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When you stop to think about the incredibly close quarters New Yorkers are forced to endure, it's no surprise that we are constantly looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors. While a midwesterner might go climb a mountain, or a Californian might hang at the beach, we generally prefer more cultural things like concerts in the Park, movies on the Pier, or drinking. Luckily there are quite a few establishments in the City that figured that out. Here are some of the best:
Sushi Samba
(87 Seventh Avenue South, between Bleecker
and West Fourth Streets)
When you go to a restaurant that combines a sushi bar with a Brazilian theme, you can bet the atmosphere is going to be hip and fun. And Sushi Samba does not disappoint, particularly on the rooftop lounge/dining room. Partially covered, to allow for upholstered pieces as well as outdoor compatible furniture, Sushi Samba features great cocktails that attract a lively set that only seems to get livelier as the evening goes on.
Pen Top Bar
(The Peninsula Hotel, 700 Fifth Avenue at
55th Street, 23rd floor)
This place is very, very cool. But cool has a price. Try ten bucks for a bottle of beer and around fifteen for a cocktail. As long as you know that before you go, just count on the fact that the terrace here is a must-see. High above Fifth Avenue, you will love the bird's eye view of Central Park from your outdoor table. Funny story though: Last time I was there I saw a group of prepsters who obviously had been warned about the price of a drink. As their glasses emptied each one took an airline miniature from his pocket and stealthily turned their table into a 2 for 1 Happy Hour.
The Delancey
(168 Delancey Street at Clinton Street)
Definitely hot, the Delancey had Bjork as deejay during its first week in operation. It's actually a club with three levels (the lower level features a "Sid Vicious/Buddy Holly Karaoke Party." Be warned). The Delancey's deck features a koi pond and reasonably priced killer margaritas. This is definitely worth checking out before those autumn winds start to blow.
The High Bar
(Gramercy Park Hotel, Two Lexington Avenue
at 21st Street, 18th Floor)
The small lobby bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel used to be a popular bar because of its shopworn quality, quirky clientele, and cheap drinks served with Ritz crackers and cheese spread a color not found in nature. The High Bar has taken over for its predecessor admirably. You literally never know who is going to turn up on any given night, from politicians to rock stars to Ken Kidd. The drinks are potent and not as expensive as the Pen Top, and the views are exceptional. On Monday nights, the traditional night that Broadway theaters are dark, a salon along the lines of Gertrude Stein's has developed, where young actors and musicians come together to drink and discuss the current state of the theatre.