New York City should be seen from above at least once, in my opinion. The skyline is truly unique, and if you’ve never been, then up you go – to the Empire State Building or any other vantage point. I went up back when the old World Trade Center was still standing, and although the view has changed since then, I couldn’t be bothered to head up again. The teenagers did though, and they brought back some pictures. The light show is really quite amazing.
night skyline as seen from the Empire State Building @NYC
Of course, there are other ways to see NYC from above, even at night. I really enjoyed our visit to Magic Hour, the rooftop terrace of the Moxy Hotel. From here, we could also catch a glimpse of the city. Of course, it’s nothing like the Empire State Building, but it was enough to scratch my itch.
rooftop bar @Magic Hour
We made another rooftop stop, this time during the day so the teenagers could come with us. The Refinery Rooftop offered only a very limited view, though, and can definitely not be recommended.
The Refinery @NYC
Since the Refinery Rooftop was a disappointment, we looked for another spot to go up and get a view. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library has a rooftop terrace that’s open to the public. On our way to Grand Central Station, we stopped by, took the elevator up, and found the view limited, but still much better than at the Refinery.
Rooftop @Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
Overall, our rooftop experiences were a mixed bag, but still fun. The teenagers definitely enjoyed the Empire State Building, so I’d say that’s a must for first-timers. Yours, Pollybert
