When it comes to dining out, the ambiance can be just as important as the food and drink. And when that atmosphere is over 1,500 feet in the air or offers 360 degree views of the city, you’re definitely on your way to a great experience. One of the first dizzying nightclubs was the roof garden of the Casino Theater on Broadway, opened by Rudolph Aronson in 1882. It quickly grew in popularity as a place to see concerts and operettas, chat along the boardwalk, and escape the sweltering New York summer heat.
Manhattan at the turn of the century saw an increase in rooftop entertainment that kept pace with the rise of skyscrapers. The second Madison Square Garden, designed by Stanford White, opened as a rooftop theater in 1892. (White was actually shot and killed there in 1906 by a jealous and suspicious husband.)
When the Astor Hotel, one of Times Square’s first hotels, opened in 1905, huge Italian garden on the roof was lined with palm trees, waterfalls, caves and featured a bandstand for live performances. Today rooftop bars and restaurants are a global phenomenon, offering decadent dining and cocktails, cutting-edge design and, of course, views to capture on smartphones. From New York to Budapest to Singapore, we’ve got you covered with the best ones below.
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