Rooftop Dining in NYC in Winter: How It Works, What to Wear and When to Go

A rooftop in January sounds like a mistake until you've had dinner on one: the city is lit up by 5pm, and you're looking out at a cold night from a heated room. The trick is knowing what kind of rooftop you're booking, because "open in winter" can mean several very different things.

Three kinds of winter rooftop

A closed roof. A glass or solid roof over the room, with heat. You sit in regular clothes, and rain or snow doesn't change the plan. This is what we have: a retractable glass roof, open on warm days, closed and heated when it's cold.

A tent, dome or igloo. A small heated shell for your group on an open deck. They photograph well, but they're often sold with a set price or a time limit, so read the terms when you book.

Heat lamps on an open deck. You keep your coat on, and the spot right under the lamp is the good one. It can be great for one drink on a clear night and hard going in wind or rain.

What to ask before you book

• Is the space fully enclosed, or open on the sides?
• What happens if it rains or snows? Does the booking stand?
• Is there a minimum spend or a set menu in winter?
• Is there a time limit on the table?
• Can you still see the skyline from where you'll sit?

Our answers: the roof closes, so rain and snow don't cancel anything. There's no deposit to book. Tables are held for 90 minutes, and the skyline stays in view either way.

How the roof works here

Cantina Rooftop sits on top of the HK Hall building at 605 W 48th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenue. The roof over the dining room is retractable glass. When it's warm it opens to the sky. When it's cold or raining it closes and the room is heated, with the rainbow umbrellas and the West Side skyline around you. More on the heated roof.

What to wear

Dress for a heated room and bring a coat for the walk. We're on the far west side of Manhattan, near the Hudson, and the C/E subway at 50th Street is about 12 minutes on foot, so on a really cold night a cab is the better plan. Casual is fine here; it's a party, not a dining room with a dress code.

When to go

For daylight, come to weekend brunch, Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4pm, last reservation 3:30pm. Bottomless brunch is $25 per person for 90 minutes of mimosas and sangrias, and everyone at the table takes part.

For the lights, come for dinner. We open at 5pm, and with sunset around 4:30pm in late fall and winter, the city is already lit up by the first table.

A winter week on the roof

• Tuesday: Taco Tuesday, unlimited tacos for $25 per person for 90 minutes, 5 to 11pm, last reservation 10pm.
• Wednesday: karaoke from 7 to 10pm.
• Thursday: the $90 Taco Tower for the table, and the $25 piña colada trio.
• Saturday and Sunday: brunch from 12pm, then dinner from 5pm.
• Sundays, November 8 to December 20: Christmas Posadas.

What to order on a cold night

Melted cheese, slow-braised beef with consomé to dip it in, and plates that arrive sizzling:

New to birria? How to eat birria tacos. Thirsty? Our margaritas and mezcal.

Holidays and groups

We haven't posted holiday hours yet, so call (212) 957-1700 before you plan around one. Tables for 2 to 8 book online. For 9 or more people, send a group request and we'll email you within one business day.

Getting here

From Times Square it's about 20 minutes on foot or a short cab, west along 48th Street. The Intrepid is about 5 minutes away and the Javits Center about 15. For more, walk times from everything nearby.