A Garden Oasis In NYC: Gallow Green Rooftop Patio

*By: Jennifer Steele*

If you’re looking to escape NYC without leaving the city, Gallow Green rooftop is the obvious choice in my opinion. You’ll feel like you’ve been whisked miles away to an outdoor garden party with all your closest friends and family…

Located on the rooftop of the McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea, a neighbourhood on the West Side, Gallow Green is situated in and among skyscrapers and cityscapes. Despite its location, I felt as if I was far away in a garden oasis which is full of lush flowerbeds, greenery and ambient lighting. The space is nothing short of charming and offers a delightful atmosphere with a mouthwatering menu (more on that soon).

Patrick, the restaurant manager, showed me around the venue to give me an idea of the layout. To the left, upon entering, there are two bars with a stand up/sit down mix and mingle area; perfect for happy hour drinks and casual gatherings. In the middle of the patio, there’s family style seating with long tables, suitable for large groups or anyone looking to meet new friends. And to the right, where I dined, is a more ‘formal’ setting inside a beautiful antique train. I had a wonderful view of the Empire State Building during sunset and felt like I had gone back in time with the rustic charm of my surroundings.

Now, back to the tasty menu offerings! Nothing starts off a dining experience like a stellar cocktail. I tried the highly recommended Sleep No More, with cacao infused Banhez Mezcal, pineapple bitters, La Croix Coconut soda, and lime.

The Gallow Green is another house favourite for the vodka lovers out there, with butterfly pea flower-infused vodka, Lillet Blanc and fresh lemon. If you like tart and sour, you will love this cocktail. The bartender was bang on with the drink creations. There is also a wide assortment of draft and bottle beers as well as wines by the glass and bottle.

I opened the meal with the Grilled Asparagus Salad (trying to be somewhat healthy) and the Prosciutto and Arugula pizza. One slice in and I told my server this could easily be the best Arugula pizza I’ve had to date. The flavour was incredible and the toppings were plentiful and fresh. A perfect appetizer to share with one or two others.

For my mains I tried the Grilled Swordfish Kebab and the Fennel, Herb and Ricotta Ravioli. I was stuffed by this point, but couldn’t stop taking bite after delicious bite. All the food was flavourful and came out in a timely manner with top notch service.

I wish I had room to sample even more dishes, but I’ll visit again to experience the rest of the delights on the menu. The Charred Octopus, Agrumato Seafood Salad and Sandwich Cubano are other mains that certainly caught my eye…

The desserts at Gallow Green are a must so I hung in there — I just couldn’t pass up the Chocolate Budino! Creamy and heavenly for chocolate lovers like me. It was the perfect ending to a delicious meal.

In addition to dinner, Gallow Green offers guests a prix fixe menu, as well as their famous weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Contact gallowgreen@mckittrickhotel.com for reservations a few days in advance as they book up quickly. It is a patio dining experience not-to-be-missed while exploring your way through Manhattan!

A special thanks to Gallow Green for hosting us. As always, reviews and opinions are our own.