Hotel rooftop pools are a rare find in New York City—especially those with sweeping views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. The pool at the 1 Hotel in Dumbo is easily one of the best. While the rooftop pool deck is reserved for hotel guests, anyone can book a table at their Sky Swim lounge just below to enjoy a dip, a cocktail, and the views.

Even without an outdoor pool, this is a great pick in summer. Their Shibui Spa has a heated indoor pool beneath an old Japanese farmhouse roof that’s never crowded because it's only for spa and hotel guests, and the courtyard on the ground floor is perfect for an alfresco aperitivo. If you’re splurging, spring for the penthouse suite with private gardens and a pool surrounded by wisteria-draped pergolas.

More affectionately known as “Willy Wall,” this floating clubhouse was built by the Manhattan Yacht Club in 2002 as a start and finish point for races, then opened to the public soon after. For just $25, you can hop on the launch from Manhattan or Jersey City, and spend a few hours having cocktails on the water. Plan to go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening for a front row seat to the sailboat races.

For a classic New York cheap thrill, hop on the Staten Island ferry—it’s free, and the roundtrip ride is a fun way to get out on the water and see the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan from a great vantage point.

For those who don’t want to schlep all the picnic accouterments to Central Park, this historic sheephold turned restaurant is a godsend. Settle into the garden for a meal or just grab cocktails to go from the walk-up window and enjoy them on the Great Lawn.

QC Spa on Governor’s Island is open year round, but we love it most in the summer, when you can sip an Aperol spritz in a bathrobe on a lounge chair overlooking the water. With dozens of different saunas, steam rooms, and thermal pools to try out, you should plan to spend the full day, then head to the bar at Collective Retreats to catch the sunset before taking the ferry back to Manhattan. Pro tip: if you bring a friend to QC Spa on their birthday, their entry is free!

Inspired by the grand hotel lobbies and restaurants of Paris and New Orleans, Maison Premiere instantly transports you out of Williamsburg with its moody interiors and old world charm. Known for its absinthe service and one of the best oyster selections in the city (over 30 varieties!), it's especially dreamy on a summer evening in the leafy back garden with a martini in hand and a dozen icy Wellfleets on the half shell.

This historic wooden sailboat-turned-oyster bar is one of Manhattan’s surprisingly few standout waterfront dining options. Come for rosé under the yellow and white striped bimini, stay for the golden hour views over the Hudson.

Sauced is a laidback natural wine bar in a cozy corner of Williamsburg where the vibe is just right—especially on a warm night out on the back patio. There’s no physical menu, so ordering is more of a conversation: tell them what you’re in the mood for and they’ll always guide you to a great glass, which usually turns into a bottle once some small plates arrive and you realize you’ve scored some of the best patio real estate in the city.

A lush, volunteer-run oasis that’s the perfect shady escape in the middle of the chaotic East Village. Tucked behind an unassuming iron gate, you’d never know this secret garden has a koi pond, horticultural library, and a magic-feeling treehouse.

This subterranean bathhouse just expanded skyward, opening the largest rooftop pool in NYC. A day pass gets you access to the pool plus a full suite of saunas, steam rooms, and plunge pools. The vibe can lean a bit tech bro, which tracks, given the thermal pools are heated by bitcoin mining (seriously). But with views of the Manhattan skyline, it’s easy to look past that—literally.

This summer’s hottest new opening isn’t a buzzy restaurant or members club, it’s the brand new public pool on the northern edge of Central Park. Bigger than an Olympic-sized pool and free to all, it's a game-changing upgrade that saves uptown residents from the trek to the Rockaways for a dip.

Panna—Italian for “cream”—is a fitting name for this Italian-inspired ice cream shop, which sources fresh panna from a producer in Piemonte to make its inventive, house-made flavors. The menu changes daily, so there’s always something new to discover, even if you just went yesterday.

The centerpiece of this riverside playground is a giant, primary-colored pipefish—modeled after one of the Hudson’s native species— that kids can climb on and slide down. It’s flanked by two water play areas (one for toddlers and another for bigger kids), plus there's a carousel, shaded sandbox, and plenty of spots to cool off without getting soaked.