Most of my relationship with PHD Rooftop Lounge came from the DJ booth, which is probably the best…read moreplace to understand both the glamour and the machinery of a Tao Group nightclub. I played there twice, once for a charity event supporting education, health, and community causes, and later opening for Vikas Sapra. Across my DJ years, I was fortunate to play 6 nights at Tao Group venues, including PHD, Avenue, Vandal, and Marquee, 4 of them tied to charitable events. I wasn't skilled or recognizable enough at the time to be booked for prime for-profit nights, so those opportunities meant a lot to me and gave me a window into how professionally Tao ran its venues. PHD had the added advantage of that spectacular rooftop setting, where sunset over New York can naturally turn into a proper nightclub a few hours later. Later, Vikas asked me to open for him on a Thursday, which genuinely meant something to me because I considered him one of the finest DJs working in New York. His depth and breadth of musical knowledge are elite even by global standards; he is an excellent turntablist, and he could move across genres and eras without making the transitions feel forced. He was also among the most polished and professional operators I observed in nightlife, a seriously talented guy who never seemed interested in announcing how talented he was because the work made the case. Unfortunately, it snowed that night, and I eventually handed him an ice cold, nearly empty room that never really got going; I left disappointed and embarrassed, but c'est la vie. Inside the booth, everything still reflected why PHD and Tao Group operate at such a high level. The sound engineer was incredibly cool, the DJ setup was thoughtfully configured, and the lighting behind the booth gave the room real visual energy without interfering with the work of playing. I was probably a little in over my head getting opportunities like that, but you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, and I'm grateful I took mine. PHD remains a terrific New York rooftop and one of those places where the setting, production, and people behind the scenes all make the experience feel considerably more professional than the average nightclub.

This may be a trendy place, but beware of unfair or what seem like biased practices. Some of their…read moreadvertising for invites say women get in free, but this isn't honored as marketed in their apps. Instead, only hot gals or those who attend with a guy who bought a ticket, which range from $30 with an event link to $150 for a bar tap, are admitted. I wouldn't refer anyone to this place given their inconsistent practices. Besides, Manhattan has so many more cooler, trendier, and hip places to chill and hang out without dealing with these subjective issues. Plus, what does the name have to do with PhD when it's clear there seems to be no affiliation with this credential in terms of quality or customer service.

I had a exquisite time here. The drinks were just meticulously curated and elegantly robust. The…read moreservice was luxuriously personalized and effortlessly efficient. The ambiance was elegantly atmospheric and very luxuriously ambient. In summary, I had a wonderful time. 5 stars.

During our adventures in the Meatpacking district my friend insisted we pay a visit to The Top of…read moreThe Standard for the amazing view. We got there shortly after they opened (4 pm), so it wasn't busy. On your way to the rooftop you'll pass through a nightclub, which reminded me of a discotheque reminiscent of Studio 54. According to my friend, it doesn't get hopping until later and good times are had. There is a jacuzzi inside, so I can only imagine the wild antics that occur. I would have absolutely been a regular here back in the day. The Rooftop is spacious with plenty of places to chill & relax. I ordered a Cucumber Limonade $16 (Vodka, Cucumber, Lime, & Elderflower). It was crisp & refreshing. Perfect for this beautiful sunny day. My friend was right. The view was stunning - with sweeping views of the city and the harbor. It was so nice to be so high up above the bustling city without a care in the world.

The staff is amazing and consistently accommodating. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the…read moremanager. He seems to rely heavily on the hotel's reputation from 20 years ago rather than focusing on today's guest experience. His approach often comes across as outdated, with comments that begin with phrases like, "Back in my day..." or "It was better when we..." Past success is valuable, but it shouldn't replace a commitment to continuous improvement. It may be time to focus less on how things used to be and more on delivering the level of customer service that guests expect today.

Situated within the Gansevoort Hotel, the Gansevoort Rooftop stands as one of the most iconic…read morerooftop bars and restaurants in New York City. The restaurant is relatively small but offers ample seating along with both indoor and outdoor dining options. Additionally, there is a rooftop pool. You can savor a delightful meal while taking in the stunning views of the city. We relished some exquisite sushi rolls. The service and the beverages were both exceptional.

Came here one weekend night to have some drinks and the place was packed and pretty cool. Nice…read morevibes, genuinely spacious for the neighborhood, with 20-foot ceilings and a skylight that opens the whole room up, string lights overhead, vintage wine barrels doing double duty as tables. Sits right on Gansevoort Street, a couple minutes from the Whitney and the start of the High Line, so it works as either a first stop or a last one depending on how the night's going. Great location, centrally located to everything else within walking distance, which is really the whole appeal of drinking in the Meatpacking District in the first place. Apparently it's pulled a fair number of famous faces through the door over the years too, though I obviously wasn't running into any of them on my visit. Nothing else to note. Definitely worth a visit.

Cool vibe. Drinks are pretty expensive and they do include the tip in the bill automatically…read more Service was quick.

Standard overpriced drinks and too-drunk-to-stand crowd. Not surprising given the promoters who…read moreregularly pick fights with guests. The bouncers find themselves bossed around by the promoters and the promoters find themselves bossed around by the belligerent people they sell bottle service to. One promoter--an excessively power-tripping one--told several girls in line they were ugly so couldn't get in (after feeling up one of the girls' backsides), and one of the girls shot back that he needed his job to talk to girls like her. If you're looking for a good time, I'd say skip this place. Classiness is not part of their MO. Music was okay, but nothing great. A little less than 1/3 of the crowd were actually dancing. We didn't stay long, obviously. A shame, because it's a cool space and would have potential, if they didn't let self-absorbed yet insecure promoters call the shots.

Hiro is a cool place and is perfect for parties or hosting small concerts. The interior has a…read moreJapanese look with traditional paper lanterns hanging around the ceiling and bar. The dim lighting gives it a hip yet unpretentious vibe.

Raines Law Room Chelsea is one of those places where the experience starts before you even sit…read moredown. The unmarked entrance and doorbell immediately set the tone, and once inside it feels like you stepped out of Manhattan and into a dark, old New York cocktail lounge. The velvet seating, curtains, low lighting, and little private nooks make the whole place feel intimate without being gimmicky. That atmosphere is very much intentional. The Chelsea location is the original Raines Law Room and is built around that hidden speakeasy experience. The cocktails were beautifully presented, and I liked that this felt like a place where you could actually sit with friends and have a conversation rather than compete with loud music. We also ordered some meat, cheese, olives, and crackers for the table, which was perfect alongside the drinks without turning the night into a full dinner. What stood out most to me was how cohesive everything felt. The drinks, glassware, lighting, service style, and decor all fit the same mood. It feels refined and special without trying too hard. Pay special attention to the bathroom wall art. Definitely not an inexpensive night out, but for a true New York cocktail bar experience, I thought Raines Law Room was absolutely worth visiting. This would be especially good for a date night or drinks with a small group.

Charming speakeasy. No sign out front. Go downstairs and ring the doorbell. I'm to,d they have 25…read morecocktails on the menu which rotates periodically. They do take reservations on Resy. Had the amber old fashioned and Fleur de Lychee which were both excellent. An excellent respite if you happen to be in Flatiron/Chelsea

It has been 17 years since my last review of the Living Room Bar, and I am not sure that I have…read moreeven been there since. However, they recently revamped the space, updating the decor to ensure that the W Hotel remains at the forefront of modernity. The small, linear bar was moved from one side of the room into the center and was now a larger, semi-circle to make it easier to converse with neighboring imbibers. The space maintained its lounge feel, with couches and comfortable chairs scattered around the bar. A main change was that, instead of the Living Room being visible to anyone that walked into the hotel lobby, it was now hidden behind a translucent wall of lights, only visible to those that entered. That change enabled the bar to be more exclusive, or "discreet", as we heard someone mention at the bar, haha. The place was reasonably crowded on the Friday evening, and we grabbed seats at the bar in order to be more social. To that end, we had some interesting conversations with both locals and hotel guest. Also, our bartender, Jose, was excellent! He was engaging to speak with and also crafted fantastic cocktails. The Espresso Martini he made for me had a very robust coffee flavor and just the perfect hint of sweetness; it was definitely up there on my list of top espresso cocktails. The bar had a list of really creative and unique drinks, and I had initially wanted to try the Kyoto Bridge with Haku vodka, sake, ceremonial matcha, and yuzu, but Jose had told me that he did not have the necessary sake for it. However, he assembled my martini with such perfection that I did not mind having a more basic drink on that visit; I could always go back to try the Kyoto Bridge and certainly will after such an enjoyable experience!

Great service and vibe. Enjoyed the bartender making great drinks and friendly demeanor.read more

Really fun place to go before a show! Service was excellent, cocktails were very good, and some…read morefun pre-show food as well! We booked reservations online-noted there was a birthday in our group-and they had free prosecco at the table for us-which was much appreciated! Ambience was very cool-right off one of the busiest places in the USA, in a very busy deli-then behind some curtains you enter a very peaceful area-quiet, good drinks, and chill vibes. Definitely recommend!

We went on a Tuesday night for book club and it was the perfect spot. We were seated outside on a…read morebeautiful night and the service was great. I ordered a martini and they were out of the juice so the server offered to make me an espresso martini for the special price, it was so nice! This is the perfect spot for a chill vibe and good cocktails. Also truffle fries were fire.

Horrible! Just 1 word. Unbelievable that they were promoting prostitution that I was not even…read morethinking of... Maybe if they looked better. It was an actual repeat of Halloween. Honestly the patrons were pathetic as well. The music was horrible. I give it half a star for remaining open lol

Cute little Chelsea Bar!…read more Tanay our bartender was super nice and quite beautiful!! And made the best damn margarita this side of the Pecos! Go. There.

The Brass Monkey gets the job done but its just an average nyc bar. The "rooftop view" is nothing…read moreto write home about as its so low and eclipsed by taller buildings and trees. The drinks are pricey and the clientele seemed to mostly be large groups of men (no shade). My bf and I were looking for a cute rooftop bar to end our friday night and there's surprisingly not a lot of options that are open late in Chelsea

Went to Brass Monkey on a weeknight for a happy hour event, and it was a great choice for a group…read more The back room is quite large, with a small upstairs overlook, and could easily fit over 100 people. There is also a dedicated bar and bartenders, which made things very efficient. For our event, the space was completely open, though there are tables and chairs available if preferred. The room is mostly wood, so it can be a bit loud since there is not much to absorb sound, but overall it worked very well for a large group. I had not been to Brass Monkey in over a decade and was pleasantly surprised that the prices had barely gone up. Beer and cider were $8, and cocktails were $11. The rest of the bar has plenty of space, including an outdoor patio in the warmer months, and the bar food is good. I have also watched World Cup matches here before, which are always fun and energetic. I would definitely recommend Brass Monkey for group happy hours as well as for watching sports.