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Why Rooftop Dining is Perfect for Families

Rooftop bars and restaurants are often laid-back, creating a space for the adults to relax and take a breather, and for the kids to breathe some fresh air and have space to move around. Plus, rooftop restaurants have a built-in distraction: They provide families with stunning city views.

Best Family-Friendly Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in NYC

1. 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar – Flatiron

230 Fifth is one of NYC's largest rooftop bars. The space has indoor and outdoor seating, with stunning skyline views of the Flatiron District. Kids are welcome any time with an accompanying parent except Fridays and Saturdays after 7.
Cuisine: The menus include familiar fare with a classy twist, like fish and chips featuring hand-cut fries and beer-battered cod.
Kid-friendly features: Children and picky eaters dig the weekend brunch menu, which is loaded with kid-friendly favorites like pancakes and bacon, eggs, and cheese sandwiches.

2. Amalfi at SERRA – Flatiron

The beautiful greenhouse-inspired restaurant—atop Eataly—plucks visitors out of NYC and drops them right into the middle of coastal Italy.
Cuisine: The menu consists of Italian fare like pastas and vegetable-heavy dishes, and a delectable dessert menu consisting of gelatos, sorbets, and other treats perfect for a hot summer day.
Kid-friendly features: The greenhouse ambiance and bright colors provide plenty of eye candy while you nosh.

3. The Rooftop – Rockaway Beach, Queens

You don't have to go far to feel like you're on vacation, thanks to The Rooftop, a beachy lounge located atop the Rockaway Hotel. The 6,000-square-foot space has incredible views of the city in one direction and the Atlantic Ocean in the other, for an experience like no other. The beach resort feel is complemented by decor that will make you feel like you're resting on a tropical beach, instead of being a mere stone's throw away from NYC. 
Cuisine: The menu puts a Japanese twist on classic kid-friendly dishes, like corn tortilla chips with a miso avocado dip and vegetable rolls with mushroom and asparagus.
Kid-friendly features: Pair a beach day with a nice dinner here for an all-day daycation. 

RELATED: The 20 Most Insane, Must-Try Desserts in NYC

Contemporary art, a skyline view, and kid-friendly treats sweeten a visit to The Cantor Roof Garden at The Met. Photo by Jody Mercier

4. The Cantor Roof Garden – Upper East Side

If you're visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, don't miss out on the Cantor Roof Garden, a lush oasis on the museum's roof with Central Park and skyline views. Note that, although The Met's rooftop restaurant is open seven days a week, it frequently closes for hot weather or on stormy days. The 2025 season is your last chance to enjoy this view for a few years: It closes for a multi-year renovation come fall.
Cuisine: The Garden has a short menu consisting of sandwiches and snacks for the kids and cocktails, wines, and beers for the adults.
Kid-friendly features: Don't miss out on the luxurious hand-painted “View from The Met” cookie or a scoop from Harlem's own Sugar Hill Creamery.

5. Haven Rooftop – Midtown West

The impressively large Haven Rooftop is hidden away at the top of the Sanctuary Hotel. The restaurant has options for both fully open-air dining and a covered space for shelter on particularly sunny or hot days.
Cuisine: The restaurant serves a kid-friendly menu with picks like burgers, pastas, lobster rolls, as well as some more adventurous options like the watermelon feta salad.
Kid-friendly features: Kids enjoy the comfy cushioned seating and plenty of space to stretch their legs.

6. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library – Midtown East

This glorious, newly renovated midtown library branch boasts an outdoor reading room on its seventh-floor terrace, with beautiful views overlooking Fifth Avenue.
Cuisine: An on-site outpost of Amy's Bread serves an array of pastries, sandwiches, salads, sweets, and more.
Kid-friendly features: So. Many. Books. Browse the shelves—including an impressive children's section on the basement level—to pick out some new favorites, then head upstairs for storytime and a snack.

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At the Rooftop Cinema Club, kid-flicks play on the big screen while you lounge and munch on family-friendly eats. Photo courtesy of the Rooftop Cinema Club

7. Rooftop Cinema Club – Midtown West

Enjoy your eats and drinks with a side of entertainment on the rooftop of the Embassy Suites in midtown at the Rooftop Cinema Club. All ages are welcome for showings before 6pm on weekdays and 4:30pm on weekends. After that, it's ages 16 and older with an adult.
Cuisine: Enjoy plenty of movie snacks, from candy to popcorn, plus light bites like hot dogs, nachos, and stone-fired pizza alongside a full bar menu for the adults.
Kid-friendly features: Tons of kid-friendly flicks show in the daytime! You'll enjoy them from lounge chair seating alongside stunning city views.

8. The Roof – Park Slope, Brooklyn

Appropriately named, The Roof is located on the roof of Park Slope's Whole Foods. The casual, industrial-styled rooftop lounge might not be very high up, but it still offers great views of the Manhattan skyline on an open-air terrace.
Cuisine: The Roof serves casual pub fare.
Kid-friendly features: There's lots of space for kids to get their wiggles out without interrupting anyone else's meal, making it a neighborhood family favorite.

9. Westlight and The Vale Pool – Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Situated on the 22nd-floor roof of The William Vale, find the Westlight restaurant and a 60-foot open-air pool. A limited number of non-guest day passes are sold per day, allowing you to kick back and enjoy some poolside meals and drinks. The pool is open to kids daily from 8am-noon, but it's adults only after that.
Cuisine: Once noon hits, head over to the adjoining lounge, the Westlight, to enjoy meals designed by award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini.
Kid-friendly features: An early-morning swim followed by a hearty, elevated lunch sounds like a pretty good recipe for a sleepy afternoon in our books!

10. Berry Park – Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The woman-owned Berry Park provides the perfect location for some afternoon lounging. The open-air eatery offers McCarren Park views to the east and views of Lower Manhattan to the west. One note: Berry Park is a local watering hole, so it's best to avoid it on weekend evenings with kids in tow, since it gets crowded.
Cuisine: Shared plates are available for family noshing, but kids may also enjoy chowing down on a Bavarian pretzel or a plate of mac-and-cheese.
Kid-friendly features: The outdoor space has a laid-back, cozy feel that's welcoming to kids.

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The Pool Bar at the TWA Hotel overlooks JFK's busiest runway, and the jumbo jets provide ample entertainment. Photo courtesy of the hotel

11. The Pool Bar at TWA – Jamaica, Queens

After 11am, the bar and pool at JFK's TWA Hotel open their doors to day visitors. Whether you're catching a flight or just stopping by for some aviation appreciation, The Pool Bar is a family-friendly place to touch down for a bit. Between May and November, reservations are required.
Cuisine: Light bites include flatbread pizzas, hummus plates, nachos, and more. Adults can enjoy an aviation-themed cocktail.
Kid-friendly features: The rooftop observation deck is the perfect place to watch the planes take off and land as it overlooks one of JFK's busiest runways.

12. Luna Asian Bistro Japanese Rooftop – Astoria, Queens

Nothing beats all-you-can-eat sushi paired with city views on a rooftop terrace equipped with a covering for days that are too rainy or sunny.
Cuisine: Sushi and sashimi are served alongside Asian fare like spring rolls, katsu, and tempura. Take note: You'll have an hour and a half to enjoy your meal.
Kid-friendly features: Kids' meals are priced by height with heavy discounts for children under 5-feet-tall.