Haven, the rooftop bar at Sanctuary Hotel located in the heart of Times Square, has officially opened for the summer season. Yes, “the heart of Times Square” is usually not a phrase you like to hear as a New Yorker looking for a new spot to hang out for the season–but hear us out!
There are benefits to a Times Square location, like the view and being in the middle of one of the most crowded, unbearable places in the world while also not being in that place at all. Rather, you get all the benefits of Times Square (admit that you like the shiny, bright lights!) without the downsides (the tourists, the fact that the naked cowboy doesn’t even put clothes on in the winter–it can be hard to watch). For the summer opening, Haven even brought elements of street level Times Square to the roof. Body-painted women stood by women wearing elaborate, silver costumes with wigs in the shape of candy-colored bobs. The best kind of hype people at parties are the kind wearing costumes, so their presence certainly added to the evening.
As for the venue itself, it’s a fun place to drink in good weather. It’s open without leaving you feeling too exposed to the elements, and there are multiple different layers. You can walk through skinny hallways and up or down staircases to get to a different section of patio. If you’re in the mood to dance and mingle in more of a crowd, you can hang out by either section of the bar. If you walk upstairs, you’ll find an area predominated by seating where you can chill and talk with a few friends. Walking downstairs, you get to a very private feeling enclave dedicated to the smokers (no, you cannot smoke wherever you want on this roof). The decor also helps facilitate fun with lots of bright reds and oranges and star-shaped lights hanging from the wooden beams above.
As for food and drink, a multitude of variously shaded pink cocktails abound. One of them, called The Solstice, brings together Stoli Blueberry, strawberry puree, peach schnapps, and prosecco for a very sweet drink that manages not to be overbearing. Overall, the cocktail menu tends to lean towards the sweet end of the spectrum, favoring ingredients like fruit purees and cassia syrup. On the food menu, seafood appetizers (lots of crab, shrimp, and calamari) serve as a prelude to mains that range from pizza to lobster to sliders to “heavenly chicken.”
For more information on Haven Rooftop, check out their official site here.