chloedickensonLast Updated on 28th June 2025
This review of Elsie Rooftop Bar NYC contains affiliate links and a gifted experience at Elsie Rooftop. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, please see my disclaimer for more.
Named after the famous American actress, interior designer, and author, Elsie de Wolfe, Elsie Rooftop Bar is one of the most highly-esteemed rooftops in New York City.
Boasting ample indoor and outdoor seating options, an excellent brunch menu, delicious cocktails, and various weekly events such as ‘salsa on the roof’ and various local DJs and live bands, a visit to Elsie Rooftop NYC certainly won’t disappoint!
In my honest review of Elsie Rooftop below, I’m sharing everything you need to know about this prestigious New York brunch spot, rooftop bar, lounge, and nightclub, including what you can expect from the menu, opening hours, dress code, and my honest thoughts about the views from this Midtown Manhattan hotspot.
*Unfortunately, my Elsie Rooftop photos are not the best quality as we visited at night and the lighting wasn’t quite right to take high-quality snaps! You can check the Elsie Rooftop photo gallery to see what it looks like during the daytime.
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Discover more of my favourite rooftops in New York City!
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- Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar, Lounge & Pool
- Sandbar Rooftop Bar
- Berry Park Brooklyn Review
- Vintage Green Rooftop Bar NYC
- Azul on the Rooftop
- Glass Ceiling Rooftop
- Somewhere Nowhere NYC
Elsie Rooftop New York
Located less than 500m from Bryant Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Macy’s, Elsie NYC offers an incredible rooftop bar experience from its 25th floor vantage point.
The rooftop is an all-season venue, boasting plenty of indoor and outdoor drinking/dining space, plus upscale furnishings, and epic entertainment.
We accidentally timed our visit to Elsie Rooftop with their weekly Friday night salsa evening, and although we weren’t quite brave enough to take part, it was so much fun to watch everyone participate!
I did mention at the start of this post that I would be as honest as possible, so while we did thoroughly enjoy seeing the salsa class in action, I think I would prefer to visit Elsie during the day/late afternoon next time.
While it is such a fun place to visit at night thanks to the live music and entertainment (in the form of bands, DJs, and salsa dancing), I’m much prefer the more laid-back rooftops in NYC, and I have it on good authority that Elsie is the place to be for brunch/early evening cocktails, so I think I’ll opt for that experience next time!
Furthermore, while you do get views of the Empire State Building and Times Square, I personally much prefer the views from the likes of 230 Fifth, The Fleur Room, and Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar, but I do think the overall rooftop vibes of Elsie NYC are up there with some of the best in the city!
- Opening hours: Weds & Thurs, 5 PM to 12 AM. Fri, 5 PM to 4 AM. Sat, 11 AM to 4 AM. Sun, 11 AM to 12 AM. Closed Mon & Tues.
- Website: Elsie Rooftop NYC.
- Contact details: [email protected].
- Address: Elsie Rooftop, 1412 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
Elsie Rooftop Bar menu
Both the food and drinks menu at Elsie NYC are extensive and varied, with dozens of spirits, cocktails, beer, and wine to choose from.
We were lucky enough to try two cocktails each during our visit; I opted for the Buzz Berry and The Sunset, while Matt went for the Mezcalita and the Colony Club. All four of these cocktails were truly delicious, especially The Sunset, which is up there with one of my favourite cocktails in NYC!
Elsie Rooftop Bar prices for food and drink are on par with most other pricey NYC rooftops, with cocktails ranging from around $21 to $25, glasses of wine for $16 to $19, and beer for around $9. You can also get cocktail pitchers for $130, although I’m not sure how many people they serve.
Elsie Rooftop also has an extensive bottle service menu, with most spirits priced at around $550, and magnums of champagne for $1,000 to $3,500. The most expensive item on the menu is a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac for a whopping $4,500!
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to try out anything from the food menu at Elsie Rooftop during our visit, but I absolutely love the look of the weekend brunch menu (available Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM), as it includes highlights such as “Egg in hole” Croque Madame, shakshuka, French toast, lemon meringue pancakes, Belgian waffles, and more!
You can also upgrade to 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas , Bellini’s and sangria for $45 per person.
They also have an excellent daytime/evening menu, which includes dishes such as flatbreads, grilled cheese, burgers, tacos, meatballs, and more!
(Please note that the food and drink menu at Elsie Rooftop Bar may change depending on seasonality and availability).
Elsie Rooftop Bar New York – FAQs
How old do you have to be to visit?
Elsie Rooftop New York bar and restaurant is a 21+ venue, meaning that no children are permitted, even if they are with a parent or guardian.
Is ID required at Elsie NYC?
As it is a 21+ venue, a valid form of ID is required to enter Elsie Rooftop.
Do you need a reservation to visit the rooftop bar?
Reservations are recommended when visiting Elsie NYC, especially if you want to enjoy a sit-down table experience but they are not required, as there are usually seats available at the communal bar area.
What is the Elsie Rooftop Bar dress code?
While Elsie Rooftop certainly is a stylish and sophisticated hotspot in Manhattan, it does have somewhat of a relaxed dress code, meaning that you don’t need to be wearing extravagant ballgowns or tuxedos to visit. For reference, I wore a short red dress with a white blazer and smart white trainers, while Matt wore beige chinos, a black jumper and smart dark blue trainers.
If you are attending an event at Elsie Rooftop (such as dance classes or the NYE event), you may wish to dress up a bit more.
Can you see the Ball Drop from Elsie Rooftop?
The Elsie Rooftop New Years Eve party is a prestigious event on arguably the biggest night of the year in NYC. Ticket prices for NYE at Elsie Rooftop vary depending on exactly which ticket type you opt for, but they typically start at around $300 and can cost as much as $3000 for certain tickets!
Again, it depends on which ticket you purchase, but most tickets include views of the Empire State Building and the world-famous Times Square Ball Drop, plus an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a complimentary glass of champagne to bring in the New Year at midnight!
The New Years Eve parties at Elsie Rooftop Bar New York receive mixed reviews, so I would advice doing more research before booking to ensure this event would be the best option for what you’re looking for!
Conclusion
I hope you found this Elsie Rooftop Bar review honest and helpful and I hope it’s helped you decide whether this rooftop bar would be a good choice for you! Don’t forget to check out my other NYC rooftop bar guides linked at the top of this post!
Related posts:
- Empire State Building Observation Deck Guide
- Is The Go City New York Pass Worth It & How Does It Work?
- Is One World Observatory Worth Visiting?
- 3 Day New York Itinerary
- LUMA Hotel Times Square Review
Pin for later – Elsie Rooftop Bar reviews
Is Elsie Rooftop on your NYC itinerary? Do you have any more New York rooftop bar recommendations for me to try out and review? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!
