Gallow Green

Gallow Green is the rooftop garden above the McKittrick Hotel, the warehouse-turned-theatre that houses Sleep No More. The room is not a hotel bar in any conventional sense — it is a fully built theatrical set, ivy-curtained and softly lit, with a derelict train carriage tucked along one edge and a wraparound bar built from reclaimed wood. It looks like the photograph that a different bar would chase and never quite reach.

The drinks programme matches the room. House-made cordials, botanical-driven cocktails, and a short list of low-ABV options carry the menu; the Garden Tonic is the gateway order — bright, herbal, served long and cold. Wine and beer lists are short but well chosen. The food menu is more substantial than most rooftop bars manage and is worth ordering from when the kitchen is running at full strength.

The crowd is a mix of theatre-goers from the production downstairs, neighbourhood regulars who treat the bar as their summer terrace, and the curious who heard about Gallow Green from somebody and finally booked. The atmosphere holds together through that mix because the space dictates the mood rather than the guests doing the work. Music sits behind conversation. Phones come out for the room and then go back in.

Seasonality is the catch. Gallow Green is at full strength April through October; the winter operation moves indoors as The Lodge and is a different experience. For an outdoor New York rooftop in summer, this is the most distinct option on the city map. Pair it with a show at the McKittrick or visit on its own. The full New York rooftop bars guide covers the alternatives if Gallow Green is closed for the season.