When you think of New York, you probably think of the skyscrapers of Manhattan. The Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center offer panoramic views of the skyline, but there are other alternatives, whether leaning on the edge of a 100-story building in Hudson Yards or sitting at a picnic table in a beer garden Brooklyn.
- Edge, Hudson Yards
The standard experience at the Edge is quite exciting for most visitors: Overlooking the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, the cantilevered open “sky deck” offers a view that cannot be seen in the other towers of the city, surrounded by other buildings. . At 335 meters above sea level, it is also the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. The skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan rise to the south, including One World Trade Center; all of New Jersey lies to the west; and, at your feet, a glass window on the floating platform offers a clear view down to the street. If you prefer a view accompanied by an extra dose of adrenaline, reserve a place on the City Climb, a few floors above. After being helped into the harness, through a number of security checks and being connected to a ramp that goes around the building, you emerge onto an open platform. Shake off the wind and know you’re the tallest person in New York at that moment coming up for air, then climb the metal steps on one side of the tower, pausing to admire the surreal view of the city in miniature below. . At the top, there remains one last challenge: crouch on the edge, on a small terrace 360 meters above the ground, supported by a harness and the encouraging shouts of other climbers. General admission $36 (£28). City Climb $185 (£147).
- Garden at the Met
Most visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art come to admire its extraordinary collections, heading straight to the latest blockbuster exhibition on creative giants such as Van Gogh or Karl Lagerfeld. But the view from the Cantor Rooftop Garden is just as fascinating. It can be reached with an elevator located next to an exhibition of Faberge eggs on the first floor. Here, the crowd is smaller; those who go there feel that they have made their discovery. Most avoid outdoor bars and art installations temporary and go straight through the box hedges with care of the garden, above which extends views of Central Park and the buildings of the Lower West Side. $30 (£24).
- Staten Island Ferry
If you haven’t booked a Statue of Liberty tour, the best way to get to the national monument is to take the Staten Island Ferry. Best of all, the ride is completely free. Departing from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, the special orange boat takes 25 minutes to cross the harbor, passing Ellis Island and the famous statue. While nervous travelers sit inside on wooden benches and seagulls fly overhead, excited tourists rush from one vantage point to another on the upper deck, choosing between the skyscrapers of the financial district, the skyscrapers of New Jersey and Brooklyn, or the great lady herself.
- Pier 57
Separated from the chic neighborhoods of Chelsea and Greenwich, west of Manhattan, by a multi-lane highway, the waterfront along the Hudson River does not seem like a good place to visit. However, the past is worth it. A food market occupies part of the first floor of Pier 57, so grab a Harlem-brewed beer and some empanadas on the way. On the top floor you will find a two acre rooftop park and plenty of benches to sit and enjoy dinner overlooking Little Island, Thomas Heatherwick’s artificial island park and the skyscrapers of Hudson Yards. Free.
- Red Hook
If you’ve seen New York from every possible angle, try Red Hook. At the southern tip of Brooklyn, where the neighborhood faces the Upper New York Bay, this neighborhood is recovering from a bad decade. Former warehouses and industrial buildings have been transformed into art galleries, barbecue restaurants and whiskey distilleries. A walk around the bay allows you to admire the Statue of Liberty and the pillars, accompanied by a drink from one of the new tenants of the area. Order an IPA at the picnic tables at Strong Rope Brewery or a Riesling on the pier outside Red Hook Winery.
