Empire Rooftop: An 8,000-Square-Foot Lincoln Center Roof With a Weekday Sunset Hour
Empire Rooftop sits on the 12th floor of the Empire Hotel on West 63rd Street, overlooking Lincoln Center, and its happy hour goes by Sunset Hour: Monday through Friday, 4–7pm, with special pricing on spritzes, classic cocktails, wine, beer and light bites. The hotel doesn’t post the actual prices, so ask before you settle in.
The space is the pitch. It’s about 8,000 square feet across east and west terraces with skyline views, and indoor fireplaces make it an all-weather room, not a summer-only roof. Rotating DJs play Friday from 8:30pm to midnight and Saturday from 9pm to 12:30am, and the hotel throws holiday parties for Halloween and New Year’s Eve.
The Happy Hour
Sunset Hour runs Monday through Friday, 4–7pm. The Empire Hotel and its OpenTable page both list it, with specials on spritzes, classic cocktails, wine, beer and light bites, but neither publishes prices, so we haven’t listed any. There’s no weekend Sunset Hour. Verified on the hotel’s site and OpenTable in October 2026.
The Room
Empire Rooftop is at 44 West 63rd Street, 12th floor, across from Lincoln Center at Broadway. It’s open 11am to midnight Monday and Tuesday, 11am to 1am Wednesday through Saturday, and 11am to 11:30pm Sunday. Reservations are on OpenTable. The 1 at 66th Street–Lincoln Center is the closest train, and Columbus Circle is a short walk. One booking note: the hotel also has a rooftop plunge-pool deck, and Rosa Mexicano is on the mezzanine, not the roof.
Who Empire Rooftop Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| After-work drinks with a view | Sunset Hour weekdays, 4–7pm |
| Pre-show at Lincoln Center | Directly across from the plaza |
| Weekend DJs | Friday 8:30pm–midnight and Saturday 9pm–12:30am |
| A winter rooftop | Indoor fireplaces keep it open in any weather |