#press lounge

Views from the Press.

I travel at least once a month for work, but nowhere all that glamorous – unless you count Ohio, Pennsylvania and various Southern outposts as glamorous.  Nothing makes me feel better than catching a view of our little island from the plane window on the way home.  It reminds me every time how amazing this city is and how many people would love to live here.  Yet, at the same time, it helps me forget about my small problems and woes when I think about the 1.6 million other people confined to those streets on a daily basis who must be having the same, or even worse, problems as I do.

Photo: IgoUgo user Dutchnatasja

So what’s the next best thing to a flight over Manhattan?  Well, a roof deck of course!  Every summer there are a few new roof decks that pop up for our viewing (and drinking) pleasure.  These three Midtown options – great for happy hours with coworkers – offer a taste of the high life; let’s just hope they stay open past Labor Day!

Photo: Haven by ZagatNY

Smack dab in the center of it all is Haven, the newest roof to top midtown.  Like the other two, it’s atop a hotel, this one called Sanctuary (I hope they’ve spruced it up since its life as the Portland Square Hotel).  No reservations needed during the early week, but I would suggest making one for a Thursday or Friday since at happy hour last Friday, all of the comfortable-looking couches/tables were reserved (and eventually filled).  If possible, I’d also suggest getting a section to the right of the elevators as they’ll provide the best view.  There’s a bit of a disconnect, though, between the surroundings (attempting to be a club with a DJ, well-manicured, well-heeled wait staff) and the patrons (a lot of hotel guests, i.e. tourists), but it’s outdoors, had a reasonable wine selection and it’s right next to my office.  Plus Haven’s a better option than Random Irish Pub #387 across the street for grabbing a drink with a coworker, and a better name at that.

Photo: View from Press Lounge

For spectacular views, keep walking all the way west to Press Lounge at the Ink48 hotel.  This is a cool hotel located in an old printing warehouse over on 11th avenue and certainly is the best-looking roof deck of these three.  Complete with a decorative pool, plenty of comfy seats and a private dining space, it offers the luxury of an exclusive bar with no harsh door policy.  The 360 degree views of the skyline to the East and the Hudson to the West are positively unmatched, and to see the sky go from day to night around the city’s buildings gives an opportunity to ooh and ahh not once, but twice, at our magnificent Gotham.  The drinks will run up your tab pretty quickly so make sure your paycheck’s coming the next day.

Photo: Press Lounge

For a little bit of everything, try Terrace (also known as Four) at Yotel.  Yotel is kind of quirky hotel chain, trying to make a name for itself in the nightlife biz – at least here in New York.  What I really love most (read: what I think is hilarious) about this place is how it took one space and created three “different” destinations.  Dohyo is the flamboyant Latin-Asian restaurant with communal seating and a weekend brunch party (attempting to be the Bagatelle of Hell’s Kitchen, I suppose), Club Lounge Bar and Cabins is pretty much just the inside version of Terrace and then Terrace is the outdoor area.  I’d suggest staying away from the happy hour “pitchers” since they are more like half-carafes and not very economical for the amount of booze you actually get.  I’ll give Yotel the award for whimsy and great use of color and design, though, so check it out the next time you buy an outfit you think might be a little too crazy and you’re nervous to wear it.  You won’t stick out at all.

Photo: Terrace by Daily News

Haven (Sanctuary Hotel); 132 West 47th Street, between 6th & 7th

Press Lounge (Ink48 Hotel); 653 11th Ave at 48th Street

Terrace (Yotel); 570 10th Ave at 42nd Street

Roman Holiday from Press Lounge in New York

1 1/2 oz orange vodka

1/2 oz Aperol

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1/4 oz simple syrup

Tangelo wedge