Refinery Rooftop

One of my favorite rooftops. Drinks are well made. The indoor/​outdoor space provided a duel environment with great views of the empire. The vip elevator straight to the rooftop makes it feel exclusive, which adds to the romantic and private spaces found throughout the rooftop.

Great view & super for people watching.
The cocktails were quite nice, and I even spotted a bottle of Pappy’s. Now that is a great way to finish off an evening.

The delicata squash toast is so delicious, and the cheesecake was awesome as well. I had the mozzarella basil flatbread which was also good, but I do wish there were more vegetarian/​seafood options here. Location was great, they respected my request to sit in an area with a nice view of the empire state. During winter time and especially during lunch the place is nice and quiet so you can really enjoy it. I’m sure it’s even better in the summer when the rooftop isn’t sealed. Also, the view was a little blurry through the glass, that could use some improvement. But that’s just me being overly thorough. The place is great and I’ll definitely be back!

WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY — My friends had there wedding (on the terrace w/​the Empire State Bldg in the background!) ceremony and reception here recently — and it was one of my favorite experiences! The place is beautiful. The passed food was endless. And the hospitality was top of the line! Everyone treated us so well. Well done folks– And Thank you! You have my recommendation!

I’ve been here many times but haven’t had the chance to properly review it here.
This is the perfect venue for a happy hour after work, a Sunday brunch or a weekend good time.
Having a summer birthday, I found it to be a great place to have my birthday party (the last two years in a row) with the retractable roof and the amazing view of the Empire State Building. In having a large group of people, with vastly different styles and preferences, it is difficult to find a place everyone would love, but I did it :)
Refinery rooftop has the scenery, vibes and awesome drink selection needed to have a great night. To top it all off, I am obsessed with the hummus plate and the pita pizzas. Everyone that works there has always been warm and welcoming.
Acquaintances of mine have had their bridal showers here and one couple I know got married here. Awesome spot!

Do yourself a favor and skip this place !!!
Been here Monday night with one of my friends !! It was kinda busy when we got here, we went to the bar to grab a drink and both bartenders were rude and not friendly at all !! The female bartender was really busy finishing her meal behind the bar rather then taking care of her patrons! They both keep looking at me and my friend and whispering God knows what and it made us feel really uncomfortable !! So we tried to move to a table. My friend asked one of the waitress if it’s possible to take a seat at an empty table and the waitress said «Host» and pointed at the host, turn around and left !!! I went over and talked to the host and explain to her that we will only have a drink and Leave since we are waiting for another friend to go somewhere else and only then we were able to take a seat. Ok now finally we are siting down, after 10
Min the waitress take our drink order after another 5 min she comes back and tells us that they out of prosecco, the drink that I order and that they don’t have the cocktail that my friend order !!! She did not apologize or anything. So basically they just wanted us to leave? So that’s what we did. We got in a cab as far away as we could from this spot !! I will never be back here and you should do the same !! Me and my friend both work in the industry and if you look at my Unilocal acc this is the 2^nd review I’ve ever wrote in my life but this place just got me mad and I’ve had to share my experience so you won’t go thru this !!! As for the staff that works at this rooftop you guys should not be in the hospitality business !! If you’re not happy with your job just quit and do something else and do us all a favor !! If u in the area just go to SKYLARK, staff is really friendly !!

Stopped in for a Christmas party. Place was busy but not packed. Servers were nice enough and drinks came out quickly. Décor is modern, attractive — not just the servers. Background music was something current. Outdoor seating during warmer months.
There is a small bar in the lobby at street level. Looked nice; live music.

We were here on Christmas eve day for lunch. The setting is beautiful. A very relaxed retreat from the crowds and noise on the streets. The design elements surround you. Warm brick, barnwoods, casual sofas on the patio, casual dress by the patrons and staff alike, and even barnwood doors on the bathrooms all lend towards a relaxing and calming experience. Yet from our table, we saw the nearby Empire State Building as a backdrop. Talk about putting us in a wonderful mood after a commute from NJ.
The wines by the glass were excellent. So was the light menu. My wife had a delicious kale and quinoa sslad while I had the special hanger steak flatbread. Both prepared to be beautiful and tasty. It’s a little pricey compared to probably every restaurant we passed. But the experience was worth it. They are on the top floor of a lovely hotel. In fact the hotel is pet friendly as a side note.
One additional note, they seem to only take reservations through open table. It worked well for us. I booked the table while enroute on the train.

My favorite rooftop bar in NY. I love the atmosphere, décor, service, music and view. This beats the Press Lounge by a long shot. All the negative reviews are from people coming and realizing they are hosting a private event that night — so my advice is just to call ahead of time. They have the cutest outdoor covered seating with a rocking love seat. You can tell how much thought went into every single piece of interior design they have. I absolutely love everything about this bar, I can’t wait to come back and visit.

I’ve been to Refinery Rooftop twice. once during summer and once in winter, on a rather warm December Saturday night. My experience in winter was much better, because understandably so, not many people would think of going to a rooftop in winter.
View-​wise, like many fellow Unilocalers have said, it’s just gorgeous! The combination of drinks and a beautiful view of Empire State building makes the experience perfect, in addition to rather well designed rooftop bar!
Service-​wise, the bar tenders are always busy and probably stressed too, so a few of them always look a bit annoyed and don’t really smile. The hostess on the other hand are warm and welcoming. Drink prices are your typical NY rooftop standards. cocktails average at around $ 16. They have a drinks special if you get a bucket of 6 beers. 7^th one is on them. They have a decent beer selection in bottles, can and even on draft! Cocktails are good too.
Overall, a fun experience, but better in winter.

nice rooftop bar with a retractable roof!
Looking for drinks and Empire State Building views? Well this is you’re spot, granted drinks are a bit pricey but that’s expected for NYC and a rooftop
They have lots of random seating but it gets packed so I guess you gotta be lucky to snap a spot
–rockaway lemonade: so good! I got it with tequila instead of vodka without a problem
They also have food options but we never got a table so we couldn’t order to try the food

Just beautiful. The décor as you step into this place is so romantic and you just feel transported out of NYC (until you step outside and see the concrete jungle). They did a nice job with this place, the lighting, vibe is all nice and chill. Its a great place for a date, happy hour or evening with friends.
The only downside, but your going to find this everywhere since it is NYC — the prices of drinks are crazy! $ 14 for a glass of wine. Make sure your ready to drop alot of money if your coming here to drink.

Skylark was closed for a private party so ended up venturing to this spot. It was pretty crowded but enough space to walk around and have a casual conversation. I just cannot rate this better than skylark but this does have a good vibe and ambiance for the size it is.
The bar is good looking but the bar tenders and drinks are just normal and over priced. If Skylark is closed go down here otherwise i would just avoid it.

Based on the rooftop itself I would have given this place a 4 star rating but I docked a point based on how annoying getting in is (and to be honest that was me being generous because the getting in part is not fun). I don’t know if they do it to make it seem like an exclusive spot or if its because the owners get a kick out of it but whatever the reason, it frustrates the crap out of me.
GETTING IN …
«You will never get a second chance to make a first impression» which rings true for Refinery. The first time I tried to go, I went sans reservation on Friday night with another female friend. Both of us dressed up were turned away because «if you are not on a list you can’t get in» and you can’t make reservations for a party of less than 5 people. How to get in on weekends if it’s just two people is beyond me.
Second time was on a Thursday evening again sans reservation because of the aforementioned rules. At least the second time we were able to get in but the bouncer/​host were very hesitant to let people in because of «capacity constraints». Even once I got a stamp, there was another checkpoint at the elevator by the elevator guy to (from what I assume) is to ensure that the right people are being let in.
VIEW …
Aside from getting in, the view is gorgeous! Its a perfect view of ESB; not too far away like Press Lounge or any rooftop downtown but also not too close like rooftops that are too close like Cloud Social or VU Rooftop. There is even a nice, enclosed indoor area for the winter months when it gets too cold to hang out in the breeze.
If you are over seeing ESB, this isn’t for you because there really isn’t a view of much else. Also, I would recommend coming when its dusk or dark outside because the view at night is much nicer than when there’s still light outside.

Refinery rooftop has emerged as my go to rooftop to bring visiting friends and family to in the city. It’s easily located within the Refinery hotel, where the doorman will direct you towards the proper elevator. You’ll then emerge from the elevator into a place that seems nothing like NYC… except for their fantastic view of the Empire State buildings There’s various seating areas… cozy couches, tables, large bar, and outdoor area (weather permitting). The fireplace is a central focus but the various types of seating makes it a good place for families, dates, friends, etc. there are tons of windows and the retractable roof which adds a really neat ambiance you won’t find elsewhere. Size wise, I have found it to be bigger than many of the other rooftop bars in the area.
The drinks are expensive but more reasonable than most other rooftop bars. We typically come close to when they open on weekends (they get packed on nice summer days and won’t let you in without a wait) and enjoy a drink and the view before heading on our way. The staff is friendly and chatty when they’re not crazy busy too!

Refinery has got a fantastic view of the Empire State Building.
Now that that’s out of the way, you’re here for the drinks. Get the perfect pear, it’s aptly named. On slower nights, enjoy a romantical rendezvous with a significant other and canoodle in a corner, or by their faux fireplace[1].
In the mood for craziness? This rooftop bar fills up Fridays and Saturdays; book a table if you’re with a larger group.
For best results, sit bar-​side. If you have Chris or Shannon as a bartender, count yourself lucky and tip well.
[1] Maybe it’s real? I was distracted.

I’d been here before but it was in the evening. However, today there was no wait in a line to get in. Had a lunch meeting here this afternoon with colleagues and the experience was top notch.
Most Midtown rooftop spots have the same feel. Sometimes it’s hard to tell one from another. However, the Refinery Hotel Rooftop definitely stood out for me. There’s a Tuscan/​hearth-​oven feel in the heavily brick-​adorned space. The Empire State Building hovers majestically in the backdrop.
The sun was blazing hot so we opted for the corner booth in the shade. Our waiter was a friendly cat who checked on us regularly to make sure we were ok which was greatly appreciated!
I ordered the Burger which is served with a 2-​Year Grafton Cheddar, caramelized onions, brioche, and sour pickles. Ordered it medium-​well and it came medium-​well. The fries were delicious and perfectly seasoned. I also had a glass of Chardonnay to toast to the afternoon.
The feather in the cap for the experience was the combination of great food, great customer service, and phenomenal afternoon ambiance. Hope to make it back before the end of the warm weather. Nice job Refinery, I see you!

I attended a work networking event here and really enjoyed the rooftop on a warm summer evening. We were outside and promptly served with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. They are fabulous with events, so if you’re looking for an event space, I’d highly recommend them. Not only were their staff dedicated and on top of everything, but they also did not skimp on drinks or appetizers… delicious fare from sliders to cheese plates to bruschetta — everything was quality.
The indoor portion of the rooftop is much larger and has cute lighting hanging from the ceiling. The outdoor portion is significantly smaller, but still larger than a lot of rooftops I’ve visited in NYC. If you’re going for happy hour after work, I’d recommend getting there really early, as I’ve seen the line in the street to go up there. Super cute ambiance, whether you’re indoors or out. You have a beautiful view of the Empire State. This is a must for all out-​of-​towners. And great for just about any occasion, date, friends night out, group outing… the Refinery Rooftop exceeded my expectations.

«Let’s meet at Refinery Rooftop at 3:30 on Friday» I said… «It won’t be crowded at all…» I said…
Well, myself and my day drinking companion (that’s all she means to me…) arrived well past 3:30 (herself more than I…) and it was unsurprisingly well attended. The sun was shining, the booze was flowing, and those nice little day dresses you ladies like to wear were being worn. Those in addition to a fine view of Midtown cityscapes from the open air rooftop balcony (primarily the Empire State Building) are some of the standards you can expect at this particular joint.
Clientele was primarily a young, tall, (possibly trust fund baby-​ish) kinda rich… generally, an exceptionally attractive crowd. Luckily, I was donned in an impeccably fit black ensemble with a charcoal dinner jacket… by far the best dressed Asian man there (point of fact, the only Asian man there for the majority of my stay there). Now that that’s out of the way, the point is this: either spend rich while drinking, or at the very least, look like you belong there. It’s easier to do the latter (this is arguably the most fashionable city in the USA, let alone the world).
The drinks are solid, and priced at what you would expect. $ 10 well drinks and $ 15 highballs (gin & tonic para mi, and a mojito for my drinking companion who means nothing to me… respectively) is what was consumed by my party, and both were well made. Not too boozy and appropriately refreshing.
I’m not a rooftop bar enthusiast, which is surprising given my love of/​resilience to booze and sunshine my years of training and genetic coding have bestowed upon me. Diff’rent strokes I guess. That being said, this definitely qualifies as a venue to revisit in the near future (also, the bald/​shaved head elevator operator was the man).

This place is great! I just couldnt wait to review this place. We are throwing a farewell party tonight during happy hour. Such a great venue!
Our group/​company was very well taken care of. The servers were friendly, attentive and accommodating. Drinks were made just right, the Hors d’oeuvres were delicious as well as the cheese, meat and fruit platter! The deco is perfect and cozy.
This is my first time here, and am having a blast. It is really close to my job, so i do plan on coming back here. Place is relaxing. They do a headcount downstairs along with the stamping of the hand. So make sure not to pass that… you’ll get stopped at the elevators without the stamp.
This place just made my Tuesday night a great one. I’ll be back and do recommend this place to others.