London has it’s fair share of rooftop bars, but I’m not sure anything holds a candle to the Salvation Taco Rooftop in the Pod 39 Hotel in New York. For one thing, you’ve got guacamole and tacos courtesy of restaurateur Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield (The Spotted Pig, The Breslin), albeit a vastly scaled back menu from that of the ground floor restaurant. Then there’s the booze – we’re talking frozen margaritas, Chilean sangria, and fresh craft beers from the likes of Captain Lawrence and Greenport Harbor.
But what really sets it apart is the absurd scenery. Manhattan looks good on a bad day, but it’s extra special at sunset, 17 floors up, with panoramic views that take in the East River, Empire State, and the Chrysler Building, all framed by an open air brick temple covered in colourful bulbs that come in to their own as the natural light disappears down East 39th street. You might have to wait a little if arriving at peak time as there are no reservations, though five of us managed to walk straight up at 7.30pm on a Saturday night in July. Either way, you won’t regret it.
N.B. A couple of the photos were taken by one of my travel companions Maggie Gray – hover over images for details.
Salvation Taco Rooftop – salvationtaco.com
