This eco-friendly hotel proves that the best views of Manhattan’s skyline are not in Manhattan. Located just across the East River in Brooklyn Heights, the hotel’s Harriet’s Rooftop & Lounge offers a dazzling panorama of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan’s skyscrapers – there’s also a stylish rooftop plunge pool. The hotel is just as impressive inside, and it favors the local and the natural: recycled wood from Coney Island and the lush foliage brings the outside into every room.

This Lower East Side boutique hotel is the perfect spot to see and be seen. Soak up the rock’n’roll vibe among the hip clientele up on the terrace, while taking in the imposing architecture of the Financial District and soaring One World Trade Center just to the south. When darkness falls, the view is truly magical, as the city that never sleeps is illuminated by thousands of lights. Come morning, the rooftop itself is a welcoming space with plenty of loungers for tanning, plus an indoor gym.

Just steps away from Bryant Park and rather more stories up, the Refinery Rooftop bar puts you right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan’s urban jungle of skyscrapers, with an especially awe-inspiring perspective of the Empire State Building. The rustic-chic restaurant and bar – with lots of exposed brick, reclaimed wood and a retractable glass roof – features a contemporary American menu, Cocktail Caddies (four servings of handcrafted cocktails), truffle fries and Jacques Torres bonbons.

Located in fashionable NoMad (North of Madison Square Park), the Arlo provides tantalizing, up-close views of the Empire State Building and surrounding skyscrapers from its buzzy, 31st-floor rooftop bar. Take a stroll over the skywalk glass floor, sip craft cocktails (the Frosé is justly popular) and nibble Middle Eastern-inspired snacks while mingling with the youthful crowd. The hotel itself is known for its reasonably priced micro rooms, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows.

Perched on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, 11th-floor rooftop bar and lounge A.R.T. SoHo offers ravishing views of the Hudson River and the towers of Jersey City beyond. The Arlo rooftop’s spacious outdoor terrace also provides a vista of One World Trade Centre and the visually arresting 56 Leonard in Tribeca – also known as the Jenga Building. The bar serves craft beer, a huge menu of cocktails and small plates, and has a great happy hour on weeknights.

On the edge of Manhattan’s Flatiron District, Broken Shaker rooftop bar tops art deco gem Freehand New York. From up here, the spires of Midtown punctuate the skyline to the north, and you’ll catch enchanting views of world-famous architectural landmarks including the Chrysler Building and the MetLife Tower. The bar has a beachy and slightly kitsch globetrotter theme, with lots of lush greenery and an abundance of rattan chairs and artworks from around the world.

This modern boutique hotel stands in the hip Brooklyn enclave of Williamsburg. Offering truly hypnotic views of the whole Manhattan skyline – across the East River from Downtown to Midtown – it’s an especially captivating spot at night. The seasonal Rooftop & Pool stays open late, with daily rooftop yoga for those sun salutations, and beach loungers for those who’d rather just bask in the rays.