Living in Manhattan, I’ve explored and enjoyed lots of rooftop lounges and bars in the city. The best ones offer a level of quality and service that live up to incredible vistas, but everyone knows about those places. It’s the underground ones, the hidden ones that sit unannounced atop buildings on unlikely blocks, unknown gems like the Mé Bar, that pique my interest.
Mé Bar (pronounced may) is a tiny spot at the top of the La Quinta Inn on West 32nd Street in the heart of Koreatown. I happened to come across this place a few years ago during one of my friend’s birthday parties.
While there is signage, you’d never know about this place unless you were looking for it. Popping into the hotel, you take a somewhat rickety elevator up to the 14th floor to find a small, cozy bar and lounge area and a few tables where you can sit and enjoy strong drinks in plastic cups and not-quite-spectacular (but nice nonetheless) upward views of the Empire State Building.
Although we are only on the 14th floor, it is still nice to be above the din of the city. The street below is the busiest in Koreatown, and it’s packed with people jamming the sidewalks coming and going from the many excellent restaurants on this block.
It’s a good thing there’s so much good food nearby, as Mé Bar serves no food whatsoever. They do, however, allow you to order in from local delivery places, which is a big plus.
The rooftop view may not be the best, and the accommodations may not be the finest the city has to offer, but there is a certain unmistakable charm to Mé Bar. It’s a tiny, intimate spot that manages to come off feeling both welcoming and exclusive at the same time.
