Why I always find myself coming back to New York City’s Top of the Rock
New York City’s famous Top of the Rock represents its limitless ambitions in many ways that Manhattan’s other observation decks cannot. And I can qualify that by looking at how warm and energising the feeling of nostalgia is.
Whether it’s your first time up to the iconic deck, or your fifth, you’ll know that feeling. It’s hard to describe, really.
Most people grow up with some sort of mental map in their head of what New York City looks and sounds like. When they actually see it for the first time, that mix of anticipated familiarity and actual observation collides in a deeply affecting way. And for most visitors, it’s here where it typically hits the hardest.
Of the several main observation decks that offer various perspectives of the city, it’s this one that feels most connected to the restless concrete jungle because of its position, grounded in Midtown where the skyline reads like a full panorama, rather than an angle.
Because of the 360-degree view, you’re able to make more seamless connections between Manhattan’s masterful cityscape, and the scale of it all hits you like a palette of pastrami as soon as you walk out onto any of the three outdoor observation decks.
The visual impact has a harder texture to it as a result. And because the observation decks are fully outdoors, above some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, there’s a filmic quality you just don’t get when staring at such ambition through glass. As such, it seems like the excitement is much more palpable.
And that’s exactly why I make it a point to head on up whenever I’m in town.
Just once is never enough
New York’s observation decks are considered in the same way as Ellis Island and Times Square. You only really need to do them once, ticking them off the ol’ bucket list before moving on to things with more replay value. Top of the Rock hits differently, and I think a lot of it has to do with empathy.
As I wrote in this piece about Santa Monica Pier, there’s something to be said about being around people who are seeing this city for the very first time. The excitement is infectious. I get that tinge of second-hand nostalgia every time someone rushes to point out the Chrysler Building or squints to catch an eyeful of Lady Liberty.
It’s got plenty to do with biology. Think of why watching other people react to things on YouTube has become such a popular category in the past ten years. Empathy is a powerful tool, and watching people experience something for the first time is the closest you’ll get to that first moment. You know, that one where your eyes couldn’t stop darting excitedly from one end, staring at the Empire State Building. To the other, with its god-smaking view of Central Park and beyond.
There’s a great deal of dynamism up here as well, particularly with the 2024 opening of the multi-coloured Skylift.
What is the Top of the Rock Skylift?
Opened in 2024, Skylift is the latest innovation for New York’s observation decks, built as a circular 360-degree open-air platform; the three-tiered device lifts a few guests above the 70th-floor observation deck for an even taller, more immersive viewing experience. When fully extended, the silhouette looks like a wedding cake; the LED body adds a nice tech-forward detail to what’s already an electric skyline.
The glass platform lifts three stories above the 70th floor deck, rising above any obstacles for an aggressively open, unobstructed view. Once onboard, you’re lifted around 30 feet in the air and spun around, slowly, for a truly spectacular view of Manhattan and beyond. The only view that beats this one is soaring over Manhattan in a doors-off helicopter.
Skylift’s architecture is impressive in and of itself as well. It’s built to represent a mini Rockefeller Centre with art deco styling modernised by 69 programmable LED pixel flutes that can change colours as the base extends into the sky. A camera has been built into the centre, so all you have to do is walk around while it takes a panoramic photo for you.
What about The Beam?
There’s another neat way to see New York’s skyline atop Rockefeller Plaza. Head to the middle observation deck, the one on the 69th floor, and you’ll find The Beam. There are two of them, recreating the famous steel beam that was featured in the iconic 1932 black-and-white photograph Lunch Atop a Skyscraper. You know, the one taken from a stomach-churning height as eleven ironworkers post on a steel beam while dangling above the city.
You only get to recreate the photo, though. You and your friends sit on the beam, and it lifts into the air before slowly turning around so you get unobstructed views of Central Park and beyond. You aren’t wooshing out into the night’s sky, so it’s not as adrenaline-inducing as it sounds. That works against the experience as well. The Skylift is much more essential, with The Beam getting most of its value from the souvenir photograph you get at the end.
Tips for visiting Top of the Rock
Time your visit
Everyone knows sunset is going to be the busiest time up here, and it’s hard to time things in Manhattan. You don’t necessarily want to give up two hours of your day if you don’t have to, but I recommend showing up 90 minutes before sunset. You’ll not only get the clarity of daylight first, but you should easily be able to grab a front row seat to one of the greatest sunsets on earth.
Calm down at The Weather Room
This indoor-outdoor transition space is where you should slow down, acclimate, and get your bearings. It’s climate-controlled and less windy, so if you’re waiting for the crowds to thin out, or you’re just taking your time, it’s worth popping on over here for a Martini.
Don’t think of it as somewhere to retreat from the view. Think of it as a palate cleanser between visits outside. New York has a way of overwhelming your senses, particularly from up here, and stepping back inside for ten or fifteen minutes makes that next walk onto the observation deck feel surprisingly fresh. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure you’re never disconnected from the skyline, but the quieter atmosphere means this is one of the only places where you can really take it all in without the families running around. And there’s a lot to take in.
Eat dinner downstairs
Most observation decks have their own restaurants now. Some have fine-dining, others casual. Rockefeller Centre is at an advantage because it hits all those price points. There’s Le Rock for classic French dishes, but I can’t speak to the quality. I can, however, rave about my experiences at Naro, the rink-level Korean eatery from the same team behind my favourite restaurant in America, Atomix.
There’s nothing Junghyun “JP” Park can do wrong in my eyes. From the butter-soft Korean Fried Chicken at nearby diner Atoboy, to the creativity on display here. I’ve only visited twice, once it leaned further into a fine dining format, with set menus and premium soju, and another when they brought it down a notch to something a bit more casual.
I’m not sure what version you’ll get when you head into Naro, but both times were exceedingly delicious. Clearly JP has strong relationships with top suppliers because the ingredients are packed full of flavour, delicate and not overly complicated. You won’t get the same experience if you opt out of the drinks pairing, though. Cocktails here are some of the best in the city (not joking), pulling out interesting combinations like one with popcorn-infused rum, mezcal, oat milk and honeydew.
You only get to recreate the photo, though. You and your friends sit on the beam, and it lifts into the air before slowly turning around so you get unobstructed views of Central Park and beyond. You aren’t whooshing out into the night’s sky, so it’s not as adrenaline-inducing as it sounds. That works against the experience as well. The Skylift is much more essential, with The Beam getting most of its value from the souvenir photograph you get at the end.
To plan your day at Top of the Rock, head to the Rockefeller Centre website.
