Enjoy Your Drinks with a Different Perspective

There’s a shift in how you experience a moment when you step above the energy of the city. At over 1,000 feet, the noise of the streets below fades, and the skyline becomes the focus.

At SUMMIT, rooftop drinks in NYC are a simple way to pause and take in that view. A drink, a toast, and a moment spent looking out across one of the most iconic cityscapes in the world.

Après: A Continuation of the Journey

After experiencing the immersive installations of artist Kenzo Digital’s AIR and the heights of Levitation, you arrive at Après. This is not your typical lounge or one of the many standard cocktails with a view in NYC. Instead, it is a thoughtfully designed space with a food and beverage program created in partnership with Union Square Hospitality Group, known for its commitment to high-quality dining and hospitality experiences.

Inside, guests can enjoy a warm, inviting café environment shaped by intentional design and artistic detail, offering a moment of rest and reflection within the larger journey.

The experience extends onto the outdoor terrace, where sweeping skyline views create an open-air setting above the city streets. During the warmer months, the terrace also features an outdoor bar, where visitors can enjoy cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks, gather with friends, and take in the energy of the skyline in a more relaxed social atmosphere.

The Role of Taste in the Experience Design

Rather than searching for traditional cafés and bars near Grand Central Terminal, visitors experience Après as part of their journey through SUMMIT itself, making it far more than just a standalone bar destination. Accessible exclusively to SUMMIT guests with a ticket purchase, Après serves as an extension of the immersive experience, allowing visitors to continue their exploration of art, architecture, and skyline views in a more social setting.

The cocktails and mocktails are crafted to evoke the same sense of innovation and clarity found in the building’s architecture. The menu also evolves seasonally, introducing new flavors and limited-time offerings that reflect the energy, colors, and atmosphere of New York throughout the year.

The drink menu ranges from lighter, refreshing options to more bold, seasonal cocktails, all best enjoyed with a view of the skyline and a moment to relax above the city.

Exploring the Elevated Atmosphere

To make the most of your time at Après, it helps to understand the unique features that set this space apart from any other venue in the city.

The Indoor and Outdoor Balance: The space features a cozy interior lounge with warm wood tones as well as a wrap-around outdoor terrace, allowing you to choose your environment based on your mood.
Culinary Partnerships: The food and beverage program is developed in collaboration with Union Square Events, ensuring that the quality of every snack and sip meets high culinary standards.
Midday Bites and Light Refreshments: The menu includes thoughtfully prepared small plates and light lunch options, making it easy to enjoy a quick midday bite without stepping away from the experience.
The Sky as a Canvas: Because of the height, the lighting inside the bar changes every hour, moving from the bright clarity of midday to the deep velvets of twilight.
The High-Altitude Garden: The terrace includes an elevated garden area that provides a relaxing and serene contrast to the steel and stone energy of the city below, adding a natural, sensory layer to the overall design experience with the NYC skyline as a backdrop.

A Masterclass in Atmosphere and Light

The environment of Après is defined by its relationship with the elements. As a top contender for the best rooftop bars in NYC, the space invites you to step out into the atmosphere.

Depending on the time of your visit, the light interacts with the skyline in ever-changing ways. During the afternoon, the space is flooded with brilliant clarity, and as evening approaches, the sky transforms into a canvas of amber and violet.

Watching these transitions while enjoying a thoughtfully prepared drink creates a social and reflective moment that cannot be replicated at street level.

The Social Connection of the Sky

SUMMIT is a shared experience throughout, with guests often interacting, taking photos, and discovering the city together as they move through each space.

Après carries that same sense of connection into a more relaxed setting, where visitors can gather, talk, and unwind after the journey.

This NYC bar experience is centered on the idea that shared moments are amplified by unique surroundings. Here, conversation flows as easily as the views, and the act of clinking glasses becomes a celebration of seeing the world and each other from a new vantage point.

A visit to SUMMIT is never just about looking at the city. It is about being part of it. The time you spend at Après is the final, lingering note of that journey. It is where you reconnect, and realize that the perspective you’ve gained is something you can take back down to the world below.

Are you ready to experience a drink menu that is as inspired as the view? Learn more about our offerings and plan your visit to the sky today.

Buy Tickets Today.