Rise
Don't have the time to visit Lady Liberty? Then head to the Ritz’s rooftop patio for a Cliffs Notes view of a bevy of cultural landmarks. At Rise, you can gaze out at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Smithsonian museum as you sip and sit, looking and feeling elegant. Open to the public – unlike many of its posh patio brethren – the apropos Rise (get it?) is a truly unique experience. 2 West Street, 14th floor, 212-344-0800



Roof Garden Café at The Met
For the pristine and proper rooftop patio treatment, the refined socialites that wouldn't be caught dead with Paris Hilton head to the Met's Roof Garden Café to wine and dine with fellow Museum patrons both young and old. The venue also has a smattering of tourists looking to pick up “arty chicks” that have mistakenly stumbled into the sun and out of their photo-developing dark rooms. There's usually a changing rooftop art exhibit happening and always a great view of the timeless Central Park. 1000 Fifth Avenue, 212-535-7710



Rooftop at The Bentley Hotel
So, you, like Simon and Garfunkel before you, have a thing for the Queensboro (aka 59th Street) Bridge. Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better view of said bridge (or floating bodies in the East river, if that’s your thing). The Rooftop at the Bentley Hotel provides a stunning view. If you can get a seat, the best time to is during Macy’s July 4th fireworks display. 500 East 62nd Street, 212-644-6000



Salon de Ning
Channeling 1930s Shanghai as the 'Paris of the East,' Salon de Ning is hopping on the almost-out-of-steam Asian fusion experience. The newest reno at the top of the Peninsula Hotel was modeled after the travels of Madame Ning, a Shanghai socialite who hosted friends in her eclectic salons all over the world. This, of course, was back in the day when being a socialite actually meant something other then flashing your naughty bits. Featuring two outdoor terraces, you can lounge in a Chinese daybed, sipping on lychee and passion fruit flavored drinks while overlooking the Manhattan skyline from the 23rd floor. Can Asian fusion be reinvigorated? This dramatic take on the theme suggests it's on the road to redemption. –C.S. 700 Fifth Avenue, 212-956 2888



Soho House Rooftop
If you have between $700 and $2000 to drop on a membership at the ultra exclusive Soho House, plus a reference letter provided by a current member, then by all means sign up. For such an ordeal, the perks better be damn good. Get your money's worth by lying out on the rooftop pool overlooking the Hudson, (as the ladies of Sex and the City did), with its own bar and menu. While dining on grilled classics such as tuna steaks and New York strip, be prepared to rub elbows with the likes of Lebron James and Jay-Z. –C.S. 29-35 Ninth Avenue, 212-627-9800