Eleven floors over the Garment District, under a retractable glass roof, Refinery Rooftop has the Empire State Building close enough to light the table. USA Today's readers have voted it America's number-one rooftop bar three years running. Chef Jeff Haskell runs an American menu built for the setting: a grilled hanger steak flatbread, seared yellowfin tuna, a double patty burger. It sits atop the Refinery Hotel at 63 West 38th Street, pours cocktails past midnight, and runs about $70 a head with a drink.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is led by Jeff Haskell, the longtime culinary director for IGC Hospitality, the group behind the Refinery Hotel's food and drink. The brief is rooftop dining that holds up next to the view rather than competing with it: shareable, generous, recognisably American. The grilled hanger steak flatbread is the dish the room is known for, charred and sliced over flatbread; the seared yellowfin tuna and the little gem Caesar with watermelon radish and frico cover the lighter end, and the double patty burger anchors the lunch and late-night menus.
Prices match a Midtown rooftop rather than a tasting-menu room. Flatbreads and small plates run roughly $18 to $26, mains reach the low $40s, and cocktails from the In Good Company bar program sit around $20, so a visit with a drink lands near $70 a head. The address is 63 West 38th Street, on top of the Refinery Hotel in the Garment District, a block from Bryant Park. USA Today's 10Best readers have named it America's number-one rooftop bar three years running, and the retractable glass roof keeps it open through winter. Come for the Empire State view; stay for the cocktails.
The Room
Refinery Rooftop is a glass-and-greenery space on the eleventh floor, with a retractable roof that opens in summer and closes over heaters in winter. It runs loud: this is a bar with a kitchen, not a quiet dining room, and by nine on a weekend the noise level is firmly at a party. Lighting is low and warm, the Empire State Building fills the north view, and seating mixes banquettes, high-tops and a long bar across an indoor-outdoor floor. There is no strict dress code, though most guests come smart; sneakers and a collared shirt are fine. Reservations help at peak.
Best for Birthday
Book Refinery Rooftop for a birthday because the room does the celebrating for you. The Empire State view gives the night a backdrop, the retractable roof means the table holds whatever the weather does, and the shareable flatbreads and cocktails suit a group that wants to graze and drink rather than sit through courses. Reserve a north-facing table near the glass for sunset, order the hanger steak flatbread for the table, and let the bar run the evening. For more celebratory rooms, see Best for a birthday, or browse the wider New York dining guide.
Not for a quiet dinner or a serious meal. This is a lively rooftop bar, loud after nine, where the food plays second to the cocktails and the Empire State view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Refinery Rooftop worth it?
Yes, for the view and the atmosphere more than the food. Refinery Rooftop sits eleven floors up with the Empire State Building in full view, and USA Today's readers have voted it America's number-one rooftop bar three years running. The kitchen, led by Jeff Haskell, turns out solid American sharing plates, and a visit with a cocktail runs about $70 a head. Go for sunset and a north-facing table.
How hard is it to book Refinery Rooftop?
Easier than most Manhattan rooftops, but weekends and sunset slots go fast. Reserve through OpenTable or by emailing the hotel a week ahead for prime evening times, especially in summer when the roof is open. The bar is atop the Refinery Hotel at 63 West 38th Street in the Garment District, a block from Bryant Park, so it is a simple Midtown address to reach.
What should I order at Refinery Rooftop?
Order to share. The grilled hanger steak flatbread is the signature, the seared yellowfin tuna and the little gem Caesar keep things light, and the double patty burger is the move at lunch or late at night. The cocktails from the In Good Company bar program are the real draw, so pair the food with a round and let the kitchen play support.
Is Refinery Rooftop good for a birthday?
Yes, it is one of Midtown's better birthday rooftops. The Empire State view sets the scene, the retractable roof keeps the table comfortable year-round, and the shareable menu and cocktail list suit a group. Book a north-facing table near the glass for sunset and arrive before the evening crowd. See our birthday dining picks for more celebratory rooms.