New rooftop bars in NYC: Bar Lola, Voco Roofbar and Golden Child

Summer in New York has an unofficial kickoff and it happens the moment rooftop bar season begins. This year brought a wave of new spots worth adding to your rotation, from midtown to the Theater District to NoMad. Here are three that opened this season and are already earning their place on the skyline.

Bar Lola

346 W. 46th St.; barlolanyc.com, 646-410-0950 

Bar Lola opened in March on Restaurant Row in the Theater District and immediately established itself as the newest brunch and late-night hot spot. The two-floor cafe and cocktail bar pulls its inspiration from Spanish wine bars and French bistros with a main floor, mezzanine, mural-lined seating and a year-round patio with its own bar and retractable roof.

Cocktails ($19) lean creative and cafe-forward, with a creme brulee espresso martini, matcha margaritas and hot amaro lattes sitting alongside an international wine list. The brunch menu includes brioche French toast ($18) and croque monsieur ($26) while the dinner menu offers cornbread madeleines ($15), lobster rangoon ($22) and lamb lollipops with pomegranate glaze ($26).

Hours: Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Voco Roofbar

170 W 48th St.; vocoroofbar.com, 212-470-7117 

Voco Roofbar landed in early April at the new Voco Times Square-Broadway hotel, perched 33 stories above midtown with a retractable roof that keeps the skyline in view year-round. The space blends a chic interior lounge with an al fresco terrace, decorated in lush greenery and pink floral touches, with seating for 100 and a vibe that works as well for a post-show wind-down as it does for a late-night session.

The food menu leans into globally inspired, tapas-style sharing plates: wagyu souvlaki skewers with jalapeño-yuzu yogurt ($34), shrimp tempura with spicy sweet chili mayo ($21), ahi tuna with truffle ponzu ($27), sea bass ceviche ($22) and beef tartare with 'nduja ($26). Cocktails ($24) reflect the seasons, anchored by the signature Broadway Blush, a mix of ALB Vodka, lychee, rosé vermouth, lemon and aqua faba.

Hours: Daily 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Golden Child

444 Park Ave S.; goldenchildny.com; 929-594-4847

Golden Child opened early April at Hotel Park Ave in NoMad and introduces a unique concept with a loose theme of an Ivy League social club. This translates to a cocktail menu organized like a class syllabus, with sections titled "Core Curriculum," "Electives," "Study Break," "Class Projects" and "Honors Program," inside a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of a college library. With four creatively named and crafted cocktails in each section ($18-$26) plus an extensive wine and beer list, expect to taste a pairing of flavors you've never tried before.

Step outside onto nearly 2,000 square feet of terrace and the vibe shifts: bright yellow-striped benches, open sky and midtown views. The highlight menu item delivers a dose of nostalgia with an adult lunch box ($38), which includes a riff on a PB&J made with pear, brie, jamón and mostarda on a buttered baguette, plus chips, a chocolate chip cookie and a Capri Sun-style cocktail served in a tin box. The rest of the menu rounds out with smashburgers ($22), chicken tenders ($22), Hot Pocket-style calzones ($22-26) and Montauk pearl oysters ($24). Golden hour runs daily from 4 to 7p.m. with half-off discounts, including $9 martinis, $12 glasses of wine, $6 beers and $12 select bites.

Hours: Sunday through Thursday 4 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight.