230 Fifth Rooftop Bar
The Infatuation reckons this roof has one of the best views of the Empire State Building in the city. In winter the terrace fills with heated igloos, and one party of up to ten takes each one.1
Why go
The igloos are an annual pop-up and they changed in 2020. Earlier seasons put separate parties into the same one. Collier Sutter reported for Time Out New York that each igloo now goes to a single party for a session at a time.3 The drinks are written for the weather. There is boozy hot chocolate, apple pie cider, mulled wine and Irish coffee.3
The rest of the year it is a very large open roof, with umbrellas up in the sun and space heaters out at night. The Chrysler Building is in the view too.2 A party in one of the private rooms does not shut the terrace.4
The Infatuation puts its own position plainly: We haven't been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists.
Nobody with a byline has written about the drinking here.1
Order this / avoid
- Order: the apple pie cider, in an igloo, in January.3
- Order: weekend brunch if you want the view in daylight. Time Out priced the buffet at $29 in 2018.2
- Avoid: counting on walking straight up. Time Out's line is that
It'll take you a while to get into this massive rooftop bar.
2
What locals & experts say
- The Infatuation, in July 2024: the roof has
one of the best views of the Empire State Building anywhere in the city, which means that tourists and native New Yorkers flock here all year-round.
1 - Collier Sutter, in Time Out New York, on what the igloos are for: a birthday or a party you would rather not host at home.3
- The bar's own claim on itself:
NYC's largest all-year outdoor & indoor bar and event space.
4
Good to know
- Booking: the roof takes walk-ins and the igloos are reserved.1
- The door: 230 Fifth Avenue, on the Flatiron and NoMad line.
- Dress: the bar calls the room smart casual.4
Verdict
could-visit — This is a view with a bar attached, and it is honest about that. One drink and the walk back down is the whole of what it owes you.