Condé Nast TravelerDec 19, 2025
Where to Watch the Ball Drop in 2026—NYC New Year's Eve
From private penthouses to Applebee’s (seriously).
tallest rooftop lounge in NYC
16 things in this story
- Times SquareSightone million revelers swarm annually
- The KnickerbockerHotelrooftop bar 150 feet below the ball
- Charlie Palmer Steak IVRestaurantfeast for a king
- AMC Empire 25Sightmovie theater becomes New Year's extravaganza
- Frames Bowling LoungeSightball drop cast on every angle
- Magic HourBarrooftop bar with urban amusement park
- Renaissance New York Times Square HotelHotelR Lounge offers uninterrupted view
- The ChatwalHotelProducer Suite has private terrace
- Bar 54Bartallest rooftop lounge in NYC
- Hyatt Centric Times Square HotelHotelBar 54 atop this hotel
- Applebee’sRestaurantrestaurant in Times Square
- Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan SeacrestPlacebroadcast on ABC
- New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big BashPlacebroadcast on CBS
- New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy CohenPlacebroadcast on CNN
- TimesSquareNYC.orgPlacelive webcast available
- Moxy Times SquareHotel