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They're the tops

Staff Writer

The Rare View rooftop bar at the Shelburne Hotel in New York, New York on Friday, July 2, 2004. (Photo by Joel Cairo)

Even the most plebian of rooftop restaurants takes on a certain glamour based solely on its distance from street level. Here are some of our favorite places at the top of the town.

Plunge The rooftop bar/lounge at the white-hot Hotel Gansevoort seduces with a spectacular swimming pool. But it's off-limits unless you have a room key. There is, on the other hand, an indoor/outdoor lounge jammed with heat-seeking hipsters, and though it can be unbearably noisy and crowded, it's one of the major stops on the trend circuit. (Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue; 877-426-7386)

Pen Top. Is there a ritzier place for an early evening drink than the terrace atop the Peninsula Hotel on Fifth Avenue? Maybe, but it would be hard to name it. The view is what makes it, but the house drinks go down smoothly, too. (Peninsula Hotel; 700 Fifth Avenue; 212-956-2888)

Rare View. You can't eat up here, but you can drink. House cocktails like the strawberry cooler take the edge of a day at the office; the crowd is youngish (no surprise, this is Murray Hill, after all), and the place is relaxed. (Shelburne Murray Hill Hotel; 303 Lexington Avenue; 212-481-1999)

Bentley Hotel. The place is tucked atop one of the city's lesser-known hotels, but the view of Midtown makes it worth checking out. There's a simple menu of pastas, salads, steaks, and if you want a view with your burger, this is probably the place to find it. (500 East 62nd Street; 212-644-6000)

Roof Garden Café. You can't beat the view from the top of the Met; besides the park, there is the sculpture - and a light menu of salads and sandwiches, plus tasty frozen drinks. You have to go early though; they close at 4:30 during the week; 8:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. ( Metropolitan Museum of Art; Fifth Avenue at 81st Street; 212-535-7710)

Terrace in the Sky. Just because the place has been around forever doesn't mean it should be forgotten. From the outdoor café, there are lovely views and dinners are relaxed. During the week, the $45 prix-fixe menu (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) is something of a deal. (400 West 119th Street; 212-666-9490)

Alma. Brooklyn's rooftop terrace restaurant and bar has terrific views of the harbor and skyline, plus excellent Mexican food - and good margaritas, too (187 Columbia Street; 718-643-5400)