230 Fifth: Oh, the irony: The city’s newest contender for best outdoor bar is also one of the worst indoor lounges. After flashing your ID to the doorman at 230 5th Ave., head to the rear elevator bank, ride it up to the 20th floor, and peer into the enormous purple-hued, casino-like indoor bar. Now bypass it—and the tourist-packed crowd, their kids (!), and the bartenders who have the face of Brad Pitt but the IQ of Jessica Simpson--and take the stairs to the outdoor deck, which is, in a word, incredible. Wood-plank floors and quaint garden statues serve as décor to this huge space, but the main event is the 360-degree view—heck, you could probably hit the Empire State Building with the olive from your pricey martini. The ’80s tunes leave much to be desired (Tiffany?!), but frankly, the outdoor space is so breathtaking that they could be playing Charo and you wouldn’t mind. |
