The bartender insists it hits different up here, which is technically true, given the elevation
A Midtown rooftop bar has introduced a twenty-dollar cover charge for what it describes as “elevated skyline access,” a view that, patrons note, is largely identical to the one available for free from the sidewalk eleven floors below.
The Pitch
“It’s about perspective,” said bar manager Cole Whitfield. “Sure, you can see the buildings from down there. But up here, you can see them while holding a fourteen-dollar cocktail. That changes everything.”
Patrons interviewed on-site largely agreed the view was, in fact, quite nice, while also acknowledging that the same skyline, at no charge, was visible from a nearby public plaza roughly three blocks away.
The Economics of Altitude
Whitfield says the bar has considered adding a second, higher-priced tier for “sunset access,” effectively charging more for the same view at a different time of day, a concept he described, without irony, as “innovative.”
The London Prat‘s nightlife desk covers Britain’s own rooftop bar boom, including one London venue charging extra to stand “closer to the edge.”
The City reports rooftop bar cover charges have risen citywide as buildings compete for “vertical exclusivity.”
Whitfield insists the fee is worth it. “You’re not just paying for a view,” he said. “You’re paying for the story you’ll tell about the view. That’s priceless. Also twenty dollars.”
A Growing Trend
Several nearby venues are reportedly considering similar fees, with one competitor already testing a “premium air” surcharge for tables closer to the railing.
A regular patron, asked whether the fee felt reasonable, shrugged and admitted, “no, but I’m already up here, so.”
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SOURCE: https://bohiney.com