The West Village is graced with the highest density of private and semi-private rooftop gardens in New York City, and perhaps has more rooftop gardens than any neighborhood in the United States. However, looking up around the West Village, while it seems like everyone has a rooftop garden, that is not the case.
Yet whether one has a personal rooftop garden or not, everyone has access to a variety of NYC rooftops close to his and her West Village homes. Rooftop bars, a farm, and even a flying trapeze school are close by and open to all.
Here are details on four public-access rooftops within easy walking distance of your West Village address:
The Jane Hotel at 113 Jane Street, famous for housing Titanic survivors in 1912, will reopen its vintage style rooftop bar/lounge in late spring. The cozy brick-detailed roof deck has been kitted out with comfortable furniture and offers expansive Hudson River views with a dash of history. Write to events@thejanenyc.com for a precise opening date and reservations.
If you prefer new construction, Bar Hugo at 525 Greenwich Street is a year-round rooftop bar. First opened in April 2014, this sophisticated lounge sits atop a 20-story tower. The comfortable indoor space offers great views of the river from one side, and of the city from the other, plus a happy hour Monday through Friday from 5-8 when you can enjoy a rooftop beer for just $5. A Bar Hugo bonus—this is probably the only place you can view the expansive green roof (built for environmental reasons to reduce rainwater runoff) of the new Department of Sanitation building across the street. When it warms up, the outdoor terrace at Bar Hugo gives patrons a chance to enjoy an excellent alfresco cocktail. Though not technically in the West Village, I walked there from my apartment in less than 15 minutes. More info available at http://www.hotelhugony.com/rooftop-bar
Rosemary’s at 18 Greenwich Avenue, a trattoria/enoteca serving top-notch Italian dishes, sports a rooftop farm. With easy access from the restaurant, customers are welcome to head up one flight of stairs to enjoy the roof garden, an elevated view of the Jefferson Market Library tower and the surrounding Greenwich Village roofscapes. When the rooftop-gown produce gets a chance to mature, it will be part of the delicious farm-to-table menu. Buon appetito! More info available at http://rosemarysnyc.com
Looking for a more adrenaline-activating rooftop experience? Head over to Pier 40 for lessons at the rooftop aerialist school, where you learn to fly through the air—with Hudson River views! Located at 353 West Street, Trapeze School New York group lessons begin on the rooftop April 4. To find out more, see http://newyork.trapezeschool.com
These four are a just tiny sampling of New York City’s vast array of public-access rooftops. For unbeatable summer pleasure, don your most stylish sunglasses and hit the roof!
Leslie Adatto is the author of “Roof Explorer’s Guide: 101 New York City Rooftops,” found on amazon.com and in book stores and museum gift shops throughout New York City. Please attend Leslie’s free and informative Author Talk about NYC Rooftops for the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation (GVSHP) at Jefferson Market Library on Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
