For summer entertaining, rooftop venues offer the chance to enjoy the seasonal weather as well as some great city views. Here's a look at new and renovated rooftop bars, lounges, and independent event spaces for events across the United States and Canada.
Vertigo Sky Lounge, atop the Dana Hotel & Spa in Chicago, renovated its entire space in time for the summer season. The redesign from Collins Design & Company includes a focal point fire pit, an oversize aluminum "V" installed in one corner, stacked ipe wood benches, and stainless steel side tables. Vertigo Sky Lounge also added a six-person Bartender’s Booth chef's table concept, a permanent 14-foot outdoor bar and programming such as mixologist appearances, patio chef demos, and master cocktail classes. The 1,000-square-foot lounge holds 150 outdoors, or 300 when combined with the indoor space.
In May, the popular rooftop lounge Roof at the Wit hotel in Chicago's Loop added a permanent 3-D mapping installation dubbed "the Wall." The 20- by 12-foot surface took inspiration from electronic dance music festivals and has motion production capability and a retractable flat screen. The lounge has the capacity for 350 guests and is available for buyout.
Opening this month, Monarch is an indoor-outdoor space on the 18th floor of a Midtown Manhattan building. With Scandinavian decor designed by Natalia Todorova of Gwathmey, Siegel, Kaufman & Associates Architects, the 5,000-square-foot space has floor-to-ceiling silk curtains framing a view of the Empire State Building. Monarch holds 300 guests and is available for buyouts.
The just-opened lounge atop Boston's Revere Hotel, Rooftop at Revere is a 16,000-square-foot space seven stories above street level. With staffers outfitted in uniforms from Pret-à-Surf's spring/summer 2013 collection, the chic spot offers snacks such as Nantucket Bay scallop ceviche and cocktails such as a Sangria Blanco. The space holds 125 for receptions.
Donovan House, the downtown Washington hotel from Kimpton, renovated its rooftop pool deck, DNV Rooftop, in time for summer. With design from GrizForm, the space features dark woods, glass, and chrome and has seating at banquettes, cocktail tables, and drink rail. Along with the $300,000 renovation, DNV debuted new cocktail and Asian tapas menus. The rooftop holds 100 people for events and can add a satellite bar.
Located in a LEED-certified building, the Rooftop on Ponce is an independent event space with panoramic views of Coral Gables, Florida. The 5,500-square-foot space features a grass lawn and holds 200 guests for receptions or seats 100. The site also includes a gazebo with full-length glass windows, suitable as a V.I.P. lounge or silent auction area.
San Francisco's Lolinda restaurant opened a new rooftop space dubbed El Techo de Lolinda. Serving Latin American street food, cerveza, and classic Latino cocktails such as caipirinhas and piña coladas, the space holds 200 people for events.
A spinoff of its Corus Quay location, Against the Grain Urban Tavern Leaside in Toronto opened this spring with a second-floor patio that seats 120. With heaters and Tuuci umbrellas, the space is prepared for warm or cool weather. The bar includes local and European brews, and the tavern menu offers flatbreads, burgers, and an Ontario pork belly B.L.T.
