230 Fifth

230 Fifth is not your ordinary rooftop bar. Even though the building is a relatively short (by Big Apple standards) 20 floors high, you will be swept away with the views of the city. 

230 Fifth is open regardless of the weather. The rooftop garden has lots of umbrellas to keep you dry and many fashionable "signature" hooded red robes for you and your friends to wear, just in case it gets cold. It's the largest partially heated outdoor rooftop garden in New York City. 

It was created by the former owner of New York City's famous clubs Roxy and Palladium nightclubs. While it has been open four years, it still draws celebrities and hot parties. It was voted the #1 bar by many publications. The bar is very popular for afterwork drinks. It tends to attract a "bridge and tunnel" crowd on the weekends. So be forewarned. 

Get ready to pay up. Drinks are very pricey.  Martinis are $14. There's lots of variety, including the Golden Dream, made with Galiano, cointreau, freshly squeezed orange juice and cream. The Pair of Pears martini is made with pear vodka, fresh pear juice or try the Go Man Go, made with Van Gogh Mango Vodka, mango juice and mango nectar. 

Other cocktails include Absolut-ly Peachy, made with Absolut peach vodka and peach nectar ($15) or the Blueberry Blueberry made with Stoli Blueberi vodka with sparkling blueberry lemonade ($15). 

The menu has a lot of variety, including lots of small dishes like the crisp shrimp, with a pineapple dipping sauce, veal and meat porkchop, and lamb tea sandwiches. Small plates will run you about $7 and larger plates are about $17. 

Brunch is served Sat-Sun from 11 to four in the afternoon. They don't take reservations so get ready to wait. 

It's also ideal for a private event. The space has been used by more than 1,200 private receptions, including Goldman Sachs, The Devil Wears Prada Premiere Party, Chanel Holiday Party, Google, Microsoft and IBM. 

It's a perfect place to celebrate a birthday party. Call early to reserve a space.

HelloMetro Tip: If you want to get in during the weekend, make sure to get there early and arrive with a ratio of five girls to every one guy. If guys want to make sure they get in, book a table by ordering a bottle.  

- by Danielle Sonnenberg, New York Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Danielle Sonnenberg

Danielle Sonnenberg is a freelance writer living in New York City. She is passionate about stories and asking questions. She has written for several publications including the New York Post, TheStreet.com, Lifestyles Magazine, and Minyanville.com To view more of her work please go to, Her website is www.daniellesonnenberg.com