Everyone loves a good NYC rooftop bar, and because many of them are now open year-round, you can get your drink on amid dazzling skyline views even when the temps drop. Woo hoo! I can't resist a rooftop bar, so when I heard about the new Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge atop the just-opened Moxy, a trendy hotel a few blocks south of Times Square, I knew I had to check it out.
Run by the TAO Group, which pretty much has the lock on New York's nightlife scene, the 10,000-square-foot space has a fun carnival-like vibe. Think: floor-to-ceiling funhouse mirrors, whimsical Putt-Putt holes, oversized topiary in naughty poses, and a rotating "carousel," with cushioned seats. Most Instagrammable rooftop bar ever? It has my vote.
When I arrived, Magic Hour was already buzzing with an afterwork crowd sipping cocktails and noshing on small plates like lobster rolls and chicken satay. It was still warm enough that the retractable roof wasn't needed, so as I sipped my drink, I could take in those jaw-dropping straight-on views of the Empire State Building in the open air (if there's another rooftop bar that has a better view of the Empire State, show me).
Many of the cocktails come with cheeky names like Swipe Right and We Were on a Break!, but the real attention-getters are the shared drinks, including the Disco Ball for All, a vodka-based punch served in an actual disco ball. Love it! I didn't see anyone ordering that, but then again, the night was young. And if you've taken one too many spins on the merry-go-round (literally and figuratively), don't worry — you can always overnight in one of Moxy's $99 "crash pads."
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