Sixteen floors above Lexington Avenue, the Rare View rooftop bar offers great views of the tops of midtown's classic skyscrapers.  By dark, the Rare View lights up, not just by the twinkley light strung across the terrace, but by the spires of the likes of the Chrysler, Met Life (nee, the Pan Am), Daily News (or the Daily Planet), the Seagrams, the Empire State, and, closer to eye level, numerous roof top water towers.
The after-work crowd huddles over small cocktail tables teetering on relatively comfortable straight-backed aluminum bar stools or at picnic tables surrounded by white lattice and a few noteworthy architectural details of the Selburn. A small blue canopy offers temporary respite in a stray rain shower.
Limited tap offerings include Hogarth Wheat, a tangy sweet ale served with lemon at $9, along with Stella Artois and a few other choices.  The Rare View at this hour is uncrowded and quiet enough for good conversation.
Things get cozier at the rain steams down and the crowd pours in around the bar, and the bar staffers quickly pull in a few of the tables and chairs under the canopy with the crowd. One couple refuses to yield their patio seats, continuing their soiree under umbrellas perched on their shoulders.  Finally, the umbrella couple seeks shelter too. But despite the downpour, no one bails out and the evening continues shoulder to shoulder under the canopy.

 Send to Friend