The Empire Rooftop Reviews

Its OK for a wine bar, staff aren't very happy, snacks are small but fine to go with the wine or beer.

Expensive drinks and fabulous views - but strangely they were a bit unsophisticate there is nothing to have with the drinks (no nuts, no crisps or chips) and the music was way too high - they turned it down on request

Worst fried food in the world. The calamari was what I'd expect on an off night if Popeye's or Waffle House were doing the cooking. Tater tots sound difficult to mess up but were drowning in a garlic sauce - when the menu said "cheesy". Presentation was terrible. But the staff were nice so a two rather than one.

I went out to meet my boyfriends friends and didn't know where we were going. On the way there was told we were going to the rooftop on the Empire hotel having a bad experience there before I was leary. The rooftop design and atmosphere was great!! The drink prices were bad either and they aren't weak! I like hip hop they played that and some techno. It was different for me but nice. I also like they have places to sit even if your not getting a bottle, I'm not a heavy drinker but I do like to sit. Besides an impolite elevator operator it was nice.

A great way to begin, end, or take a break from your day. Breathtaking views with great drinks and eats. Best cappuccino around. Alvin and his crew will take great cate of you; breakfast, lunch, or a snack.

Nice size rooftop bar with great views. But the top section was closed off and I really wanted to get a nice pic of the sign.

over priced drinks, dirty roof top, my glass was dirty, rude staff, elevator smelled like a babies diaper.

Great bar, lovely view and even better staff. Especially Elizabeth who made us feel really welcome and was always smiling. Would definitely recommend.

After a nice walk through Central Park, our group was ready to enjoy some drinks and appetizers. While the Tavern on the Green would have been the natural choice given its location, we wanted to go somewhere with less people, outdoor seating, good food, and a great view. A quick search for “rooftop bar” on Google maps showed us that well-reviewed Empire Rooftop Bar was a few blocks over. We made it to the destination which was manned by a kind, tough looking doorman. We learned from him that the Hotel Empire was closed for renovations but that the bar was open. There is a $35/person minimum spend in order to dine there. I typically don’t like the idea of a forced spend amount in order to try out a restaurant. However, I am learning I prefer the minimum spend amount if this means there is no cover for entrance and it keeps up a higher experience level at the venue. In this case, we hit our minimum spend and were delighted with the service and quality of food and drinks. Reading previous reviews, we were expecting expensive, bad tasting food and bad service, but it was not the case at this bar. In addition to our drinks, we had the mushroom flatbread, sliders, and chips and guacamole which were all very good. We were acknowledged by every person who worked there and our server Salvador took very good care of us. There were multiple dining areas and they had a few places where they could accommodate larger groups of 12+. We saw a group gathered for a wedding party and another group reuniting after college. The rooftop patio was a large area with nice patio furniture on faux grass with good music playing at just the right volume. I would have preferred a view of Manhattan, but the patio provides north facing views which are less inspiring. Nevertheless, the venue provided the experience I sought at that moment.

visited twice as staying at the hotel and it was really good! view is great, you can smoke outside if you wish and the service is great.

Right across the street from Lincoln Center, we chose this bar to kill some time and people watch. 12th Floor location means a birds eye view of upper Broadway and Lincoln Center. We tried the signature cocktails which were good. Interesting choices for light eats. Typical Manhattan expensive . Friendly staff. It helped make this date night a little more special.

We came here 2 times as it was convenient. Frozen Margaritas are great. Not cheap but we are in New York. Service was good. Pool small, and even though we were visiting during a heatwave, the drinks cooled us down enough we didnt use it. Full of kids in the pool and if we had ours with us, they would have been in there too.

We went for a drink on the rooftop, the drinks were good, we took a tray of 8 small tacos to snack on which were good too ($50 excl. tax) Arriving without a reservation during the week, we immediately had space outside. No particular dress code even if the clientele seems rather classy. The terrace is really beautiful and worth the detour. Small peculiarity though, a lot of couples with around thirty years of age difference.

A great location going to waste because of expensive drinks and not much advertising, in my opinion.

Nice spot for a cocktail underneath the iconic hotel sign. Good place to meet before or after a performance at the Lincoln Center.

My wife, daughter, and I attended a concert at the Lincoln Center and went in search of a place to get a bite to eat before the show. One restaurant suggested this place. It was busy on a Friday evening, and we got on a waiting list. Like others, we stood around until we were paged; the bar area was packed. We got drinks from the bar while we waited. Wine and drinks were expensive it seemed to me ($15 for a glass of Pinot Grigio), as was some of the other food. Once we were seated at one of the bar lounge tables, we had loaded tots, sirloin sliders, and a brownie sundae (my choice). We didn't have time for more food. Our server Karen was friendly enough. The vibe at the Rooftop was not relaxing.

Beautiful room, quiet enough for talking, perfect service. I had the chef's special pappardelle with wild mushroom sauce. It was a mass of stuck-together pasta set on a thin sauce that didn't coat the pasta--the sauce and pasta might as well have been two separate dishes. My friend had the gnocchi, which were pretty good, except nearly spoiled by the presence of very bitter radicchio.

Nice chill vibe, good drinks and the crowd is a nice one. My wife really enjoyed the views and it made for a good night

Great view of north Broadway and the Lincoln Center. Good cauliflower crust pizza, and reasonable beer selection. We would go there again easily.

Considering we booked this hotel accidentally (was meant to be staying at the Hyatt) it did not disappoint. Decor is interesting - safari chic I'd call it. Impressive foyer where gossip girl is filmed. Rooms are quite small however to be expected in New York. But still clean and too a good standard. It is a little further away from the touristy bits but there is a nice route you can take through Central Park to get to Times Square. Would definitely return!

The Empire Hotel has a winner! They opened a rooftop bar on the 12th floor. Great drinks, atmosphere...and at this time of year, a woderful view up Broadway with all the Christmas lights. Go...enjoy.

Recently renewed! Great view, good music and drinks. Perfect if you stay at the Empire to have a drink before dinner!

Great bar,really good cocktail, lovely view and even better staff made us feel really welcome. Would definitely recommend.

We arrived at the rooftop during a (late-night) shift change. As a result, they were slow to take our order--and the order got mixed up between the outgoing and incoming staff. By the time our drinks arrived, our food was no longer hot. They did (very kindly) offer us a free 2nd round of drinks. However, strangely, the drinks came out tasting very different...and not nearly as good. It's a beautiful place, and I suspect they generally do a much better job. But, for us at least, the experience was only so-so. Pro-tip: if you're claustrophobic, be aware that the elevator up to the roof is very cozy. You might want another plan--or, a drink before you go.

Can’t miss the view from this rooftop and seeing the iconic Empire Hotel sign up close. BUT, it was slightly disappointing. The photos online do not reflect the reality of the decor, pool and atmosphere. Staff was really great though!

This hotel is in an excellent location to explore NY. The rooms are very comfortable but small, this was not an issue for us as it was our first trip to NY so we spent most of our time exploring the city. Breakfasts were tasty and the rooftop bar was great fun in the evenings. Breakfasts and drinks were on the pricey side in this hotel however you have so much on your doorstep you are spoilt for choice. It is worth checking out and when we return to NY we would certainly look at booking this hotel again.

The Empire rooftop bar is one of the best views in the city and while you are there try the Tater Tots with Truffle Cheese ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SNACKS OUT THERE

My husband and I popped in for a pre-dinner drink. It was Monday evening before Thanksgiving, and we were surprised there were only a handful of people there. Both the small plates and drink menu were fun. We especially enjoyed the views of Lincoln Center. The server was chatty in a fun way. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted al fresco viewpoint of the city.

We stayed at the Empire Hotel and stopped in at the rooftop for a nightcap after a performance at Lincoln Center. It was busy on a lovely warm spring night. The crowd looked to be mostly in their upper 20's and 30's, mostly dressed up for a night out. Good cocktails and a beautiful view of Lincoln Center.

After staying in the Empire Hotel last weekend for a long weekend we finally made it up to the Rooftop on the Monday evening after it being partially or fully out of action due to private functions all weekend.. The bouncer manning the lift was nice and helpful, but upon arrival we were not acknowledged at all by waiting staff. We sat ourselves, after waiting a while no menus were brought over so I eventually went up to the bar and asked for some. Went and sat down again, STILL not approached by the wait staff so proceeded to go up to the bar to order. Bar staff were quick and efficient. Whilst standing at the bar I overhead the two female waitresses talking about how they couldn’t wait to finish and how annoying it was that people came in in the hour before closing (aka us) and honestly I almost lost it. Extremely unprofessional, rude and unwelcoming. Drinks cost $34 prior to tips, and with good table service I’m sure I’d of been happy to pay this as they were lovely cocktails. The waitresses then proceeded to go round as far as i could see every table, but ours to let them know it was last orders - again not sure what there issue was or how we’d so greatly offended them?? The bar has lovely decor and a great view. Just a shame the wait staff ruined our entire experience, and left us feeling frustrated after what should of been a nice few drinks to round off our New York trip. I’m a massive Gossip Girl fan and had been so excited to visit - just such a shame it was spoiled by two extremely rude and childish wait staff.

You can't get to the rooftop bar if you are in the hotel. You must go to the ground floor and exit to the vestibule and use that elevator. Then there is the question of whether the rooftop bar is truly on the rooftop or on the floor below (that is the correct answer). The view was great, but they didn't make it easy. The decor was just OK, and the service was just OK, too.

Loved it! Really chilled out lunchtime drink in the spring sun. The rosé was lush! A little expensive but you pay for the surroundings.

Went to New York in Jan. 2017 Very cold ( -6 c and snowy 8" ). Great hotel to stay at as it is close to Central Park and Columbus square. Rooftop was closed but you can look out from the lounge and have a beer or wine and look down the Avenues and streets. Not bad prices considering it is in West Manhattan. Private lift from the Hotel Lobby.Good experience

The food was great and the service spectacular, but the management SUCKS! We were a large group and went to pay our $1100 bill across 3 credit cards, and the manager refused to accept payment. It was the worst ending to a great afternoon. It is highly unlikely we will ever return. On a separate note, they don't seem to be able to control the indoor temperature.... and it was FREEZING! It's official, I will not return with my husband because of this experience

We went in the afternoon on our way uptown. It was a much needed break and we had a couple of drinks along with some snacks. We had the Mac& Cheese bars, fries, sliders and one more dish - the food came quickly and was very nice. Especially the fries! It ended up substituting our dinner. Ambiance is nice and the view are good. We sat outside and enjoyed the autumn weather. Service was a bit odd....the girls seemed unhappy and just one other little thing, one server had on a black dress, but it was stained and looked untidy.....not what you'd expect here. When we asked for the check, it took VERY long to arrive...to the point where we contemplated just leaving, as we had a appointment to get to. We asked three different servers to pay and non could help....we had to wait for "our" server to print out the check, which seemed odd, as she was engaged elsewhere for a long while.

My first visit to this Lincoln Center area rooftop bar and restaurant. Very nice outdoor and indoor seating. Wonderful "appetizer" menu especially the ribs and tune poke. expensive like alll places in NYC. nice views of the Lincoln center area and park in front of the hotel. Adjacent to the rooftop pool. good spot.

The views here are breathtaking - sweeping panorama which includes Lincoln Center and a big stretch of Broadway. Drinks were quite good as well. Convenient location, right by the opera and a handful of good restaurants as well. Would note that it’s highly recommended to make a reservation beforehand, as the bouncer asked whether or not we had a res before we were allowed to go up.

Tiny pool but a fun way to spend a little time before you hit the city. Expensive but fine cocktails.

Had my visit ruined, exclusively by the most ridiculously rude server I have ever encountered. If Victor is working, find yourself in another section. What will you find? I'm not sure, but it will be less offensive to be sure.

The view uptown from this bar is incredible!! Enjoying delicious drinks and appetizers while gazing down at Lincoln Center was the perfect way to end a busy day!

Most tourist head to the standard hotel and head up to the terrace bar to catch a view of the hudson river, new jersey skyline and the statute of liberty! For a different view head up to the Empire hotel roof top! Get there early. if the weather permits sit out on the rooftop and drink some bubbly or order up an expresso martini and view the city as the sun sets! the cheese tots with truffle dressing is delicious!

Visited on saturday night and it was snowing in nyc. The view of the city was amazing, the atmosphere is really good with loud and relevant music. The food was good. I would recommend the cucumber crush for a drink. It is a gin lovers dream

Breakfast buffet had a nice selection of hot food and fresh fruit. The bacon was exceptionally good.

Had drinks after the Metropolitan Opera National Council Semi-Final Auditions. Undoubtedly the best "Old-Fashioned" I have ever had. Great service. But the view - and being outside is why we went and we were not disappointed. Highly recommend!

My wife and I got all dressed up and went to the rooftop for some cocktails. The atmosphere was great and we really enjoyed our (expensive) cocktails - the xoxo gossip girl, and empire sunset. The views were incredible. Although we'd made a reservation to sit outside, we were seated inside (probably because it had just rained). But by the time we arrived, they were seating people outside, so I wonder if that was just an oversight on their part. Seating snafu aside, we really enjoyed our brief experience there as Gossip Girl fans!

We were invited to attend a special private brunch on a Sunday afternoon. They offered a limited selection of pastry breads but had a nice variety of meats (crisp bacon, sausage), home fried potatoes, delicious french toast, fruit bowl and yogurts. The downfall was the eggs which were scrambled and very runny. Not very appealing when you are on a carb free diet. They also offered juices, coffee, teas and water.

A tiny roof top terrace, not that great with the smallest pool i have ever seen, gave this a big miss.

Very nice place with good view. A little bit loud but a lot of drinks and good prices. Nice location.

Great service and incredible views. A nice place to relax after a long day of touring and enjoying NYC.

Really enjoyed this place. Started with Mango Mule and Paloma, both drinks excellent. Maitake mushroom flatbreads and lobster roll tacos were outstanding and big enough for two to share. Casual but sophisticated ambiance. Oh, yes, we'll be back! 5 stars ALL THE WAY!!!!

Paid $100 for four drinks, received lousy service and had 20% gratuity added to the check 'for your convenience'?!? I thought the tipping thing was to encourage and reward good service, I was clearly wrong. If it wasn't for the ability to enjoy a great view with a drink in hand you wouldn't bother with this place.

The rooftop and one of the main attractions of the hotel as a night club with great ambience and music worthy night of new york

Always make a point of stopping by the Empire. It's such a beautiful hotel. It is traditional old style New York very lavish. It does have its modern parts but decor wise it's just amazing. Roof top lounge is relaxed with the busy city below you.

We were staying at The Empire Hotel for a college graduation. Loved the rooftop bar. Stop here even if you aren't staying at the hotel. Great views, great location, great atmosphere.

I chose this hotel because my mother stayed there 2 years ago, she told me the hotel was great and fine regarding the price... I booked a standard room for 2 nights for 300 dollars per night, expensive for me but why not, after all we are in Manhattan, in a nice district. We travelled from very far, we checked in with a man so rude (short guy, no hair, glasses), I unfortunately don’t have his name. I have been surprised (in a bad way) because, the check in is the first impression of the establishment. I am working also in hospitality industry, if someone welcomes our guests like that in our hotel, I will say to this guy: do you really understand your job or what ? You are supposed to welcome the guests and not to make them uncomfortable ! Anyway, the receptionist told us we came to early to get the room, he asked us to come back in 4 hours. After 2 hours waiting in Central Park with our clothes from our very long travel, we decided to come back and request for an early check in, we were exhausted and we really wanted to have a shower. We talk in a second time to the receptionist Maggy, this lady was wonderful, large smile, very kind and understanding, professional and helpful. She founds the way to give us a room early and I will always thank her for that. This is the kind of service that I want to see in my own establishment ! We got our room and really enjoy our shower and so on. Regarding the room,I have been also surprised but in a bad way. Don’t make me wrong, the room was perfectly clean, and we really appreciated. But the room was so small ! Maybe I am not use to with the Manhattan’s size room, but we didn’t have enough space to open our luggages. We can’t be, my husband and I, in the bathroom at the same time (not enough space), the bathroom was smaller than a closet ! How you can rent a room 300 dollars per night with this size ? Lot of things were broken and needed to be fixed: the shower handle, the plugs and frames were awry (that’s really strange to give a room with awry stuffs in my opinion, especially in this kind of luxury hotel), the floor supervisor didn’t double check the room before ? There is a coffee machine in the room but you don’t give any coffee capsules ? Strange also. If you don’t want to offer capsules to your guests, why you give the machine ? If I have to buy myself my coffee, faster to go to the Starbucks in the corner, no ? Last comment regarding the room: air conditioning was very noisy, you have to fix it. You can hear the noisy street also but as I say we are in Manhattan so that’s normal. The decoration was cute and in the theme, the bed very comfortable. The concierge are very smiling and helpful, but you have to change their uniforms, they looked abyss and old. Last comment regarding our bad checked out: We came on our last night to pay our stay in advance to make sure we can check out quickly the next morning, we paid. Next morning, I asked my husband to give the key at the front desk and was calling for a taxi, my husband talk to our rude receptionist again. The man said we still have a night to pay. My husband told him that we already came the night before to pay for our stay and the receptionist from last night confirmed to us that we didn’t have anything to pay. The man say and I quote : sir, I try to stay calm right now. Excuse me ? Hopefully for him, I was not here to teach him how to make his job properly. You make the mistake, you don’t communicate between the shifts, and you tell to a guest that you try to stay calm ? I’ve never seen that before and I am really checked about this kind of comment coming from a staff to a guest for no reason. I am not sure this person really understand what is the hospitality service. Finally the receptionist lied to us and said that we can’t pay in advance for a room. Sorry for him, we are in the same industry than yours and we know exactly how it is working, and we know that is wrong. This gentleman really needs a training regarding the guest contact, take upon oneself and luxury service. In general, our stay was ok. Just some details to change with your check in and check out standards and some maintenance operations in the room in order to verify before to rent it to a guest. Otherwise, the location of your hotel is perfect, the decoration and style are very original, good potentiel, just need to improve the level of service !

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we tried to get a single drink at the rooftop, what was not possible despite we arrived at least one hour before the announced closing time. Today we arrived not only an hour and a half before closing, but after waiting 15-20 minutes for a menu, finally when they pay attention to us, they tell us that they will not take our order to have it outside, even though there were at least 20 people, which were being addressed, and more people was arriving. If I were denied the service three times, I know what to do: never return again.

When I book this place I had read the reviews and thought it was a restaurant. Well, it is not! It’s a bar with a very limited menu of appetizers, not that good and extremely expensive. I chose it because it is across the street from the theater I went to for a show. Another couple came in shortly after and they too had the same idea and were not pleased. A glass of wine is $17 and the appetizers also very expensive.

When we booked through our travel agent we wasn't told that the rooftop was would be closed. This was something we were really looking forward to so this was a disappointment, however the hotel manager gave us a free pass for breakfast in the restaurant which was very kind. The room itself has a lovely view and was clean and inviting. If we were to stay in New York again we would like to stay a bit more central.

Such a beautiful view and great brunch without a wait! The evening bar is quite popular because the location is in the heart of Lincoln Center!

Came here before a show at Lincoln Center. Very easy to get a reservation. Solid drinks and pretty good food options. Lovely outdoor space.

Nice place to have drinks and snacks. This place is alive and good to have parties and happenings. Great view on Lincoln Center and Broadway. Wine is not cheap, but plenty. Service is fast. Very good!

Dropped by for martini prior to curtain at Lincoln Center. There was supposed to be a "happy hour" but it was preempted by a private event. Cocktail was substantial and the venue was comfortable with great views and very pleasant seating. Friendly crowd of both locals and visitors, large age range.

Bit long winded but please read !! Is it just me or is this a great thing to do for someone ? Anyone visiting The Empire Hotel could you please pass on my total gratitude and thanks to a guy from the hotels concierge Jose !!because where back home only because of a great guy JOSE !! Nearly at the airport yesterday struggling to get through traffic in a taxi I realise stupidly 😡 I left by back pack behind at the hotel with mine and my sons passports quite a bit cash in and because of the holidays roads were rammed and was just impossible to make the journey back and forth as we’d miss our flight anyway . So phoned the hotel to make sure it was there , explained what happened and a door guy came on the phone said yeah it’s here Sir I remember you and your son , what time you leaving ?what terminal ? know worries see you there and put the phone down 😬 After an anxious wait outside Jose just turns up cool as ice like it’s not a big deal what he’s done “ hey Sir this your back pack ?” , With plenty time to spare , then he tells me he finished work at 3 clocked off then jumped on the train had 1hr and 15 min train ride or so opposite way from his home just to drop it off and that we weren’t left stranded !! Everything inside my bag exactly how I left it great genuine honest guy , not many people would of done that I dare say , I posted earlier on fb how good the hotel was but this just shows what great staff the place must have , so he gave me my bag shook hands and he left “safe flight to you and your son Sir “ I didn’t really have time to thank him properly so any of yous visiting I’d appreciate it if you’s could shake his hand and thank him again from me and My son ! Starting to sink in now what a total nightmare it would of been if he never made that journey for us 😬 Absolute star 👍 Just to add the Hotel is in a great location right near Central Park , easy subway journey uptown to Ground Zero etc and 5 minute walk to main streets and avenues I’ll be going back for sure thanks again to Jose and The Empire Hotel ❤️👍🗽🗽

We were staying at the Empire Hotel and this is their top floor, run by a separate company, so don’t expect to be able to add charges to your hotel bill. Buzzy atmosphere, good for a drink before going out in the evening and has surpringly good snacks, We ate there the first evening after a long flight and food was good quality. Policy to take your credit card on arrival unacceptable to us, clearly they don’t expect their clientele to be trustworthy!

Everything was ok here, it was pretty cold but as a smokee it was nice having a place to smoke. The rooftop is not so high but it is nice. It is the hotel of the series, gossip girl. I liked it nothing wow. I had some wisky. So for me the drinks were ok.

Visited her 4 nights while staying at the Empire Hotel. Super friendly staff, including the lift attendants. Fabulous tasty cocktails, made even better when drank during the happy hour from 2-6!!! Lovely atmosphere , with music not too loud. Really enjoyable to sit by the window with a cocktail and book in the afternoon, and look down on NYC

My friend Natalie had won a party at empire rooftop hotel after previous attending this establishment which included a bottle. Some of her friends were inside already. We were refused by the promoter (Joonbug Entertainment) saying we were dressed too casual and when asked for specifics in regards to our entry denial ,especially since we were on the guest list we were rudely ignored. Myself and the girls were in gladiator sandals, palazzo pants, dressy shorts and dressy tops. Upon demanding to speak with the manager Chris B, he stated that what promoter says goes. Chris B. further stated that there's a dress code but when I pointed out there's none mentioned on their website he first says it’s a promotional website. My friend also told him that no dress code was mentioned on the email for the party and offered to show him the email. When I told him given what I do for a living I have no reason to lie and offered to pull my phone out to verify that it was their official website that I saw this information on, he admitted that there is no dress code on the website. Chris B. stated that they don't allow open toe shoes/flats but wants heels(mind you it is August). I explain that we are working class professionals on a guest list of about 30 people and my friend Natalie shows the email confirming our party from a promoter whom conveniently was not there last night. Chris B. continues to side with the promoter and refused our party entrance. I remain outside where Chris B and the promoter from Joonbug Entertainment and video tape the promoter letting a girl in with cowboy boots and a sun dress and a guy with a plain tee shirt camouflage jeans with a backpack on his back .I show the manager Chris B. the gross inconsistency as while he was watching the video the promoter let in a man with cleat looking shoes and baseball socks however upon seeing my video asked him to leave. Only after I show him the video Chris B. says he can make an exception if we are doing bottle service. I was utterly disgusted between us 6 girls who showed up then followed by her 8-10 plus friends who showed up as the debating/arguing occurred we left. I have never been so degraded in my life. Chris B. and Joonbug Entertainment showed blatant inconsistencies, were caught in several lies and appeared to be discriminatory to my friends whom were all of various ethnic backgrounds and body shapes and sizes. I am appalled that your company handles themselves. I have pictures of what my group was wearing and videos of the people whom were let which was against what the promoter Joonbug Entertainment stated was dress code at the door.

We stayed at the Empire Hotel in June during World Pride, and while the hotel was disappointing, the Rooftop Bar was the best part of our stay there. Happy hour cocktails were solid, food was really tasty and service was quick and friendly. And the view was fantastic--just a relaxing view of the Upper West Side and Lincoln Center. We visited the bar on a couple of early evenings before we went out for the nights and had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.

The view is spectacular. Worth staying there for sure. The pool isn't really a pool... More like a lap pool but perfect for cooling off in the summer. You can take drinks up from the loby bar but need to put them in plastic. Worth checking out!

We booked the Gossip Girl Experience at Empire Rooftop in New York. Each of us received a drink and a small tiered platter. We also ordered some fried calamari and got a fabric bag with the Gossip Girl logo. Unfortunately, we were a bit disappointed as we had expected more for the $50 per person price. The small bites weren’t anything special, and we couldn’t eat the salmon sandwiches due to an unpleasant smell. Overall, it was an okay experience, but not worth the hype.

This place is the best! Came here for a bachelor party and this was not disappointed. The pool is not big but there is not a huge crowd so it was pretty open. Rooftop where you can open touch the neon Empire Hotel sign is pretty legit. But what makes this place stand out is the service. We had the same wait staff for our whole weekend. Eric and Breanne were about as friendly as you can find. Even though the tip was included, they never let us wait for drinks and were always smiling. We also had Gauthm for part of the trip and he too was awesome. My only complaint would be the food portions are small (what do you expect in NY?) and they don't serve at rooftop until noon. But if you are lucky enough to get Eric, Breanne or Gauthm as your server, you will undoubtedly be pleased. It doesn't get any better!!!

We stayed here in Dec/15 and were a little concerned because there were a number of negative trip advisor reviews. These were consistent in that patrons complained that you were nickel and dimed to death. The inroom coffee cost $3 per pod, Internet service was $17 per day etc. I wrote the manager before we arrived and voiced my concerns and altho he could not change the hotel policies about these things he made every effort to ensure our stay was good. The hotel is right beside Lincoln Center so fabulous location. The staff was superb. The owners should wake up and rethink their amenities or rather the lack of them. Everyone there tried very hard despite these policies and since there is a Starbucks right new door we worked around them. I would stay again for sure.

The Empire Hotel was where my Husband and I stayed for our New York part of our honeymoon. Half of the reason why we chose this Hotel was my liking for Gossip Girl, the other half being it's location near Central Park. The hotel is also located close to Columbus Circle and the American Museum of Natural History. When we entered the hotel the staff were helpful and friendly, we were advised that the closet door in our room wasn't closing properly and that someone would come and fix it, and for the inconvenience we received free wi-fi. No one did end up coming to fix the door, but the free wi-fi made up for it. The rooftop pool would have been great but December was no time to be swimming in New York. There were a few nights during our stay that the hotel had a club, where there were people lining up in the Foyer of the hotel, but the security and hotel staff did a good job to know who were guests and who weren't. The room was a good enough size for the two of us, enough room to open our luggage, and the heater worked well. It was great to come back to this hotel after a day exploring NYC.

Good place to go if you're around, relaxing atmosphere. Cocktails are around 20$, beer 8$, wines from 14$/glass. We took Lamb burgers they're small but tasty

I was in town visiting a friend who suggested we meet up midday at a roof top venue for drinks and a small bite. He chose the Empire Hotel Rooftop. The setting is very nice and the views are wonderful. We also enjoyed our drinks and the service was friendly. The food, on the other hand was not satisfactory. We order lobster on a panini which I assumed was their take on a lobster roll. Not even close! It was hard to tell the tiny pieces of "meat" was really lobster. I'm sure it was, but it could have been one of those mixed seafood items substitute at times for real fish. The waffle fries that came with it were ok, nothing special. Lesson? Go for the food and drinks, not for the food.

Disappointed with the hotel. Rooms and bathrooms very small. Hotel staff not very friendly. Not a hotel to spend christmas and new year!

I came there as a gossip girl fan. It was amazing. The food was good, the view was amazing and we could take a look outside at the iconic sign.

The Flatbread is delicious, and the lounge is actually romantic. Probably a great place for a first date, though I was there with family. Beautiful view of Lincoln Center. Great for a late night snack, which is exactly why we went!!

Beautiful view, amazing drinks with light light appetizers. Highly recommend for night cap or enjoying a cocktail!!

Really nice bar on the 12th floor, staff very good, access from the hotel entrance, music OK, it seems expensive for a beer at $8 to $9 dollars and wine $13 dollars but this seems to be the going rate in this area of New York.

Probably the most unwelcoming bar I have ever been in. As guests at the Empire Hotel my husband and I thought we would explore the rooftop bar and enjoy the evening with a couple of cocktails. Having read some earlier reviews we knew the drinks were quite expensive but hey we were on holiday, so who cares, right!! Made our way up to the rooftop bar and as we entered passed two members of staff deep in conversation and seemingly oblivious to us. Wandered round the bar only to find that every single table (all bar one of which were unoccupied) had a reserved sign on it. We were just about to leave assuming there was a private function booked, when a bar man noticed our existence and interrupted the two chatting staff (one of whom happened to be the Maitre D) and got him to show us to a table, seemingly there was no private function but the reserved signs are kept on the tables until you are seated by a member of staff!?? Husband tried to move the table slightly to accommodate his legs only to get his hands covered in sticky gloop from underside of the table. Waitress took our drinks order, came back ten minutes later but had half the order wrong, no apology and gave the impression her mistake was my fault! The cocktails were indeed expensive which would have been fine had there been some value for money in either taste or alcohol content. Sadly there was neither.

Stayed @ the Empire Hotel for a quick weekend trip and we frequented this place a few times when we came back to the hotel to clean up or rest. The view was fun and it was a nice break to be tucked away from all of the city's buzz but overall the service wasn't great and the drinks tasted pretty watered down. Not sure if there was just a lag from when they were made to served or what, but it seemed to be a recurring theme. Overall it's fine if your in the area but I wouldn't have gone here more than once if we weren't staying here at the hotel. There are just too many cool spots close by to settle.

Go to PJ Clarke's for the raw bar and happy hour, then ride the elevator up to the rooftop of the Empire Hotel for a fabulous view and classic cocktails!

Were there after a matinee performance at the Met Opera which is not far , just a pleasaant walk... There is a sort of brasserie where we enjoyed beers and snacks and coffee The service has been slow and sloppy but the weather was nice so it’s been quite OK

This rooftop bar at the Empire Hotel is always hopping. One of the hot spots of the New York social scene. It is particularly popular on Halloween and New Years Eve.

it was great to be able to go in the pool, order food and enjoy the sun. pool was tiny though and very cold. mostly kids withstand the cold water, adults go across once and get out.

A really fantastic bar. The service was good and we didn’t have to wait long at all to be seated on the lovey terrace. The view was great. We tried a few cocktails and it was all so nice.

We stayed at The Empire for 4 nights in late October. Although we didn’t complain, the air conditioner/ heater was broken and the room was very hot. The room was quite small and dark but the hote location is perfect and close to the park, lovely bars and restaurants nearby without being too touristy. The service at the rooftop bar however wasn’t great. The hostess wasn’t particularly inviting, as with the few other waitresses, service was very slow and the staff seemed too concerned with feeling cold than actually serving. It was as if they were doing the job for the first time and were very unsure of their roles. The bar wasn’t particularly busy and we left after one drink (which were quite good). We noticed other potential customers actually got up and left as they had to wait so long for initial service. This hotel has so much potential but the service needs work!!

Disappointing. Loud music. No dynamism. Closes too early. Didn’t feel like a sophisticated spot. Not an ounce of charm. Prefer main floor lounge.

While staying at the Empire Hotel, my husband and I rode up to the rooftop to see the NYC skyline at night. There was a line of young people forming near the hotel entrance and someone was giving out wristbands after checking IDs. I told her we were hotel guests so she told us to skip the line and go to the front of the elevator. We rode up and found the usual bar with music and a few young people enjoying the dance floor. There is seating throughout the bar with a separate dance floor with music. There is a very small outdoor area which is used for smoking. Such a shame to spoil the view with smoke! Beautiful views of the city from the front of the Hotel Empire sign.

Rooftop bars seem to have become a "thing" in NYC and the Empire has a nice once. The service was top-notch with a lively and fun crowd. It does not have the dramatic views of some places (it's on the 12th floor) but it was still fun.

this newly renovated lounge was very cool looking however the smell was almost like a cleaning product. perhaps we were there too early but the smell was a turnoff

Great selection of cocktails, beers and wines. Lovely staff/service. Decor was cool and seats were comfy. We moved inside as it was getting a little cool at night ( November). Pricey, but I suppose that's what you'd expect in midtown Manhattan.

Probably the worst meal we’ve had in the longest time-everything was borderline inedible, poor service and highly disorganized. NEVER AGAIN! Hotel is pretty nasty too-way overdue for renovation!!!!

This is, I believe, a new addition to the hotel. It is a lovely feature and a good place to unwind and relax away from the bustle of NYC. Unfortunately, you cannot have a coffee up there - they just serve means which is why I am not rating excellent. The pool deck is fitted with tables and loungers and the staff were eager to please. The food was good too. The pool is not particularly luxurious but adequate and, given the location, a welcome feature. The hotel generally is good value for money. The halls and interior generally is a little dark but clean. The rooms are small and whilst this is often the case in a city location our room and bathroom was particularly small. Only one person could be in the bathroom at any one time and there was very limited storage space. Everywhere seemed clean and all of the staff were eager to please.

This hotel's rooftop bar and restaurant was a total surprise when we stepped out of the elevator. The hostess was extremely professional, warm and welcoming. We were invited to sit in any of the multiple choices they have for seating either on the outside patio area or the inside sofa seating. It is a large spacious area both inside and outside and the seating is extremely comfortable and conducive to staying awhile and enjoying great conversation, food and drinks. The day we were there was especially beautiful so the view was captivating. I am sure however weather need not be taken into account when dining or drinking here because the staff will take great care of you whatever "Mother-Nature" has provided that day.

Where's one to start!! Receptionist ...the room we were sent to was on the ground floor opposite the kitchens so noisy and smelly Rang receptionist and they said they were fully booked Decided to go back to reception and was given a different room straight away as they knew how noisy it was As it was my 65th birthday we thought it was going to be the best Wrong ... Never again as it just got worse Thank you The Empire Hotel

In fact the breakfast of the Empire hotel is now on the roof and also brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and it is very good. View is wonderful. The sitting places are good and food too.

Much like the lobby bar it's very nicely decorated. Drinks set at hotel prices but lovely experience with nice views

Vibe was cool,food was good,drinks came a little slow due to understaffed bar. One of the best rooftops in New York.

One of my favorite rooftop bars in NYC. Couples or small groups and still feels intimate. Views views views from multiple spots! Service & bartenders are great but there a couple of them who are horrible. If you get them you'll know. We did outside & inside for drinks over our Sept/Oct stay this time and had them - Terrible. Luckily other staff made up for them.

Came back late after a performance in the Lincoln Center. Our group of five was stuck in the elevator going up. Not pleasant. After a while the doors finally opened. The Rooftop Bar is nice and part of it is open air, with benches and pillows seating. It was still too cold for that, but it must be quite nice on a balmy summer night. When we walked in there was a private party going on. They had no problem with us staying, the bartender was friendly, but it was way too noisy for any kind of a conversation. We took a chance on taking the elevator again. To the Lobby Bar ...

My husband and I live in Manhattan, and this is one of our favorite places to enjoy a cocktail OUTSIDE!!! The location, in the heart of Lincoln Center, cannot be beat, for both convenience and views! The bar is furbished with chic and modern finishes adding to the metropolitan experience.

For a delicious adult beverage and a breathtaking view of the city, visit this bar at the Hotel Empire. Perfect way to end a long day. Love the breeze, the ambience, music selection. Pricey drinks but it's NYC so expect it. A great spot for tourists.

I had a great time with my wife on the rooftop, had a chance to take good pictures of the city, enjoy nice food and drinks, and good atmosphere and music.

uncomfortable seating, poor drinks, slow service......unless you are standing you are not enjoying the view......

During our stay in the hotel we went a few times to the rooftop bar to enjoy a drink there. A great location although a bit improvised it seems (you have to walk up a bit from the last elevator stop).

A Great spot to have fun - a great view and fine fare. Bobby G was a our waitress. She made us feel so special when my love and I went there. She's the best waitress that one can have.

Hosted corporate reception at the Rooftop. Staff was exceptional, food was delicious, and the views were amazing...definitely recommend!

Great hotel, great staff. A special shout out to the rooftop servers especially Eric for making our trip awesome... Becki and Mark x

Great rooftop bar. Cocktails are on the pricey side but the beers are priced as to the normal rate for a NY bar. Best place to sit is outside as it has amazing views. Very comfortable sofas.

This place is so bad I wish I could give it 0 stars. The manager is absolutely terrible. Horrible service and not filling food at all. Please save ur wallets from this disgusting place, there’s so many other places.

I asked for a menu but was left to wait. Although the staff were friendly I was unimpressed by the noisy music and very small pool.

love this bar only cavail is they do not have a selection of Mezcals but everything else is terrific. great location and only accessible to hotel guests and friends nake it a great place to hang out

The Empire Hotel has expanded it's offerings. Definitely a place to gather. Reserve a special seating area, or cozy up to the bar. It's lovely!

Lack of service in the rooftop bar during the day. Drinks are overpriced and they tack on a service charge but you have to go up to the bar to get the drinks yourself. What am I paying 19% for? The pool deck is small and got crowded easily. Music was good.

Went for drink with my wife and teenage daughter and sat for over 30 minutes without even being acknowledged by waiting staff, despite numerous attempts to attract attention!! The same lead waiter was truly offensive to a couple next to us, not in what was said but in the tone and attitude. Eventually I had to go to the bar and order. I would avoid unless you are looking for poor service and and an unwelcoming attitude. P.s. only glimmer of charm was when the cheque arrived

I had a reservation for NYE. They cancelled on me, no explanation, no apology! Really unprofessional!

Excellent location By the Lincoln Center, with views to the Broadway and Columbus Avenue. Slightly elevated prices.

Nice views. That’s about it. Furniture is worn out. Layout is awkward and not intuitive when you get off elevators. Bar setup is difficult to get what you need.

This is a joke. You get a room on the 11h floor. You climb up the stairs to the roof top and see a sign that says to go back to the lobby to get access. What a joke.

This was by far the worst threat I have ever received and NYC. I live in the upper west side and decided to take some of my family who is visiting from out of the country. One of my cousins who is from New York and turned 21 three months ago showed his ID and the bouncer did not accepted. I respectfully asked him to recheck as the ID clearly stated the year and the month so he could see he was over 21. This guys got mad that I said that and started using the f word with me. I talked to the other person at the door ignoring the bouncer and he got more aggressive and asked me to leave. I told him that his words were inappropriate especially with ladies around. He had no respect, no manners and definitely no class. I thought I found a good place close to home that I could go to but I found myself being treated the worst I have ever been treated and it was just a bad time overall.

I really enjoyed hanging out on the roof of the Empire on our last visit to NYC. The views are spectacular and it's great spot to meet up with friends and have a drink.

We absolutely loved the Empire Hotel rooftop bar and the view was amazing from the table. It’s a lovely place to catch up with friends in a lovely atmosphere with a sleek interior. Would definitely recommend, we will be returning again.

Great for having a drink and meeting people. In warmer weather the outside part of the bar is great. Wonderful views.

Plenty of shade or sun, staff is attentive and drinks are delicious, meticulously prepared. View is gorgeous. I’ll be back and definitely recommend it for after work, drinks with friends or even dates.

We had a birthday party in a sectioned off part of the bar area. The service was impeccable and the food delicious. Not only that, the food was plentiful and didn't stop during the 3-hour party. Drinks were excellent and the wait staff very efficient. I would recommend this venue. The views are spectacular and the music is not too loud, so you can actually have a conversation. A comfortable and welcoming place. We enjoyed it.

Very comfortable venue for small and larger gatherings. Enjoy drinks inside or out in the open air. Hotel guests should beware that this amenity is often reserved. We stayed 5 nights and got to enjoy the Rooftop once. Wheelchair access inside but steps to go outside.

We had drinks and dessert at the Empire Hotel rooftop after going to the opera at Lincoln Square. The drinks were wonderful as was the service. We would go there again as we had a lovely evening. If interested enclosed are views from this lovely rooftop bar.

Stopped in after the Opera. We did not have reservations and a member of our party was in a wheelchair. We were immediately seated and had interesting drinks and delicious appetizers. I highly recommend this Bar and Restaurant!

We stayed here, 1 night, our daughter was dancing at Lincoln Center, Room was decent, 4 people, bathroom is small but that is NYC, room was warm, but very cozy and comfortable, only downfall, Housekeeping was quite intrusive, and we had issues with the room key 2X check out is 12, and housekeeping was in our room with all our stuff in there and the door open at 10:00 while we were at breakfast.......

A great secluded rooftop bar. Relaxing atmosphere. Drinks were pricey but its NYC. A Great spot to go have a drink and get an awesome vies of Lincoln Park

Our family was in NYC, staying at the Empire and a couple of us decided, after a busy morning, to head up to the Rooftop for a relaxing drink and light afternoon snack. We got seated, but then were ignored until someone finally asked if we'd been served. Never saw the server again after that until it was time to go, and then we had to practically hunt her down to pay for the terribly overpriced drinks and snacks. We attributed it to being a slow part of the day. The next night, several other family members wanted to go there. We were under a time crunch and it was convenient, so I went along with it. They wanted a light dinner; it would be lighter than we thought. Each menu item was about $20 and consisted of such things like 1.5 deviled eggs; three extra-miniature lobster tacos (smallest ones I've ever seen); three sliders. I couldn't believe it. $400 later, we left, still hungry. Oh, yes, and we had to practically hunt down the server to pay for it. I get that things are expensive in NYC. However, over two visits, we dropped about $500 there, and both the service and food left much to be desired. Do yourself a favor and skip the Rooftop and go instead to PJ Clarke's downstairs or across the street to The Smith. They served up excellent food AND great service.

The view is amazing from the rooftop bar but I highly suggest visiting during happy hour. The drinks are really pricey (as to be expected in NYC).

Great job on the scrumptious food They followed strict Covid protocol and followed strict restrictions. My favorite was Calamari and the flatbread Margarita plus the fish tacos. Loved the view and the ambiance. The server was very courteous and accommodating. All the ingredients were fresh and delicious. I am definitely going back there . I do highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you 😊

This place has become famous for gosip girl and my friend wanted to go for this .. the skyline is beatiful as most of NY rooftop, cocktails were ok, the place outside is small, the bar is ok. Many places better than this one in the big Apple.. There are not many appetizers options but truffle potatoes were delicious ..

Late afternoon drinks at this sun drenched roof top bar (with plenty of shade for non-sun lovers, as well as an inside bar) offered a spectacular setting for a meeting with friends before attending a wedding nearby. Service was excellent, staff very attentive.

Popped up for a drink in the evening, it had such a good atmosphere and fantastic views. Drinks were a little pricey, but it is Manhattan you expect it

Great spot to enjoy fabulous drinks, great "bites", in a fun atmosphere - amazing view of Lincoln Center Plaza . The Empire Rooftop is one of the few roof top bars in NYC - it offers open terrace as sell as a covered terrace, no matter the weather, you will enjoy and "outdoors" feel and have access to the beautiful views. I highly recommend it for a fun evening with friends as well as for a unique fabulous event. Being an event planner, I produced a fantastic Halloween party and I can assure you that the venue is completely versatile for endless options. love so much, that am headed there this evening with friends that just arrived from Europe - I am sure they will love it!

Upon returning from a terrific two week vacation in Nyack, New York, my traveling companion and I, who are still “homeless in Manhattan” were looking for a hotel to check in to that would provide us direct access to a most sophisticated “cultural centered” area of Manhattan. More to this point is the mere fact that my traveling companion and I, being “lovers of the Arts” as well as “Manhattanites”, are completely conscious of what “Lincoln Center” has to offer. For those unfamiliar with Lincoln Center located in the borough of Manhattan, it basically Is home to the absolute best in Theater, Opera and Dance and therefore is an “iron magnet” for those wanting to enjoy the Arts as much as we do. Therefore, the only logical hotel selection to meet our needs on this level and that was within our budget, was “The Empire Hotel”. At the moment we checked in we were greeted by a group of industrious working bell hop staff persons who immediately transferred our frightfully large number of luggage pieces from my vintage BMW on to a large enough “hotel luggage cart.”. Off to an excellent start.,, I flew, so to speak, over to the hotel’s front desk, whereby Evan, who is a true hotel professional, assigned us to a “king sized” bedroom with a very welcoming view of Lincoln Center. The hotel room itself is a standard size with a separate bathroom. Moreover, the king sized bed was more than comfortable in comparison to other hotel beds that I have slept in lately and I do appreciate the fine thread count cotton sheets this hotel offers. In addition to this...the king sized pillows were very comfortable and added to my sleeping comfort. If this type of “amenity” means as much to you as it does to me than by all means, please stay at this hotel since I have personally experienced and slept on sheets at other hotel beds whereby the cotton thread count overall is just acceptable. However, I generally prefer the cotton sheet thread count to be more than adequate, which it is at The Empire Hotel and the cleaning staff whom work here all do an outstanding job. Please note that there is no ice machine on any floor within the hotel so when in need of ice, you phone “housekeeping” and how reassuring it was for me to hear “Monica’s” lovely speaking voice most nights that I called as she “instantly” honored my request. The overall condition of the hotel room in general, is fine but I do think a time will come fairly soon for this lovely situated hotel to “spruce up” their hotel rooms, in order to make it more “relevant”. The other very good news about this establishment besides its “very close” distance to Lincoln Center is as follows: The entire hotel staff overall is terrific and very accommodating. Up on the roof is a small “lane” swimming pool for hotel guests that has a small outdoor seating area as well. In addition to this and right below is an much larger spacious outdoor seating area with tables as well as chaise lounge chairs that is ideal for having lunch or just soaking in the sun. The food here is excellent and my favorite was their version of a BLT sandwich. Many thanks to the entire hotel staff who work up on the rooftop pool deck during the daytime and know personally how much I appreciated all of your terrific work efforts and extremely pleasant conversations. In addition to this, the rooftop restaurant/bar attracts a very diversified and most handsome looking crowd of women and men. All the bartenders working here make outstanding “special of the night”cocktails and do their personal best to make your evening so worthwhile. In addition to this, the restaurant here has well prepared excellent food dishes to select from. In the evening hours, anyone can go up and experience the roof top lounge, which has terrific views of upper Manhattan and is furnished with very comfortable interesting modern couches, chairs and tables. If you are not staying at The Empire Hotel but plan on spending an evening at their rooftop restaurant and bar then please make certain to say hello to Anthony before entering the elevator. He was always friendly and makes one feel right at home. There also is an excellent bar located in the hotel lobby where the bartenders who work here all know their way around this bar and can prepare any cocktail you might desire. In summation: The Empire Hotel is an ideal place to stay and its prominent location to Lincoln Center makes it so much more attractive to its guests. I highly recommend it to all and many thanks to its entire staff for all they did to make me feel right at home, especially since at the time of writing this review, I am without an apartment. Special thanks to Maggie, Luis and Rudy. Sterling jobs performances by all hotel staff persons. Thank you!! JM 🕶

Only just opened fir the season. Nice area with nice views. Shame everything is served in plastic cups. A tiny plastic glass of wine, not cheap. Needs a review of how they market this bar, they might get more people in then.

I go to this hotel every year. It is directly across the street from the Ballet at Lincoln Center (I specifically go for the Ballet). Love this historic hotel. Front desk and doormen are extremely helpful and friendly. Even housekeeping smiles and says hello when they pass you in the hall. The rooms and and bathrooms are small - like most of NYC. However, I like the design. When I ask for a quiet location they have always been accommodating. I have never been here in the Summer but they do have a rooftop pool area that appears to be popular.

Great bar with a cool vibe and what looked to be an excellent outdoor area under the red neon sign (was closed due to snow/ice when we were there). Seemed to get very busy on peak evenings, so worth booking a table if you plan to go.

We booked The Empire Rooftop due to being Gossip Girl fans and we weren’t disappointed, we started with the ‘xoxo-gossip girl’ cocktails which were lovely, then also had espresso martinis. We ordered some chicken wings and tater tots for some snacks, both tasty and good sized portion. Service was friendly and very attentive. The view is great and being able to see the hotel empire neon sign completed the experience. (Only wished all neon letters on the sign were working!)

The website for making reservations stated you had to be 18 after 8pm. They changed the requirement without updating the website. We were stuck at 10pm unable to go up to eat due to this mistake.

Great friendly service, even gave us an extra tub of guacamole to take away with us. The servers seemed genuinely interested in us having a memorable time

Be prepared to pay; prices are very high for what you get. Fries were very good and portion generous, sirloin sliders boring. Brownie for desert, eh.

This is my go to place when you need to hangout after a show at Lincoln Center. Service is great, drinks are good and they serve perfect late night snacks.

Friends booked a reservation for drinks which guaranteed a good seat. Drink service is good. The DJ played fun music. Views are wonderful. Real fun atmosphere!!!

Great view to lincoln centre, even in winter. They cover the place to keep warm but you still get a good view and they have a good food menu too.

The French definitely don’t go there! Reservations are not respected, we had reservations to have a drink on the rooftop terrace, we found ourselves indoors, the cocktails are horrible and expensive! Avoid, scam!

The hotel is located in a great area, near the subway, Central Park, Lincoln Center, etc. There are great bars and restaurants options including hotel rooftop. However, it looks old but trying to be modern. It is decorated like the sixties, low lights and very tacky. They charge for an additional person even though I requested a two queen bedroom. The bedroom is tight, with an old air conditioning that you should be aware to check where the on-off button is before trying to look for it in the middle of the night! The bathroom was small, it looked renovated but the bathtub that has some scratches. When I took a shower this morning, the water was warm, did not get hot at all, and I did use the faucet correctly. Also, the plug in the bathroom was not working, so I had to use the blow dryer in the bedroom. The beds were good. There was also a desk with a TV, a small wardrobe with iron and a mirror. Overall the room was clean. Next visit in the big city, I'll choose another option for sure, especially for the price they charge.

I love this place, the food is delicious. I've been here in the summer and winter and enjoyed it. Of course the spacious rooftop affords great views.

Good view...but the space is a mess. The tiles are coming up and the elevator seems dangerous...I wouldn't go.

Very loud and lively with music blaring. Food was great. Korean wings were spicy the way I like it. The lamb sliders were tasty

This is a fun atmosphere and the snacks and drinks are very good. Only issue was that it was a bit chaotic getting a table. We waited a long time - we were told initially it would be 20 minutes, then we checked back after 20 minutes and were told it would be another 20 minutes.

This place is a good all rounder, beers, wines, cocktails, food. Nothing is too much trouble and the views are also great at night.

When you stay at The Empire the rooftop for breakfast is convenient and uncrowded buffet. Great views of Lincoln Square and Lincoln Center. Fine selection at buffet.

This property may think it's chic and happening but one night too many in this hotel is not happening! For the rate they charge to be the chic place to be, think again folks!!! Room with mold, peeling paint and wood from doors, cracked and peeling caulking around sink..oh one more thing the tissue cannister has never been cleaned . Disgusting! When advised hotel staff they shrugged their shoulders, apologized and offered no compensation. A one night stand in this hole is not to be remembered!!!

Great spot to enjoy a cocktail while overlooking the city! Pricey but I think you pay for the view! Delightful!

I stopped in for happy hour at the end of the afternoon (I was a guest at the hotel). I found a place to sit and ordered a Corona. She asked for a credit card -- I said I was paying cash and she was miffed (unnecessary attitude) -- this is the only bar from among four where I was asked for a credit card before they would serve me). She brought the check with the beer (fine with me). When I had finished I considered having another but there was no obvious service (the place wasn't busy) so I moved on.

Empire Rooftop is managed by Hospitality Holdings and NOT by Empire Hotel (whose service is terrible). We held a great event of about 60 people on the rooftop and with the support of Hospitality Holding and the group general manager, Fabio Schiattarella we could not have had a better time. Professionalism and great service, location with amazing view, good food as agreed for our event menu. thank you!

My daughter and I had planned on going here the last time we were in New York but didn’t make it, so this time we made reservations. When we arrived, we were told we would have to sit inside because the all the outside seating was taken. We didn’t want to be inside though, and were going to leave when another staff member said we could go upstairs because there was outdoor seating available there. The outdoor area upstairs was right by the Hotel Empire sign, so I think we lucked out on that. However, the drinks were very disappointing. My daughter ordered a frozen drink, which was mainly crushed up ice in a glass with a bit of watermelon in it, and I ordered a glass of wine. My wine was served in a plastic cup, and tasted like very cheap wine. We stayed long enough to get a photo of the iconic sign, but didn’t even finish our drinks – they were that bad. Been there, done that, won't do it again.

It is very dark and ok rooftop. If I was not staying at the hotel I will not come here. The martinis were good and the duck tacos were delicious! Service is good too and the decoration ok, needs to be updated though. There was not too many people either for a Friday night.

I was having a reunion with a friend from Japan who I'd not seen in 9 years. At first, I picked a restaurant in Central Park. My friend from Japan saw this venue online and asked me if I'd consider changing and so I did. I was uncertain. I'd never been here before. The venue has an indoor area and two outdoor areas on different levels. LET ME DISPEL ANYONE'S DOUBTS, even with music, it was a quiet enough place to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in 9 years. The music was kept at a thoughtful level which is rare for most venues, I find. The drinks are innovative and visually amazing. One peach drink is topped with a white bubble that jiggles and shakes till it blows up, releasing smoke. That was the coolest thing in the world. There was a watermelon drink that was out of this world. The fried egg/truffled mushrooms flat bread was dee-licious. They are happy to accommodate whether you prefer you egg fried on one side or two. Now, on days they have brunch, you can still order what they call handhelds simultaneously, which includes sliders, pork bao, spicy tuna tacos and lobster tacos, amongst many other selections. My favorites were the fried egg/truffle mushroom flatbread and the spicy tuna tacos (which he ordered 4 servings of they were so good). I thought these two dishese were the stand outs. I have to say the calamari and the sliders looked fantastic, but we didn't have room to order them. When you order beers, the portions are beyond generous. We ordered ice cappuccinos, which they made decaf for us in the tallest glasses you ever saw, they don't scrimp. The views are very cool, looking over Lincoln Center. But what I took on board more than anything else were two standouts Natalia (wait staff) and Johanna, the manager. They went above and beyond in every way possible. They were kind and warm. Lovely. This is now a go go-to place for me when in New York thanks to them, to the serene atmosphere, the comfy uncramped seating, and I very much appreciated the level of security when you enter the hotel. They only allow reserved guests up on the elevators, which I appreciated. It's centrally located. Fab. Loved the people and the place and the food. Only suggestion: they could use a couple of more umbrellas for when the sun is blazing. My eyes lit up looking at the other amazing offerings go by.