The hottest Manhattan rooftop bars and restaurants are nearly impossible to secure a seat at without connections or a reservation made months in advance. Thankfully, many of the best views of NYC are had from Brooklyn, where the rooftop bar and restaurant scene has upped its game in recent years. Below is a list of hot rooftop venues in Brooklyn with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, East River, and New York Harbor.
ALMA
Alma serves upscale Mexican cuisine and memorable margaritas in a casual, well-designed space. The rooftop, offering sweeping views of downtown Manhattan, is open year-round. This Cobble Hill restaurant and bar is a pleasant 20-minute walk or short cab ride from the NU Hotel. You can reserve a table on Alma’s rooftop terrace online.
187 Columbia Street; (718) 643-5400
BERRY PARK ROOF DECK
This Williamsburg haunt’s 3,000-square-foot rooftop is a great place for admiring the Manhattan skyline over drinks or brunch. The covered, heated roof deck is open to bar patrons every night, and you do not need to worry about making a reservation. If you want a spot at the more exclusive summer Sunday Beats Brunch, you’ll want to make a reservation.
4 Berry Street; (718) 782-2829
DOBBIN ST. ROOFTOP TERRACE
Not far from Berry Park, the Dobbin St. Rooftop Terrace is another exquisite 3,000-square-foot rooftop space that made TimeOut’s best new NYC rooftops list. The event venue, which opened late this past spring, hosted a Sunset Screening film series and somewhat rowdier weekly dance party called Good Roof this summer. Explore the venue’s website to find out what’s going on up at the Dobbin St. roof while you’re in town.
64 Dobbin Street; (718) 302-0400
FORNINO AT PIER 6
You can enjoy the same, rave-worthy, wood-fired pizza at any of Fornino’s locations. But for accompanying rooftop views, you have to go to the Fornino’s at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Visit for brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan skyline. Fornino is a 15-minute walk from the NU Hotel.
334 Furman Street; (718) 422-1107
KIMOTO ROOFTOP RESTAURANT AND GARDEN LOUNGE BAR
You can see the Manhattan skyline from this Central Brooklyn bar and restaurant. But the views over Brooklyn are especially impressive. For izakaya eats in a chic, minimalist setting, reserve a table here. Mark your preference for outdoor dining on the reservation request, but arrive early if you want to be sure to get an outdoor table because outdoor dining is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Kimoto Rooftop Restaurant is a 10-minute walk from NU Hotel.
216 Duffield street; (718) 858-8940
NORTHERN TERRITORY
This unpretentious rooftop bar, located along the waterfront in Greenpoint, offers some of the best Manhattan skyline views around. The casual atmosphere is welcoming, as are the bar’s Aussie owners. Drinks and appetizers get good reviews. Northern Territory is a first-come, first-served establishment, but it’s usually easy to find a seat on the roof outside peak hours.
12 Franklin Street; (347) 689-4065
OFFICEOPS ROOFTOP CINEMA CLUB
Rooftop Cinema Club offers a unique and memorable Brooklyn rooftop experience with its almost-nightly summer film screenings. Enjoy a movie with a view from a comfortable lawn chair atop a 15,000-square-foot rooftop if you visit Brooklyn before September 29. A ticket includes popcorn and a glass of champagne, but the East Williamsburg venue also has a BYO drink policy.
57 Thames Street; (718) 418-2509