Reviews & Ratings for Rare View

Rare roof experience

by AVR , Citysearch Contributor

A large roof deck for warm evening cocktails. It does offer the (as advertised) sweeping views of our lovely lower midtown skyline.

A vast expansive space with little alcoves that offer spaces that offer the opportunity for conversation away from the masses.

Weeknight evening find this spot filled with the suited after work crowd. Weekend afternoons into evening offer a more relaxed atmosphere.

Navigating through the crowd can be daunting - knowing which area you are meeting friends ahead of time is helpful.

Pick your spot - and stick with it is my suggestion.

• Pros: out - of -doors, what else do you need?
• Cons: give yourself 5 minutes when it's time to leave.

Nice for a drink after work

by callmezo

Met up with some old and new friends on a Wednesday night after work. The staff was very friendly, drinks were fine, but since still early in the summer... got a bit cool outside early and there were no propane heaters like other venues to sit underneath. I would go back again, once the weather warms up a bit more.

• Pros: Friendly wait staff
• Cons: No outside heaters

Great place for mojitos!!

by hotfungi31

I stopped by after work with a few friends.... It wasnt too crowded at that point, and our waitress was very prompt and friendly. We decided on mojitos ( a little pricey- but worth it), and just enjoyed the scenery, the music ( the speakers could be upgraded a bit) and of course, the conversation. I was also pleased that I was able to purchase a cigar right there on the roof. The only downfall was that there was no food available or even allowd- Other than that I would definately recommend this place for anyone who wants a real taste of the manhattan scene!

• Pros: Great view of the city- mixed drinks and social scene
• Cons: no food allowed

Cute place to sit outside until the crowds come

by ny2ca

Took a good 20 min to get the elevator ride up/down. When it's less crowded it's easy to get drinks and find a place to hang out. When the crowds come, it feels like there's no place to go and no way to get to a bar or waitress. The view is nice, but the tall fences take away from it a little, I guess it's a NYS law b/c all the roof tops have them. Drinks are a little pricey, but again, NYC.

• Pros: Being outside
• Cons: Gets crowded

Great Views - Good Drinks

by kris1260

One of the best rooftop bars in Manhattan. There are few places I would rather be on a cool summer dusk. The Sapphire tonic compliments the city skyline perfectly.

• Pros: Great Views
• Cons: Sometimes crowded - difficult to access the bar

Great Dinner!

by salvatore123

We had dinner there before we went to Chill Lounge for the real party! The food was real good and the service was great!

Nice view, that's the only thing

by heapchk

The best part about this place is the view. Other than that, it's standard midtown after-work fare. Drinks are reasonably priced, the clientele is such you can bring your entire office without anyone feeling too out-of-place. Go with your coworkers, but you probably won't impress your date.

Midtown Happy Hour

by foodie326

We went on a Thursday night after work. Everyone was dressed fairly nicely. The rooftop is packed so that you can't even walk to the bar to get a $15 cocktail without being spilled on. While the drinks were strong and a good size, the actual rooftop wasn't nice enough to warrant the $15 pricetag. It's nice to be outside, but the view is obstructed and the place itself is a barebones outdoor space. There's definitely a frat party feel to it, from the line out front, hand stamping bouncer, to being sardined in one spot all night.

• Pros: Outdoor bar
• Cons: $15 drinks, too crowded

nice view

by bk_chic

This is a great place to spend a summer night. The bouncers can be annoying, and seem a little unnecessary for such a small place, but once you make it up there, it's a nice atmosphere. Very laid back, good music to vibe to, plently of places to sit and lounge.

What a waste of good outdoor space! Terrible!

by meyersryan

I'm sure the management at the Shelburne are regretting the day they decided to let the "rare view" company take over their rooftop. I rented this rooftop a couple years ago for my birthday party to near universal praise from the guests. Disappointing is not a strong enough word to describe how I felt in re-visiting it last night...

Basically one of the nicest outdoor commercial rooftops in mid-town Manhattan has been taken over and renovated by an entity with neither class nor imagination. There is no diplomatic way to put it, from the thuggish "bouncers" who stamp your hand in the lobby and the awful, awful music (imagine Carrot Top's Ipod on random being played loudly) to the overpriced drinks ($15 martinis, $9 beers) and slow service, this place is NOT WORTH THE VIEW.

• Pros: View
• Cons: Tacky Music, Bad Atmosphere, Overpriced