Lady is easy to miss from the street, with an unassuming storefront and a small sign hanging outside. Inside, the black and white theme of the bar makes for a cool yet welcoming environment. Purchase a reasonably priced drink from the bar and head upstairs to the roof, and you’ll find a handful of long picnic tables and a small patch of turf for games. There’s also a bar open upstairs during peak hours for additional access to drinks and a small selection of snacks. Although the roof is surrounded by high walls obstructing any view there might be, the positive atmosphere and frequent one-of-a-kind live events at Our Wicked Lady provide plenty to see instead.
Doris
Admittedly, Doris is not a rooftop bar. It is, however, a quirky Bed-Stuy hangout known for its grilled cheese and ping-pong table-equipped backyard. Sadly, down to earth rooftop bars in Brooklyn are few and far between, and a rooftop without a view is really just an elevated patio. So, if you’re looking for a place to drink and enjoy yourself outside this summer, Doris’s backyard is a perfect place to do just that. The bar brings in funky DJs several nights a week, and Yelp reviewer Amber D. even writes of spontaneously participating in a wedding on a night she went there alone. The diverse crowd, unpretentious vibe, and cheap drinks guarantee you a good time at Doris, even at street level.
