The best rooftop bars in the Financial District

A night at Overstory feels like one in a spaceship. You fly up 64 stories and look out over the sparkling landscape of New York, building lights like stars, the city a mini universe below. The 360-degree panoramic windows keep the views central inside the bar, with sleek Art Deco furniture, a light-up bar, and a disco ball adding to the contemporary atmosphere. Though Overstory knows the views are the selling point, they want to make that secondary to the drinks – their cocktails have landed them on the World’s Best Bars list consistently since opening (No. 17 at the time of writing). You’ll find Pink Tuxedo – an ode to the bartender’s signature uniforms – a vermouth, absinthe, and vodka-based drink with cherry blossom and strawberry, as well as other drinks with creative twists of sumac, lime leaf, and barley.

The intimate 588 sq. ft. venue can accommodate up to 60 standing guests.

Located 25 floors up Hotel Indigo Wall Street is Highwater Rooftop, a happy hour hub for nearby finance bros. This rooftop bar is high enough above FiDi to be an escape, but low enough to keep your head from getting too dizzy. The interior is sleek, with golden brass detailing, dark tiling, and lounge sofas. These guys keep things Old Fashioned, literally – their cocktail menu is full of funky twists on the Old Fashioned. You’ll also find an Espresso Martini flight and a selection of local craft beers, alongside a food menu of light bites like burrata, truffle mac and cheese balls, and wagyu beef sliders.

The space is split over two floors and includes four outdoor terraces. Private events can host up to 200 standing guests and 95 seated.

You might think that flowers and greenery are the last thing you’ll find around Wall St., but all you have to do is look up. The Flower Shop Rooftop is a hybrid between beloved LES bistro The Flower Shop and Walker Hotels TriBeCa. Along with iconic FiDi views, you’ll be surrounded by walls, archways, and pergolas adorned with flowers. This seasonal rooftop bar has a cocktail menu inspired by floral flavors, like The Pirate Rose, with rose petals, vodka, mint, and lime, as well as warm-weather favorites like a frozen Aperol Spritz. Throughout the spring and summer, they do a workshop series led by expert florists, and a sunset happy hour. The Rooftop can host events of up to 150 guests.

Hidden away (pun intended) in the Artezen Hotel just off Broadway is Hide Rooftop, a split-level rooftop bar that feels more like a lofted apartment. A sleek interior with magenta couches, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a glass staircase offers an ambient, airy atmosphere for a happy hour, cocktail party, or corporate event. Partial buyouts are available for up to 60 guests, and full two-floor buyouts can host 120 guests. Small group reservations can be made for up to 14.

The cocktail menu offers shaken and stirred drinks – try the Hidden Elegance, which features Ruby Port and pineapple – and is accompanied by a small bites menu. For private events, menu packages include brunch and breakfast packages and bars, boardroom bites like paninis and wraps, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner options like pasta stations and chafing dishes. Open bar packages include the full cocktail menu as well as a selection of wines and beers.

Ask a New Yorker where the best view in the city is and many of them will say Manhatta. It’s not the tallest in the city (or even just FiDi) but The Bar in particular frames uptown in a way that’ll have you sighing into your martini and thinking, Man, I love this place. It helps that you can’t smell the garbage piles or hear the taxi honks from that high up.

The highlight of the drinks menu is the neighborhood cocktails, which include creative concoctions like the Chinatown, a rye-based cocktail with plum wine, crispy duck, and shiitake mushrooms. There’s also a long list of wines and bar snacks to give you a taste of the fine-dining experience Manhatta is known for.

While The Bar cannot be rented out on its own, the Manhatta space has several rental options, including more intimate Liberty, Hudson, and Harbor rooms that can accommodate up to 40 standing guests each.