Press Clippings
Located at 168 Delancey Street you will need to dress to impress to gain access into this 3-floor bar and lounge. But don’t let that discourage your wallet. This bar is not greedy with their alcohol at all. Most people are too mesmerized by the intimate lighting and strong drinks on the first two floors but once you are in walk up the stairs and into the rooftop oasis with lush palm trees will make you feel like you are in a bungalow. Here’s a 212Access video of the rooftop bar.
212Acess.com Affordable Rooftop Bars in NYC
Their rooftop bar is laid back and tropical with its potted palm trees and fountains, which contributes to its relaxing nature. It’s known for friendly bartenders and affordable drinks and food. Downstairs, you can revel in the red velvet booths enclosed by silky drapes and dimly-lit chandeliers. It’s open every day from 5pm to 4am, and even though there’s three levels of glamorous fun, the drinks are inexpensive and there’s no velvet rope hassle.
Urbanette.com
The rooftop is what keeps crowds coming back to this LES rock club—it’s got potted palms, a fishpond and a margarita machine. When the airy party ends at midnight, head to the ground level for deejayed music or into the basement to catch a live show. Tuesdays from 7 to 10pm, hot dogs and burgers are served for five bucks per plate—so no need to worry about boozing on an empty stomach.
Time Out New York
The Delancey is that rare breed—a shockingly nice rock club without the velvet-rope hassle of spots like Eleven and Plaid. And this three-level playground provides a variety of spaces for disparate Lower East Side elements to mix it up. During summer months, the rooftop is the main draw. Unlike lots of bars that hype their tar roofs as "al fresco," this rooftop actually has it going on in a palm-fronded, South Beach sort of way, with benches and fountains. The main floor, meanwhile, has a cool grotto vibe and a décor that's equal parts exposed brick and sleek wooden slats. Here, a DJ holds court on most nights, playing a mix of rock and disco, while a competent bartender hands $6 bottles of Stella Artois to downtowners with overwrought hairstyles. And then there's the basement performance space: Reminiscent of the old Coney Island High, it's populated by punk-rock revivalists in all-black clothing. But unlike that decrepit club, this music venue is actually nice, equipped with a cool sound system and even cooler AC.
New York Magazine
It’s summer, so skip the club-part of the Delancey and head to the roof of this LES spot with a South Beach-meets-punk-rock vibe. This spot is less about impressing someone and more about affordable drinks and good times with friends. With ample glimpses of the Williamsburg bridge, swaying palm trees, a late-night grill, and lots of young New Yorkers sipping cheap beer and sweating profusely, you can expect a good time. Head to the basement to hear live music if fresh air somehow bores you.
Complex Magazine Best NYC Rooftop Bars
For the times you want to have a great time without having to worry about fitting in with the lavish and uptight crowd: The Delancey is the perfect place to relax and socialize. A chill, upbeat, and fun crowd frequents this lower eastside rooftop. A nice garden with fountains and small plants await above Delancey Street. Feel free to socialize, enjoy your night, and sip some great drinks without having to worry about anything else.
TheNYNightlife.com Best NYC Rooftop Bars
This three-story rock club attracts the most hip and happening crowds of New York and is a great venue to host theme parties. There is live DJ music on most nights, playing fast and peppy songs to get the crowd grooving. The lounge on the first floor has a relaxed atmosphere and sleek wooden decor. The rooftop bar is the perfect place to enjoy the Lower Side breeze and unwind after a hard day at work. The basement space hosts live band performances, and is frequented by 20-something music aficionados. It's definitely a great place to socialize and enjoy a drink with friends.
Yahoo.com
Located close to the Williamsburg bridge, this tri-level bar with rooftop garden draws both B&T and hipster crowds, depending on the night. With events scheduled every evening, The Delancey packs in the DJs and live performances, keeping it on the hip radar since Bjork spun on their opening weekend.
ClubPlanet.com
The Delancey provides hipsters and hops chasers with a three-floor hang that features a gritty rock venue, an intimate night club, and a rooftop bar with breathtaking views of the Williamsburg Bridge, all tucked into an unassuming nook on the Lower East Side.
Once past the imposing, but not impossible doorman, laid-back partiers spill into the main lounge and club area, where groups of skinny-jeaned professionals opt for the reserved leather benches by the open front windows or settle into the VIP alcove beneath the Victorian chandeliers, sipping cocktails as the DJ spins chill pop jams.
Downstairs, low-maintenance rockers and tattooed scene girls slouch on plush black couches in the narrow basement venue, chatting over Stellas as indie rock and punk bands take to the small stage.
Patrons looking for a sleeker vibe need only head two stories up to the urban oasis of the rooftop garden, where stylish crews of party girls and successful business types relax on white chaises and flirt beneath the tropical palms. The garden’s retractable roof and stunning views make it a year-round destination for private parties and public revelry alike.
Gamely striving to bring a little Upper East Side swank and SoHo chic to downtown, The Delancey is a triple treat for patrons seeking a varied scene in the comfort of a single LES location.
PartyEarth.com
In terms of rooftops, this is about as close as you're gonna get that tropical island trip you've been planning with your boo. Watch out for the palm trees and lean back in a comfy lounge chair with your margarita.
Time Out New York Ten Non-Douchey Rooftop Bars
This tri-level rock club boasts a lush rooftop garden that is perfect for chilling with friends. Expect palm trees, fountain pools and a retractable roof. Although the drinks here are fairly inexpensive and the vibe is low-key, be sure to call ahead to book your private party–it’s still a popular spot since opening in 2004.
CBS New York Top Bars for a Birthday Party
While The Delancey's rooftop doesn't offer much in the way of city views, it is a top-notch spot to relax while surrounded by palm trees and greenery. The rooftop is heated and covered so its open year-round. Managers occasionally open the top cover, weather permitting.
Be sure to check out the bar's website before heading out, as everything from burlesque to live music can be found on lower floors.
DNA Info Top 10 Unpretentious Rooftop Bars
Better known for its lush, all-weather rooftop patio, The Delancey hosts a regular rotation of indie and punk rock bands in its basement. The long narrow bar space leads to a small stage equipped with high quality sound equipment (don’t forget your earplugs) and refreshingly functional AC.
CBS New York, NYC's 5 Most Underrated Music Bars
The nothing-specialness about this roofdeck is exactly what makes it so attractive. Chill Lower East Siders seek out this pseudo-zen garden, complete with potted palm plants and small bubbling fountains, to escape the Delancey Street madness below.Feel free to kick back, relax, and mingle - crowds of uptight, designer-suit-clad yuppies are nowhere to be found.
About.com Manhattan Rooftop Bars
The rooftop garden is a great, relaxing spot to grab a drink. The open-air space has greenery all around and lovely views if you're near the outer edges. There's speakers on the roof so you can hear music, but it's more of a lounge rooftop space rather than a dance area. The drinks are reasonably priced, so grab a chaise and relax with good company.
The average price for a drink at a rooftop bar is usually close to $20, but not at the aforementioned places. Yes, at some other places you'll get even more beautiful views, but for those on a budget, around $30 can be a bit much to spend on just two drinks especially if you're a good tipper. Thanks to the above places, you can still get the views without going broke.
Examiner.com Three Inexpensive NYC Rooftop Bars
The Delancey's rooftop is like a piece of South Beach plopped right into the LES. Go for a rock show downstairs, stay and linger over drinks in the lush garden overlooking the Williamsburg Bridge.
The Huffington Post Best NYC Rooftop Bars
This laid-back atmosphere has a ton to offer! Between being a music venue and a busy, luxuriously long bar, The Delancey is ideal for your next gathering. You will find a rooftop flush with palm trees and fountains, complete with a retractable roof so party-goers can enjoy the rooftop, rain or shine.
Guest of a Guest 10 NYC Spots for Your Next Social Gathering
The Delancey is structured in descending madness, not unlike Dante's Inferno. The roof bar is an idyllic green deck of palm trees and picnic tables, a perfect purgatory for happy hour and amiable heathenry. The main level is a dark dance floor where scantily clad DJs spin pop and house for the preppy, well-to-do sinners. And the basement is a steamy, cavernous hole with gleefully abhorrent punk bands and discounted lukewarm beer. So, it should go without saying, you want to head straight for the underground--as Bart Simpson once said, "All the best bands are affiliated with Satan."
The Village Voice
#27: The Delancey has three floors, and performers can be seen from anywhere in the venue. I saw quite a few bands at a CMJ event there, and the sound quality was superb. There’s a bar on each floor and DJ’s on the weekend, and the rooftop is heated. The Delancey is the place to hang in New York.
Rukkus’ 100 Favorite Places To See Live Music
The Delancey is that rare breed—a shockingly nice rock club without the velvet-rope hassle of spots like Eleven and Plaid. And this three-level playground provides a variety of spaces for disparate Lower East Side elements to mix it up. During summer months, the rooftop is the main draw. Unlike lots of bars that hype their tar roofs as "al fresco," this rooftop actually has it going on in a palm-fronded, South Beach sort of way, with benches, fountains, even a BBQ. The main floor, meanwhile, has a cool grotto vibe and a décor that's equal parts exposed brick and sleek wooden slats. Here, a DJ holds court on most nights, playing a mix of rock and disco. And then there's the basement performance space: Reminiscent of the old Coney Island High, it's populated by punk-rock revivalists in all-black clothing.
GoMag.com
Just off of the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge is The Delancey, part bar, part club, and part rock venue. This multilevel venue has all the amenities that you’d expect of a Lower East Side bar and club, but without the velvet rope hassle that often comes with it. For such a trendy looking place, it’s surprisingly low key and welcoming and has something for everybody.
The main floor has a dark bar, dance floor and VIP-esque back room seating (bottle service is available, ranging from $70-$500). DJs play a mix of rock, R&B and disco in a booth just overlooking the dance floor. Young professionals (mainly recent college grads) come here during the week for a post-work breather, but on the weekends, they come ready to party. However, the biggest draw is upstairs—the rooftop.
The rooftop of the Delancey, open all year, makes any Floridian feel right at home with its potted palm trees, plants and picnic tables—not to mention the fountains. During the winter months, there is a covering to keep you dry and heaters to keep you warm. Unlike many other rooftop bars, The Delancey is where you and your friends can socialize and relax without having to worry about fitting in or dealing with judging glares. Apart from the palm trees and frozen cocktails which are exclusive to the rooftop bar, there’s nothing special about the rooftop itself, which is what draws so many to it. Its utter lack of pretension is a breath of fresh air for such a trendy neighborhood as the Lower East Side.
Still, there is a bit of a tale of two demographics within the Delancey; those looking to drink, socialize and party usually go to (and stay on) the main floor or the rooftop, while young music fans flock to the cavernous music venue in the basement that, for a place that has a rooftop bar complete with cocktails, surprisingly keeps a Lower East Side authenticity about it.
The venue hosts local punk rock (and post-punk) revivalists alongside indie bands. (Some of the acts that have played here before making it to the big time include Wolfmother, Ghostland Observatory and Earl Greyhound.) The downstairs area is intimate and the sound system is strong, yet not overpowering. The skinny-jeaned crowd flock the bar for reasonable drinks and enjoy the music without making a show out of it. If you don’t want to stand for the show, there are comfy leather sofas on the side of the room, and the room is well air-conditioned so you won’t be burning up down there.
Empire State Of Live
WITH all the new jumbo nightclubs opening in Chelsea and the meatpacking district on the far west side of Manhattan, it was only a matter of time before one would set up in the Lower East Side. But instead of velvet ropes and bottle service, the Delancey, at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge, caters to the ranks of offbeat artists and musicians who in advertising speak would be known as tastemakers.