The 20 Best Rooftop Restaurants in Brooklyn
While you can’t really go wrong with anywhere in New York City to grab some dinner and a drink, Brooklyn has some of the best spots in the Big Apple. If you want to kick things up a notch and sit above New York and get some of the best sight lines possible, upgrade your dining experience to one of the many rooftop options. Brooklyn has a lot of them, but we whittled it down to the best to visit on your next trip. Here are the 20 best rooftop restaurants in Brooklyn.
1. Westlight (111 N. 12th St. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
The first restaurant on our list is also one of the highest up. On the 22nd floor of the William Vale, Westlight offers a small food menu, with four signature entrees. These include the dry-aged beef burger, ora king salmon, ginger glazed short rib, and Thai roast chicken. Westlight also doubles as a terrific bar, serving up cocktails that include the four winds, blue note, and summer of love. There are even a few beers on the menu for those looking to avoid liquor.
2. LoHi (314 Scholes St. – Brooklyn, NY 11206)
Not many rooftop venues will be able to accommodate people throughout most of the year in Brooklyn, but LoHi knows how big of a draw the rooftop atmosphere is, placing heaters in the venue so that the party can go year-round. LoHi has a lot of great appetizer and entree options, including a special Sunday menu, as well as a long list of cocktails, beer, and wine. If you’re into trivia, make sure to head to LoHi on Wednesdays.
3. Kimoto Rooftop Restaurant & Garden Lounge (228 Duffield St. – Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Night owls will find themselves right at home when visiting the Kimoto Rooftop Restaurant and Garden Lounge, as the hours are 6 pm until 3 am on Fridays and even 4 am on Saturdays. Serving authentic Japanese cuisine, Kimoto has some terrific appetizers that include jerk BBQ steak kebabs, as well as entrees like the Kuba bacon double cheeseburger. Due to the late night hours, there’s no shortage of drink options on the menu, either, including the signature candy shop cocktail.
4. Harriet’s Rooftop (60 Furman St. – Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Open every day from 11 am until midnight, Harriet’s Rooftop is located at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and even includes a rooftop pool. The meals at Harriet’s Rooftop are top-of-the-line, prepared by head chef Denevin Miranda. Miranda has been featured on Food Network and serves up dishes including lobster bao and steak frites. Harriet’s also features a sushi bar and a long drink menu with specialty cocktails like their house margarita, coconut spritz, and kombucha.
5. The Roof (214 3rd St. – Brooklyn, NY 11215)
With a full bar and plenty of food options, The Roof is one of Brooklyn’s more hidden rooftop gems. Open from 11 am until 8 pm every day, The Roof offers popular dishes that include the turkey burger, fish taco wrap, and crab rolls. The food is always fresh at The Roof, and although they don’t have many cocktail options, there are plenty of beers and wines to pick from. The prices at The Roof also make this joint a great spot for a quick lunch without breaking the bank.
6. Creatures of All Kind Rooftop (160 N. 12th St. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
Typically when you think of music venues, you think of food that tends to be not so great. That’s not the case at Creatures of All Kind, which focuses just as much on its food menu as it does the drinks and music. There are four signature entrees at COAK: wagyu empanadas, mahi tacos, midnight mi Goreng grilled cheese, and the Bohemia burger. Of course, the drinks are worth mentioning at COAK, with their top cocktails being the Balinese ritual margarita, Cleopatra’s sour, and Where the Wild Things Are.
7. The Water Tower Bar (96 Wythe Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
From the outside, the Water Tower Bar at the Williamsburg Hotel looks like it doesn’t do much besides retaining water. However, as you get closer, you’ll see that it’s one of the nicest bars in Brooklyn. There’s always a party happening at the Water Tower, which is known for its late-night music sessions. As a result, you’re more likely to run into the drink menu, though the Water Tower does have some familiar bar foods that include sandwiches, salads, and other appetizers.
8. Rooftop Reds (63 Flushing Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11201)
According to Rooftop Reds, this restaurant is home to the only rooftop vineyard in all of New York City. Rooftop Reds is known for its lighter fares, with a small menu that includes hummus, chorizo, stuffed grape leaves, and more. While eating these healthy dishes, patrons are able to sip on some of the city’s finer wines. Whether on tap or by the glass, Rooftop Reds serves up hot spiced mulled wine, riesling, rose, and a red blend.
9. Clinton Hall & Rooftop Beer Garden (247 Metropolitan Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11211)
One of the top spots to play trivia, Clinton Hall hosts this fun team event every Wednesday. Also, Clinton Hall is open until at least midnight every night, with weekends boasting late-night hours until 2 am. Many of the rooftop locations in Brooklyn are often upscale and don’t offer a lot of sports viewing options, but Clinton Hall stands out with its many big-screen televisions. Beer enthusiasts will love Clinton Hall, and in terms of food, this rooftop gem is known for its burger selection.
10. DUMBO Rooftop (82 Prospect St. – Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Operating on a first-come, first-served basis, the DUMBO Rooftop is one of the few rooftop joints on our list that doesn’t take reservations. Also, DUMBO is only open when the weather is essentially perfect, serving as a local watering hole during the summer months. There are two large bars and fun outdoor games like feather bowling and arcade classics. The food menu isn’t lengthy, featuring bar snacks that include chips, tacos, and pretzels. As for the drink menu, there’s certainly no shortage of options to choose from.
11. Night of Joy (667 Lorimer St. – Brooklyn, NY 11211)
Open for three seasons of the year (you can probably guess the odd one out), Night of Joy offers rooftop dining and drinks during dinner hours and going until midnight at the earliest. Fans of Night of Joy have said that the menu isn’t too pricey, making it a hotspot for young locals to kick back and get their weekends started. The cocktails are the big draw at Night of Joy, including their delicious orange blossom rum lemonade.
12. East Hae (98 N. 6th St. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
Typically, a restaurant that has a rooftop feature only offers it when the weather is just right. That’s not the case for Korean restaurant East Hae, however, as they have a retractable rooftop for open-air dining. East Hae is known for some of its authentic Korean dishes that include KFC (Korean fried chicken), galbi jjim, and spicy bibim gookso. For those grabbing a drink, East Hae has unique cocktails like the isla jeju and haechi.
13. Fornino (55 Water St. – Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Though it doesn’t have a lot of seating, Fornino does have rooftop accommodations at its location at the Time Out Market. Open until 10 pm (and 11 pm on the weekends), there’s plenty of time to grab a seat at Fornino and try out some of their highly-rated dishes. Among the local favorites are the calabrese, funghi misti and arancini. Fornino also has some beers on tap to help wash down their signature meals, including the Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn Summer Ale.
14. Slate Rooftop (247 Metropolitan Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11211)
Known mostly for its cocktail menu for those looking to unwind, Slate Rooftop does also serve up some great food on its small menu. Appetizers include the Slate nachos, chicken wings, and short rib tacos, while the main attraction is the artisan pizza. Make sure to stick around for dessert as Slate serves up some warm doughnuts, which pair well with their signature cocktails like the Slate Smash and Fire in the Sky.
15. Teraza Restaurant Lounge (825 Surf Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11224)
For a casual rooftop meal, a lot of people head to the second floor of 825 Surf Avenue to sit on the rooftop of Teraza. Teraza has become a hotspot for those that want to grab a drink after work, serving up a series of signature cocktails that include the Ginie of the Lamp, Pear Mule, and Hibiscus Spritz to name a few. Teraza has a surf and turf style menu, with kebabs being the main specialty of the restaurant.
16. Bia (67 S. 6th St. – Brooklyn, NY 11211)
While most of the rooftop restaurants in Brooklyn are several stories up, you only have to go to the top of a one-story building to enjoy the rooftop atmosphere of Bia. This standalone restaurant has a wide variety of cuisines on its menu, including sandwiches in wings, though the specialty comes in the form of Vietnamese dishes. Open at 5 pm Tuesday through Friday, Bia doesn’t serve lunch during the week, so make sure to save your early appetite for the weekend.
17. Our Wicked Lady (153 Morgan Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11237)
Music fans will feel right at home at Our Wicked Lady, or OWL, for short. Offering draft beers and cocktails, OWL consistently has bands playing every week. The food menu isn’t all that long, but they do specialize in the few items that they serve. This includes the Thicc Fil A chicken sandwich, catfish, and Deez Nuggz. Because it’s a music venue, plan on staying late because OWL is open until 4 am, meaning you could see the sun coming up in June.
18. Bar Blondeau (80 Wythe Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
If you’re looking for a nightcap after dinner, the Bar Blondeau is the spot to be. Located on the Wythe Hotel’s sixth floor, Bar Blondeau is a French-style bar and restaurant that has a little something for everyone. From their martinis to their Japanese fried chicken and ribeye, Bar Blondeau has great choices for every price range. Don’t worry about showing up early, as Bar Blondeau is open until midnight. For wine fans, there’s also a blend of different types, including non-alcoholic.
19. Laser Wolf Brooklyn (97 Wythe Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
At the top of The Hoxton, Laser Wolf serves authentic Israeli dishes and cocktails while offering a great view of Manhattan. Featuring a laid-back atmosphere, Laser Wolf is a great place to relax and grab a drink with friends on a sunny weekend afternoon. Some of the signature dishes at Laser Wolf include the Babaganoush, Israeli pickles, and chicken shashlik. Dessert fans will also love the brown sugar soft-serve ice cream with sesame and cherries.
20. The Williamsburg (96 Wythe Ave. – Brooklyn, NY 11249)
Situated atop The Williamsburg Hotel is one of the biggest party spots in Brooklyn at the rooftop pool and bar. Even the rooftop bar has a rooftop, showing that this is a true party destination. While the food is served indoors, you’re welcome to sit outside on the rooftop and hang out with your friends and take in the great views. At 5,000 square feet, there’s plenty of room on the rooftop, but make sure to get there early because it can fill up quickly.
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