Times Square has more rooftop bars per square mile than almost anywhere in Manhattan, which sounds obvious until you realise most hotels here keep guests firmly at street level, staring up at the billboards with everyone else. The ones on this list flip that equation: you get a room steps from the action, then take the lift to a perch above it all, cocktail in hand, with the city spread out below you. Some go high enough to see clear across to New Jersey; others sit just above the neon and catch the square’s glow at eye level. Either way, the view is the point — and these hotels deliver it on tap, no reservation required.
Table of Contents
Times Square Hotels
| 1. Hyatt Centric Times Square New York Highest Rooftop Bar in Times Square Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 2-minute walk to Times Square Guest Reviews: Floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, rooftop bar with river-to-river panorama, fitness center with Times Square views, clean modern rooms Best Room: King Suite with Times Square View Price: From USD $200 – $450 per night |
| 2. The Knickerbocker Hotel Best Rooftop for Cocktails and Sushi Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 1-minute walk to Times Square, on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway Guest Reviews: Soundproofed rooms surprisingly quiet for Times Square, rooftop bar with sushi and cocktails, spacious rooms with 12-foot ceilings, outstanding cleanliness Best Room: Corner Junior Suite Price: From USD $250 – $600 per night |
| 3. Hard Rock Hotel New York Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 2-minute walk to Times Square, steps from Broadway Theatre District Guest Reviews: Floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms, RT60 rooftop with live DJs and north-south city views, music memorabilia throughout, clean modern rooms Best Room: Suite, Balcony (Platinum) Price: From USD $200 – $500 per night |
| 4. citizenM New York Times Square Best Value Hotel Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 2-minute walk to Times Square, corner of Broadway and 50th Street Guest Reviews: Tablet-controlled room lighting and temperature, cloudM rooftop bar with Manhattan panorama, 24-hour canteen with barista coffee, surprisingly quiet rooms for the location Best Room: King Room Price: From USD $145 – $350 per night |
| 5. Margaritaville Resort Times Square Only Hotel with an Outdoor Rooftop Pool Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute walk to Times Square, corner of 7th Avenue and West 36th Street Guest Reviews: Only outdoor rooftop pool in the Times Square area, floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views, heated pool open year-round, friendly front desk team Best Room: Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, City View Price: From USD $165 – $350 per night |
| 6. Sanctuary Hotel New York Free Breakfast Included Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 2-minute walk to Times Square, on West 47th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues Guest Reviews: Complimentary continental breakfast included, Haven Rooftop with heated glass enclosure and city views, Frette Italian linens, warm lobby with open fireplace Best Room: Deluxe King Room Price: From USD $110 – $300 per night |
| 7. AC Hotel by Marriott New York Times Square Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute walk to Times Square, half a block from the 42nd Street transit hub Guest Reviews: Castell rooftop with panoramic Manhattan skyline views, Boqueria tapas restaurant on the lobby level, consistently praised staff, clean modern rooms with hardwood floors Best Room: King Room with Balcony Price: From USD $160 – $400 per night |
| 8. Renaissance New York Times Square by Marriott Best Private Terrace Rooms Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 1-minute walk to Times Square, on the corner of 7th Avenue and West 48th Street Guest Reviews: R Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Times Square, private terrace balconies with panoramic square views, soundproofed rooms, spacious layouts for Midtown Best Room: Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace Price: From USD $190 – $400 per night |
| 9. Moxy NYC Times Square Largest Indoor/Outdoor Hotel Rooftop Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute walk to Times Square, corner of 7th Avenue and West 36th Street Guest Reviews: Magic Hour rooftop — NYC’s largest indoor/outdoor hotel rooftop, smart pegboard room design maximises small spaces, oversized rainfall showers, lively lobby bar with Tao Group dining Best Room: Corner King Room Price: From USD $130 – $350 per night |
| 10. M Social Hotel New York Times Square Best Rooftop for Live Music Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute walk to Times Square, steps from Broadway and August Wilson Theater Guest Reviews: 7,500 sq ft wraparound terrace with unobstructed Times Square views, live music Thursday nights at Beast & Butterflies, spacious rooms by NYC standards, Hudson River views on upper floors Best Room: Social Deluxe Times Square King – Ball Drop View Price: From USD $125 – $355 per night |
| 11. Aliz Hotel Times Square Most Intimate Rooftop Bar Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Location: 5-minute walk to Times Square, corner of West 40th Street and 8th Avenue Guest Reviews: Manhattan’s highest open-air hotel bar on the 40th and 41st floors, 360-degree skyline views from Dear Irving on Hudson, Peloton cycling studio, complimentary welcome cocktail and $25 credit at check-in Best Room: Premium Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, City View Price: From USD $105 – $300 per night |
How to Choose the Right Times Square Rooftop Bar Hotel for You
The rooftop bars across this list look similar on paper — sky-high views, cocktails, Manhattan skyline — but they deliver completely different experiences in practice. The most useful distinction is not height or price but vibe: some of these bars are intimate and cocktail-focused, others are high-energy party venues, and a few sit in between. Getting this right before you book matters because the bar shapes the whole stay.
- Bar 54 at the Hyatt Centric Times Square — the highest rooftop on the list at the 54th floor, with river-to-river views and an upscale lounge atmosphere. Cocktails start at around $25 and the outdoor terrace is intimate. This is the choice if the view is the priority and you want a refined evening over a loud one.
- St. Cloud at The Knickerbocker — positioned right at the corner of 42nd and Broadway, sitting among the Times Square skyscrapers rather than above them. The vibe is sophisticated but more relaxed than Bar 54, with plush Sky Pods and a strong sushi and cocktail menu. Better for groups who want comfort over drama.
- Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel — the most design-forward bar on the list, with 1960s James Bond decor, a curated craft cocktail programme, and 360-degree views from the 40th and 41st floors. Reservations required; smart casual dress code. The choice for a genuinely special evening rather than a casual drink.
- Magic Hour at Moxy NYC Times Square — the highest-energy option on the list, at 10,000 sq ft the largest indoor/outdoor hotel rooftop in NYC, with live DJs, mini golf, multiple bars, and a crowd that skews younger and louder. The right choice for a big night out rather than a quiet cocktail with a view.
- Beast & Butterflies at M Social — a 7,500 sq ft wraparound terrace at lobby-adjacent height, with live music on Thursday nights and direct Times Square sightlines. More accessible in atmosphere than the high-altitude bars; good for groups with mixed priorities.
- Haven Rooftop at Sanctuary Hotel — a seasonally themed, mid-size rooftop known for its rooftop brunch as much as evening drinks. More laid-back and neighbourhood-friendly than the party bars; the included breakfast and cozy enclosed winter space make it a strong all-rounder for couples.
- cloudM at citizenM Times Square — a clean, design-forward bar on the 21st floor that’s exclusively for hotel guests outside of private events. Quieter and more relaxed than the public-facing bars, it’s the right pick if you’d rather have the rooftop largely to yourselves.
- Castell Rooftop at AC Hotel Times Square — a martini-focused all-season lounge on the 21st floor with tapas and aperitivo snacks. Lower-key and more European in sensibility than the large-format party bars; happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm and is genuinely good value.
- RT60 at Hard Rock Hotel — a rock-and-roll-inflected rooftop bar with live DJs and a younger, livelier crowd. Sits below the premium views of Bar 54 or Dear Irving but delivers strong energy and solid cocktails.
- Rooftop pool bar at Margaritaville — the only outdoor rooftop pool on this list, which puts it in a different category entirely from the cocktail bars. The pool runs year-round and the bar sits on the 31st and 32nd floors. The choice if pool access from your room matters as much as the bar itself.
- R Lounge at Renaissance New York Times Square — a floor-to-ceiling window lounge directly overlooking Times Square, with only seven private terrace rooms for guests who want the square below their balcony. Lower-energy than most options here; suits those who want direct Times Square views from a relaxed setting.
The bottom line: if views are everything, go high — Bar 54 or Dear Irving. If energy is the priority, Magic Hour or M Social. If you want the rooftop mostly to yourself, citizenM. If you’re travelling with a group and want flexibility, The Knickerbocker or Haven Rooftop cover most bases.
Where in Times Square These Hotels Sit
Times Square isn’t one intersection — it runs roughly from West 42nd Street to West 53rd Street, and where your hotel sits within that stretch affects your walk times, your noise level, and what your rooftop actually looks at. Hotels south of 44th Street sit in the densest, loudest part of the district; hotels north of 50th Street trade some immediacy for quieter streets.
- The Knickerbocker — right on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway, the most central location on the list. You are physically in Times Square. Walk to the Minskoff, Lyric, or Booth theatres in under three minutes.
- Renaissance New York Times Square — on 7th Avenue at West 48th Street, directly above the square on Two Times Square. The R Lounge looks straight down at the ball drop location. Broadway’s Theatre District runs in both directions from the front door.
- Hyatt Centric Times Square — on West 45th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, in the heart of the Theatre District. Bar 54 faces north and east, giving river-to-river views rather than a direct Times Square sightline.
- Sanctuary Hotel and AC Hotel — both sit on 6th Avenue near West 47th Street, one block east of 7th Avenue. Quieter than the hotels directly on Broadway; a five-minute walk to the square itself.
- Hard Rock Hotel — on West 48th Street just off 7th Avenue, steps from the Theatre District and TKTS booth. RT60 faces east and south, taking in Midtown’s skyline.
- citizenM Times Square — on the corner of Broadway and West 50th Street, slightly north of the densest tourist stretch. Quieter street-level experience; cloudM faces south toward the square.
- Aliz Hotel and Moxy NYC Times Square — both sit south of the square proper, on West 40th Street and West 36th Street respectively. The walk to Times Square is five to eight minutes. The payoff is quieter streets, lower room rates, and rooftop views that look north toward the square and Empire State Building rather than down into it.
- Margaritaville Resort Times Square — on 7th Avenue at West 36th Street, the furthest south on the list. The rooftop pool and bar are genuinely above the square’s skyline; the walk is about ten minutes.
- M Social Hotel — on West 52nd Street near 7th Avenue, slightly north of the main tourist corridor. The wraparound terrace looks south over Times Square, giving some of the clearest sightlines of the square’s lights from any hotel on this list.
Which Rooftops Are Genuinely Open Year-Round
Every hotel on this list describes its rooftop as open year-round, but what that actually means varies considerably. Some have fully enclosed heated spaces with retractable elements that function identically in January and July. Others scale back outdoor access significantly once temperatures drop, relying on a smaller indoor section. Worth knowing before you book a winter trip specifically around the rooftop.
- Bar 54 at Hyatt Centric Times Square — open year-round with both indoor lounge and outdoor terrace. The outdoor section can close during extreme weather; the indoor space with floor-to-ceiling windows remains open regardless. Sunset visits in winter are particularly atmospheric.
- Magic Hour at Moxy NYC Times Square — one of the strongest all-season rooftops on the list: 10,000 sq ft of indoor/outdoor space with a fully functioning indoor section that keeps the bar operational even when the outdoor deck is cold or wet. Genuinely reliable in winter.
- Haven Rooftop at Sanctuary Hotel — enclosed and heated during winter months, with seasonal décor and themed pop-ups. Frequently cited as one of the better winter rooftop experiences in the Times Square area specifically because the enclosed space is intimate rather than a draughty workaround.
- cloudM at citizenM Times Square — indoor/outdoor format; the indoor section is the primary space and functions well in cold weather. The outdoor terrace is compact, so winter visits work without feeling like a compromise.
- Castell Rooftop at AC Hotel Times Square — all-season by design, with an indoor fireplace lounge that operates as the bar’s anchor in colder months. One of the better winter rooftop options on the list.
- Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel — open Tuesday through Sunday from 4pm or 5pm, with both indoor and outdoor space. The indoor 1960s lounge is the main draw in winter; the outdoor terrace is the bonus in summer. Year-round operation is genuine.
- St. Cloud at The Knickerbocker — the rooftop uses seasonal igloos and enclosed outdoor seating during winter, which keeps the experience interesting rather than just functional. One of the more thoughtfully winterised rooftops in the area.
- Margaritaville rooftop pool — the pool is heated and open year-round, though the outdoor bar experience is expectedly busier from June to September. The pool itself operates in all seasons; confirm current bar hours directly with the hotel for off-peak months.
- R Lounge at Renaissance New York Times Square — primarily an indoor lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows; the terrace rooms are outdoor year-round but the bar functions as an indoor space in winter. Dependable regardless of season.
- Beast & Butterflies at M Social — the wraparound terrace has both indoor and outdoor sections. Seasonal enclosures operate in colder months; the live music series runs Thursday evenings year-round.
- RT60 at Hard Rock Hotel — open year-round with both indoor and outdoor access; the indoor section carries the winter experience. The outdoor area is on the 34th floor and exposed, so winter visits skew toward the interior.
Rooftop Access: What Hotel Guests Actually Get
This is the question no competing article answers directly, and it affects the value calculation significantly. Most of these rooftop bars are open to the public, which means staying at the hotel doesn’t automatically guarantee you a table on a busy Friday night. A few exceptions and perks are worth knowing about.
- Bar 54 at Hyatt Centric Times Square — open to the public but requires advance reservations for all guests, including hotel guests. No dedicated hotel-guest priority queue. Book the rooftop separately when you book the room; outdoor terrace seating is first-come, first-served even with reservations. All guests must be 21 or over.
- cloudM at citizenM Times Square — the one bar on this list that operates primarily as a hotel-guests-only space. The bar is not open to walk-in members of the public outside private events, giving guests a notably quieter experience. Confirm current access policy directly with the hotel, as this can change.
- Magic Hour at Moxy NYC Times Square — open to the public; hotel guests are advised to make reservations in advance due to limited capacity. The hotel offers packages that include rooftop cocktails and priority access. The bar is 21+ at all times except Saturday and Sunday brunch (11:30am–3:30pm), when all ages are welcome. Smart casual; no athletic wear.
- Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel — reservations are required and the bar is open to the public. Hotel guests receive no automatic priority but the intimate scale (capacity around 300) means the experience is less crowded than the large-format bars. Smart casual dress; proper attire required. 21+ at all times.
- St. Cloud at The Knickerbocker — open to the public; hotel guests can access it directly from the hotel elevator. No cover charge for hotel guests. The Sky Pods can be reserved in advance.
- Haven Rooftop at Sanctuary Hotel — open to the public; hotel guests walk straight up from the lobby. Reservations recommended for weekend evenings and brunch. No dedicated guest-only access but the smaller size means it rarely feels overcrowded.
- Margaritaville rooftop pool and bar — the pool is reserved for hotel guests only. The rooftop bar is open to both guests and the public; guests have the advantage of direct lift access and can use the pool before or after drinks.
- Beast & Butterflies at M Social — open to the public with no age restriction, making it one of the more family-accessible rooftop bars on the list. Hotel guests access it directly from the lobby. No reservations required for general access; private events can close sections of the terrace.
- RT60 at Hard Rock Hotel — open to the public; hotel guests access directly from the lift. No dedicated priority access but the hotel’s destination fee includes some on-site credit that can be applied to bar spend.
- Castell at AC Hotel Times Square — open to the public; hotel guests walk up directly. Happy hour runs Monday to Friday 4pm to 6pm and is accessible to all.
- R Lounge at Renaissance New York Times Square — open to hotel guests and the public; no reservations required. The seven terrace rooms with private balconies are the closest thing on this list to exclusive rooftop access — guests in those rooms step directly onto their own terrace overlooking the square.
When to Visit and How Much to Budget
New York City hotel pricing doesn’t follow simple seasonal logic. Times Square hotels are busiest not in summer but in fall — September through November — when corporate travel, Broadway season, and international tourism all peak simultaneously. Summer is busy but rates can be more flexible than many visitors expect.
- Cheapest months — January and February, after the New Year’s Eve rush subsides. Rates across the list drop significantly, and rooftop bars are genuinely quiet. The tradeoff is cold weather, though all the bars on this list operate year-round.
- Best value window — late January through March and again in late August. Rates are lower, the city is still fully operational, and rooftop bars are accessible without the weekend crowds of peak season.
- Peak pricing periods — September through November, the holiday run from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, and spring break in March and April. New Year’s Eve commands by far the largest premium: most hotels on this list implement special ticketing for rooftop access on December 31st, with Bar 54 NYE tickets historically starting above $1,500 per person and The Knickerbocker’s St. Cloud following a similar structure.
- Destination and resort fees — almost every hotel on this list charges a mandatory nightly fee on top of the room rate, typically ranging from $30 to $45 per room per night. As of February 2026, NYC rules require hotels to display the full all-in price including these fees from the first moment a price appears in any booking flow, so the total you see should be accurate. Always check the itemised breakdown before confirming. Some loyalty programme members at elite status can have fees waived — worth a direct call to the hotel before booking if you qualify.
- Booking lead time — for a standard visit, two to four weeks ahead is usually sufficient outside peak periods. For New Year’s Eve, specific holiday weekends, or the terrace rooms at Renaissance, book as far ahead as possible: the seven terrace rooms sell out months in advance, and NYE rooftop tickets at Bar 54 and St. Cloud often go on sale in October for December 31st.
- Cocktail pricing — budget around $20 to $30 per cocktail across the premium bars (Bar 54, Dear Irving, St. Cloud). Magic Hour, Moxy, and M Social run cheaper and offer happy hour deals that bring drinks to $6 to $10. Castell at AC Hotel runs a particularly good aperitivo happy hour Monday to Friday.
FAQs
1. Are Times Square rooftop bars open to the public, or just hotel guests?
Most are open to both. Bar 54, St. Cloud, Magic Hour, Dear Irving, Haven, Castell, RT60, Beast & Butterflies, and the R Lounge all welcome non-guests. The main exception is cloudM at citizenM, which operates primarily as a hotel-guests-only space. The Margaritaville rooftop pool is reserved for guests, but the bar areas are open to all.
2. Do I need to make a reservation to visit a Times Square rooftop bar?
For most of these bars, reservations are strongly recommended and in some cases required. Bar 54 requires advance reservations for all visitors, including hotel guests. Dear Irving on Hudson requires reservations and is open from 4pm or 5pm Tuesday through Sunday. Magic Hour recommends reservations for seated service, though walk-ins are welcome for standing room. St. Cloud and Haven Rooftop are walk-in friendly but benefit from advance booking on Friday and Saturday evenings.
3. What is the age restriction at Times Square hotel rooftop bars?
All bars on this list enforce a 21+ rule for alcohol service, as is standard across New York City. Several enforce 21+ as a venue-wide entry restriction: Bar 54, Dear Irving on Hudson, and Magic Hour all require guests to be 21 or over to enter at all times, with the exception of Magic Hour’s weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11:30am to 3:30pm), which is all ages. Beast & Butterflies at M Social has no age restriction for entry.
4. Which Times Square hotel has the best rooftop view?
For pure elevation and panoramic reach, Bar 54 at Hyatt Centric Times Square sits highest at 54 floors, with river-to-river views taking in the Chrysler Building, lower Manhattan, and clear to New Jersey on good days. For direct Times Square sightlines — looking straight at the square rather than above it — the terrace rooms at Renaissance New York Times Square and the R Lounge put you face-on with the lights and the ball drop location. Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel offers the best 360-degree views at its height.
5. Which hotels on this list are best for New Year’s Eve?
Bar 54 at Hyatt Centric Times Square offers a direct outdoor view of the ball drop from 54 floors up and runs a dedicated NYE ticketed event. St. Cloud at The Knickerbocker sits at the corner of 42nd and Broadway and offers some of the most direct sightlines of the square from street level. The terrace rooms at Renaissance New York Times Square look directly at the ball drop location from a private balcony. Book all three as early as possible — typically October for December 31st.
6. Are Times Square hotel rooftop bars open in winter?
All eleven hotels on this list operate their rooftop bars year-round in some form. The most reliably all-season experiences are Magic Hour at Moxy NYC Times Square (10,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor, fully heated), Haven Rooftop at Sanctuary Hotel (enclosed and heated with seasonal décor), and Castell at AC Hotel Times Square (indoor fireplace lounge). Outdoor terrace sections at Bar 54 and RT60 can close in extreme cold or rain, but indoor alternatives remain open at both.
7. How much does it cost to stay at a Times Square hotel with a rooftop bar?
The range across this list runs from around $105 per night at Aliz Hotel Times Square at the budget end to $600 or more per night for suites at The Knickerbocker during peak periods. The most consistent value picks for the rooftop experience relative to cost are citizenM Times Square (from $145/night, guests-only rooftop), Moxy NYC Times Square (from $130/night, NYC’s largest rooftop bar), and Sanctuary Hotel New York (from $110/night, includes continental breakfast). Add a mandatory destination or resort fee of $30 to $45 per night on top of the room rate at most properties.
8. Can I visit a Times Square hotel rooftop bar without staying there?
For most bars on this list, yes. Bar 54, St. Cloud, Magic Hour, Dear Irving, Haven, Castell, RT60, and Beast & Butterflies all accept reservations from non-guests. The practical exceptions are cloudM at citizenM, which is primarily guest-only, and the Margaritaville rooftop pool, which is reserved for hotel guests. For the public-facing bars, arriving without a reservation during peak evening hours — particularly Friday and Saturday nights from June to October — risks a long wait or no entry.
