Rooftop Bars In New York City?

Yes, they are certainly safe! They are some of my favorite bars.

Usually they are free to enter.

You can get cheap drinks at some bars, but bars with rooftops are usually nicer and thus more expensive. You are probably looking at about $10-15 per drink. They aren't necessarily strong--I find they sometimes water them down but it depends on the bar.

The following places have some nice year-round rooftop bars (most of them are hotels, FYI)--though you should call ahead to double check that they are open and not rented out for a party. It is also best to go a bit early--around 10--because otherwise they can get crowded and you could have trouble getting in.

--Hotel Gansevoort. Very swanky and chic--and expensive, and they can be a little obnoxious sometimes about getting in--but it's very pretty and quite fun.

--230 Fifth (in the Victoria Hotel.) I've never been but my friends really like it.

--Empire Hotel (I really like this one...my favorite rooftop bar. I would highly recommend this one.

--Bookmarks (at the Library Hotel)

--Z Rooftop Bar (at the Z Hotel)

--Sky Room Times Square

--The Kimberly

There are lots more you can Google, but those are my suggestions.

And don't worry about crime. NYC is safe, bottom line. If you're stupid and you decide to drink and then wander around random neighborhoods, or you go into dark alleys, or you head up into Harlem, then yeah, you might not be too safe. But if you're with a group and you don't do anything stupid you will be absolutely fine. I would recommend, though, not taking the subway at night--get a cab. And don't get a black car...they will pull up and offer you a ride, cash only, when cabs are scarce, but they rip you off. Cabs are safe and if you're patient you'll find one and then you really won't have to worry about safety.

Have fun!

Here is an article that was in the NY Times a year and a half ago. It's all about rooftop bars in NYC.

I remember reading this when it was first published, so I looked it up for you.

I don't think they talk about price, but I should warn you - the fancy drinks in these kind of bars are pretty pricey. Think over $12 each and up! Sometimes WAY up. Sometimes they can be pretty strong, too. You say you aren't much of a drinker, so drink slow and don't overdo it. The sweeter the drink, BTW, the less likely you are to notice how strong the drink is.

So have one. But if you decide on a second one, absolutely stop with that! And watch yourself getting back to the hotel. Crime is down in NYC, compared to when I was your age, but the people most likely to be to be victims are often drunk.

Drink carefully.

There is Highbar NYC. Venues are as safe as you make it for yourself.

Never leave drinks unattended or bum a cigarette off someone.

That's a sure way of getting something you don't want in your body.

Admission varies at the lounges and females are often let in free.

This encourages more females and will attract lots of guys as well.

Keep in mind that admission might be free for the first our or until

midnight or only for ladies over 21 who can legally drink alcohol.

Those under 21 will have to pay to get in as they are not allowed to drink.

http://411newyork.org/guide/2009/11/05/observation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb_6mF0hLZ8

Have you looked at http.www.rooftoprestaurants.com