Playwright Irish Pub

Besides being beloved films, Sleepless in Seattle, King Kong, and Rear Window all have one thing in common: they're proof that in New York City, the most exciting things often happen above street-level. Luckily, New York's countless rooftop watering holes offer a birds-eye-view of the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, making them a must-hit destination for out-of-towners looking to take in the twinkling skyline, to locals looking to elevate their typical bar experience.

In an ironic twist, Prohibition’s ban on alcohol in the 1920s helped spark the emergence of the modern-day nightclub. Bars were forced underground, and their guest lists necessarily became more restricted. Even when these clubs could safely reemerge from hiding, many continued to reap the benefits of exclusivity and pricey cover charges. The most exaggerated examples can be found in New York, where long lines and unsympathetic bouncers are still the rule. But if you consider the number of global dance movements shaped in the city’s late-night scene—from disco to electronica—you might agree that the party is more than worth the wait.

When it comes to bars, New Yorkers have a high standard for what defines “historic.” Their city predates even the United States, and its taverns have played host to such larger-than-life figures as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. So when a bar such as Pete's Tavern claims that it’s the city’s "oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar," there’s usually another—Fraunces Tavern, for example—that politely reminds the public that it served its first drink more than 100 years prior. These bars and others left standing from the colonial era may have replaced their wooden signs with neon lights, but their place in the city’s social fabric remains largely unchanged.