Getting High in New York
Getting high in New York means heading up to look down, to gain a perspective on the city from above. While Magellan Luxury Hotels offers the finest selection of rooms with a view, at some point you will want to go outside and play. While you’re likely familiar with the views from the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Top of the Rock, here are five alternative ideas for keeping your buzz going.
Visit the Roof Garden Cafe & Martini Bar – Rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
For drinks with a side of art and an unimpeded view of half of Manhattan, head to the roof of the Met Museum. This year’s installation – by British artist Cornelia Parker – is a picturesque sculpture, er, big red house-barn entitled Transitional Object (PsychoBarn), wedding Hitchcock’s Psycho to the All-American barns of painter Edward Hopper. Raise a glass to that union with thematic cocktails including the Corpse Reviver, Red Barn Sangria, Plot Twist and Crime of Passion.
Notes: Access to the rooftop is included with entrance ticket (by donation); light fare on offer; open early May through October, weather permitting; Sunday to Thursday 10:00am – 4:30pm; Friday & Saturday 10:00am – 8:15pm. Website
Fly the Whale
Fly the Whale’s sea-and land-based charter flights are a combination sight-seeing adventure and skip-the-traffic way to quickly reach the the east coast’s favourite summertime destinations. Flying from the East River’s Skyports Marina, guests can take a seaplane to the Hamptons or Montauk in as little as 35 minutes and return the same day if they wish. Nantucket, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard are 75 minutes away. The company also offers charter flights to locations around the world. Website
Walk, Cycle or Run the Bridges
Legend has it that there are over 2,000 bridges and tunnels in New York City. The top five ranked for pedestrian- and cyclist-friendliness and unmatched views are: 1. Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan to Brooklyn); 2. Manhattan Bridge (Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn); 3. Queensboro – Ed Koch Bridge (Manhattan to Long Island City, Queens); 4. George Washington Bridge (Washington Heights, Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey); and 5) the Williamsburg Bridge (Lower East Side, Manhattan to Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Rather run the bridges? Contact City Running Tours for guided tours tailored to your needs.
Take the Roosevelt Island Tram
Although it is strung high across the East River, almost within touching distance of the Queensboro (Ed Koch) Bridge, few people outside of local commuters know about this secret gem. For the cost of a single MetroCard fare, you can ride the aerial tramway from 60th Street at 2nd Avenue across the wild blue yonder to Roosevelt Island and back. Sunrise and clear evenings, after dark, offer the most magical views. The Roosevelt Island Tram operates from 6:00am until 2:00am Monday to Friday and until 3:30am on weekends, making a total of 115 trips per day. Incidentally, brilliant – albeit ground-level – views of Manhattan’s skyline can be had from anywhere on Roosevelt Island, including from Louis Kahn’s Four Freedoms Park.
Gaze, Drink, Dance and Float at These Rooftop Spaces
The Standard High Line NYC
More geared for excitement than relaxation, Le Bain is a penthouse disco and rooftop bar at the Standard High Line hotel. It features name DJs, a state-of-the-art sound system and some of the best views in the Meatpacking District. Claim a piece of the lawn on the “grass”-covered rooftop, sample crepes and cocktails when you’re hungry slash thirsty, and take a dip in the plunge pool when the dance floor leaves you all hot and bothered.
Le Parker Meridien
Delicious in so many ways: Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the generous indoor pool, which feels like you’re swimming on top of the world (or at least floating above Central Park). Multi-level outdoor decks offer sunbathing as well as a full menu of eats and drinks from their in-house restaurant, Burger Joint.
Gansevoort Park Avenue
The king of nightlife, the multi-level rooftop of the Gansevoort offers six separate venues including the Main Bar, Ivy Lounge, The Drift and private Red Room. Amenities include a rooftop pool, indoor/outdoor fireplaces, a patio, wrap-around terraces and art installations. Open all week, it closes at 4:00am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights because, I guess, you have to sleep sometime.
From a distance, the 20-story glass structure that is The Standard High Line NYC looks like a book standing on end. The stunning and contemporary design of the exterior extends through the lobby and into every single modern guestroom. In addition to the alluring design, The Standard High Line NYC hosts a social scene as vibrant and sexy as the Meatpacking District in which it resides. With too-many-to-count venues on-site, guests will have no problems filling their social calendars during a stay at The Standard High Line NYC.
Le Parker Meridien balances historical design features with whimsical touches, creating an atmosphere as stimulating as its bustling Midtown location. Home to two of Manhattan’s favorite eateries, Norma’s and The Burger Joint, Le Parker Meridien has the means to satisfy. In addition to unique décor and culinary variety, guests will enjoy the indoor rooftop pool with amazing views of Central Park.
The Gansevoort Park Avenue is a rare gem that offers not only style, but also exceptional service and a plethora of amenities. Located on Park Avenue at 29th, the Gansevoort Park Avenue is close to some of New York’s most celebrated landmarks. This urban resort features a trendy, contemporary atmosphere where guests can mix with the in-crowd at one of the rooftop bars and lounges.
Tags:30 Rockefeller Plaza, Alfred Hitchcock, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, City Running Tours, Cornelia Park, East River, Edward Hopper, Empire State Building, float plane, Fly the Whale, Four Freedoms Park, Gansevoort Park Avenue, George Washington Bridge, Le Bain, Le Parker Meridien, Louis Kahn, Magellan Luxury Hotels, Manhattan, Montauk, Nantucket, Queensboro Bridge, Rockefeller Center, Roosevelt Island Tram, Skyports Marina, the Chrysler Building, the Hamptons, the Met, the Met rooftop deck, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Standard High Line NYC