Monarch Rooftop NYC – Best Rooftop Bar & Lounge Review

The Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge, also known as simply “Monarch Rooftop,” is one New York City’s most popular rooftop bars and nightlife venues.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit Monarch on several occasions and was quite happy with the overall experience each time.

The following review of Monarch Rooftop NYC covers everything you need to know about this unique rooftop bar in New York City including:

• Hours
• Location
• Dress Code
• Views
• Menu
• Happy Hour
• FAQ’s

Note: You can click on one of the links above to skip ahead to a specific section or continue reading below for the full review!

Overview Of Monarch NYC

Located on the rooftop of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Herald Square, Monarch Rooftop Bar is a chic Midtown bar that is popular among locals, tourists and business travelers.

The rooftop venue features an indoor lounge, as well as an outdoor terrace, both of which offer spectacular views of the Empire State Building and the surrounding areas in Midtown Manhattan.

Monarch is known for its comfortable yet upscale atmosphere which can host more than 300 people at a time.

The rooftop bar and terrace opens in the late afternoon for a laid back happy hour that is often frequented by young to middle-aged professionals in New York City.

During the week you can be sure to find lots of working professionals stopping in to grab a drink and a snack with colleagues after clocking out for the day.

As the afternoon winds down and the evening begins you’ll notice the atmosphere slowly progress from a relaxed cocktail lounge to a more lively nightclub scene.

Hours Of Operation

The Monarch Rooftop Bar is open 7 days a week with the following hours of operation:

Monday 3:00pm – 1:00am
Tuesday 3:00pm – 2:00am
Wednesday 3:00pm – 2:00am
Thursday 3:00pm – 2:00am
Friday 3:00pm – 4:00am
Saturday 3:00pm – 4:00am
Sunday 4:00pm – 1:00am

There is also a daily Happy Hour which you can find out more about in the Cocktail Menu section below.

Location & How To Get There

The Monarch Rooftop Lounge is situated on the 18th floor of the Courtyard by Marriott New York in Midtown Manhattan – just across the street from Herald Square.

The address is 71 W 35th St, New York, NY 10018 which is located on the corner of 35th St and 6th Ave.

To get directions to the Monarch Rooftop Bar from your current location click on this Google Maps link.

Taking The Subway

The easiest option for getting to Monarch NYC is usually jumping on the MTA subway which will take you to one of the many nearby subway stations.

34 Street-Herald Sq. Station: The closest subway station is the 34 Street-Herald Sq. Station which can be accessed via the B, D, F, M, N Q, R and W lines.

After arriving at 34 Street-Herald Sq. Station you’ll need to walk for about 2 minutes up 6th Ave until you reach 35th St where you’ll find the entrance of the building.

34 Street-Penn Station: Another option is to take the subway to 34 Street-Penn Station via the 1, 2 or 3 line. A quick 3 minute walk from there will get you to the entrance for the Monarch Rooftop Bar.

Building Entrance & Getting In

Monarch Rooftop shares an entrance with the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The entrance to the building is not overly clear from the street, but as long as you look out for the Courtyard by Marriott you won’t be able to miss it.

Monarch Rooftop shares an entrance with the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, but once you enter the building there is a specific elevator with the Monarch “M” logo that will take you straight up to the rooftop bar.

Note: Make sure you press the “R” button in the elevator as the numbers will take you to one of the floors in the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

You shouldn’t have any issues getting in during the late afternoon or the early evening, but it’s worth knowing that the bar can get quite crowded as the night progresses and this is especially on weekends.

In fact, the line for the elevator often extends outside the building and down the sidewalk on a busy night!

Note: If you want to improve your chances of getting in to Monarch NYC on a busy night you should plan to get there relatively early and make sure you are dressed in appropriate attire (see “Dress Code” section below).

Monarch Rooftop Dress Code

The dress code at Monarch Rooftop Bar can be best described as a mix between “Business Casual” and “Trendy.” Monarch’s dress code is strictly enforced, especially on busy nights, so make sure you are wearing appropriate attire when you go.

Previously, the dress code was described as the following:

Dress Code Tips For Men: Shoes, fitted attire, dress shirt and pants.

Dress Code Tips For Women: Heels, dress or skirt.

However, it has recently changed to outline only what garments aren’t permitted:

• Athletic wear, including tank tops, t-shirts, sneakers
• Beachwear (including flip flops)
• Baseball caps
• Large bags and backpacks

Furthermore, please bear in mind that the final admittance to Monarch is at the discretion of the door host and management. Therefore, it’s best to dress in a way that won’t raise any issues.

I’ve personally gone to Monarch wearing a 3-piece suit, but I’ve also been able to get in while wearing a henly shirt with jeans and nice shoes. Ultimately, the bouncers have the final say so it’s best to more formal if possible…

Also, keep in mind the fact that Monarch Rooftop Bar is a popular spot for young professionals in Manhattan which means the patrons are usually well-dressed with many people wearing suits and ties after coming straight from work.

The Venue & Views From The Rooftop

Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge consists of an outdoor terrace and an indoor cocktail lounge. The following sections cover the difference between the two parts of the venue:

Outdoor Bar & Terrace

The outdoor rooftop at Monarch features a small bar efficiently tucked into the corner along with nice patio furniture positioned along the outer edges of the terrace area.

There are also a few high top tables with accompanying chairs as you can see in the photo below.

The outdoor area is the place to be when the weather is nice so you may have trouble getting a table on a busy day.

Indoor Bar & Lounge

The indoor section of the lounge consists of a long cocktail bar made out of natural tree bark.

The rustic bar complements the exposed brick walls very well while contrasting the funky decor and eccentric furniture throughout the lounge.

Retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors separate the indoor lounge from the outdoor terrace so as not to obstruct the views of Manhattan.

During the warmer months the retractable doors are kept open so you can walk directly between the indoor and outdoor sections of the rooftop bar.

Views Of Manhattan From The Rooftop Bar

The the building is located on a corner and the rooftop venue predominantly faces towards the West and South.

As a result, most of the views you get will be of the Western and Southern section of Midtown, but it’s also possible to get a decent view of Midtown to the North (see photo below) from the section of the rooftop that faces 6th Avenue.

Monarch is best known for its unbeatable views of the iconic Empire State Building which is located just one block to the Southeast.

You can also get some nice views to the West of Herald Square as well as the buildings in the Garment District and Hell’s Kitchen neighborhoods.

Food & Drink Menu

The menu at Monarch features a wide variety of appetizers along with an impressive drink menu that includes specialty cocktails, beer, a wine list and an extensive whiskey list.

Monarch also hosts a daily happy hour that includes discounts on select food and drinks on the menu.

Read below to see some of the more popular and noteworthy options on each section of the menu:

Appetizers & Small Plates

The food menu at Monarch features a variety of appetizers and small plates. It’s perfect for a snack before dinner or even a tapas style dinner to share among a group of people.

The list below is just a small selection of some of the more popular options on the food menu:

• Truffle Pomme Frites – Hand-cut Organic Fries, Truffle Oil, Grated Parmesan, Rosemary Garlic Aioli
• NY Style Pizza – Housemade Marinara Sauce, Soppressata, Cheese Blend
• Monarch Sliders – Pat LaFrieda’s Short Rib Beef, Caramelized Onions, Blue Cheese, Arugula, Tomato, Brioche Bun
• Boneless Wings – Homemade Buffalo Sauce with Chunky Blue Cheese OR Spicy Barbeque with Chipotle Aioli
• Hullus Crudités (V) – Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Toasted Pita Points, Rainbow Carrots, Cucumber & Pepper Slices

I’ve ordered the guacamole and sliders while sitting on the outdoor terrace a few times and was quite impressed with the quality of the food as well as the overall service.

Classic Cocktails & Signature Drinks

The Cocktail Menu features some classic drinks as well as a few signature drinks created by the mixologists at Monarch. Some of the more popular drinks on the menu include:

• Thyme To Get Cray – Ketel One Botanicals Peach & Orange Blossom, Aperol, Plum Wine, Thyme, Plums, Lemon, Seltzer
• Mule Me Once – Tito’s Vodka, Apple Cider, Blood Orange, Lime, Ginger Beer
• Spill That Tea – Botanist Gin, Pimm’s, English Breakfast Tea, Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves, Thyme, Prosecco
• You Fancy, Huh? – Modagor Gin, Elderflower, Blood Orange, Rosemary, Lemon, Tonic Water
• Keep It 100 – Soggy Dollar Island Spiced Rum, Sweet Vermouth, Pomegranate, Pineapple, Basil, Spiced Orange Ginger Ale
• Not Your Basic Painkiller – Captain Morgan Pumpkin Rum, Amaro, Coconut, Pineapple, Orange, Lemon
• I’m On Fiyah – Casamigos Reposado Tequila, Blend of Passion Fruit, Blood Orange & Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Jalapeno, Lime
• Flexin’ On The Gram – Se Busca Mezcal, Campari, Carrot, Tumeric, Lime
• Ultimate Turn Up – Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Pimm’s, Black Tea, Vanilla, Thyme, Topped with Ginger Ale
• Grow A Pear – Jameson Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Pear, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Nutmeg

Domestic & Imported Beers

The Beer Menu at Monarch Rooftop features a selection of domestic beers and imported beers including:

• Miller Lite
• Peroni
• Montauk Session Ipa
• Asahi
• Heineken
• Lagunitas Ipa
• Blue Moon
• Angry Orchard Cider
• Rotating Craft
• Corona
• Guinness
• Draft: Coney Island Ny Ipa
• Draft: 5 Boroughs Pilsner
• Heineken 0.0% (Non-alcoholic)

Wine List

The menu at Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge also includes an constantly evolving wine list featuring classic reds and whites as well as Rose, Sangria, Champagne and Prosecco.

When Is Happy Hour At Monarch NYC?

The rooftop bar offers daily happy hour specials in the late afternoon and early evening:

• Monarch Mondays from 3:00pm – 6:00pm
• Tequila Tuesdays from 3:00pm – 6:00pm
• Wine Wednesdays from 3:00pm – 6:00pm
• Throwback Thursdays from 9:00pm – Close
• Two-4-One Fridays from 3:00pm – 6:00pm
• Satur-Daze from 4:00pm – 7:00pm
• Sun-DaZe from 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Frequently Asked Questions

The following section answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge.

Where Is The Monarch Rooftop Bar?

Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge is located at 71 W 35th St, New York, NY 10018.

The building is also home to the Courtyard Marriott at Herald Square which consists of the rest of the building below the rooftop bar.

What Is The Official Name Of The Bar?

The official name of the bar is “Monarch Rooftop Bar & Lounge,” but people often refer to it by one of its many other names including:

• Monarch Rooftop Lounge
• Monarch Rooftop Bar
• Monarch NYC
• Courtyard Marriott Herald Square Rooftop Bar

How Much Do Drinks Cost At Monarch?

The drink prices are relatively affordable at Monarch considering the fact that it is a rooftop bar in Midtown Manhattan. Domestic beers start at just under $10 while standard cocktails range anywhere from $16 and above.

However, Monarch has a daily happy hour where you can get great discounts on cocktails, beer and more.

More Rooftop Reviews

Check out some of our other rooftop bar reviews in New York City and around the world below:

• Top of The Standard [New York City]
• One World Observatory [New York City]
• Chill Sky Bar Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City]
• Heli Lounge Bar KL [Kuala Lumpur]
• Sky Bar Bangkok [Thailand]

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