Best Rooftop Restaurants in Midtown East (10017)
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Aretsky's Patroon
Classic Midtown townhouse steakhouse with a heated, all-weather rooftop bar.
Notable Picks
8.6
Vibes:
Luxury Dining Elite
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Rooftop Views Revelry
Two blocks from Grand Central, Aretsky’s Patroon is a multi-level Midtown townhouse where serious American steakhouse cooking meets a heated, year-round rooftop. Since the late 1990s under restaurateur Ken Aretsky, it has become a corporate-card favorite for crab cakes, dry-aged steaks and polished, old-school service capped with rooftop cocktails and cigars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, 40-Day Dry Aged Ribeye, Crab Cake Sliders
What makes it special: Classic Midtown townhouse steakhouse with a heated, all-weather rooftop bar.
8.5
Set atop the historic Beekman Tower in Turtle Bay, Ophelia is a glass-enclosed rooftop lounge with 360-degree views over the East River and Midtown skyline. Opened in 2018 and recommended by Michelin, it leans into moody, Art Deco cocktails, seasonal décor and a tight menu of shareable plates that justify the premium pricing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ahi Tuna Tartare with Chili Honey, Duck Confit Spring Rolls, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
What makes it special: Art Deco greenhouse rooftop with 360-degree river and skyline views.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Connolly’s 47th Street is a family-run Irish pub spread over multiple floors, capped by a casual rooftop level used in good weather. Midtown office workers and theatergoers rely on it for pints, TVs and hearty plates like fish and chips or shepherd’s pie, with the rooftop offering open-air seating more about atmosphere than skyline drama.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef and Cabbage
What makes it special: Traditional multi-level Irish pub with a seasonal rooftop deck steps from Grand Central and Rockefeller Center.
On the 14th floor of the Library Hotel, Bookmarks Rooftop Garden Lounge feels like a book-lined penthouse with a small terrace rather than a high-rise club. Guests come for literary-themed cocktails, fireplace seating and light bar bites before or after Grand Central, accepting higher prices in exchange for a cozy, low-key rooftop experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charcuterie and Cheese Board, Flatbread with Seasonal Toppings, Mini Slider Trio
What makes it special: Library-themed rooftop lounge with greenhouse terrace, fireplaces and literary cocktails near Grand Central.