It's summer, bring on the rooftops

Glass Bar at the Hotel Indigo
Chelsea
127 W 28th Street (b/w 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001
212-973-9000
www.indigochelsea.com

Newly opened this week on the rooftop of the Hotel Indigo, Glass Bar is absolutely stunning. Like with most rooftop bars Glass boasts a great view, but they've also gone the extra mile to make the lounge itself visually interesting. Blue light is reflected on the low glass wall that surrounds the bar, creating an ocean-like vibe. This half enclosed/half open-air lounge is small, but the crowd was also modest so space or door drama aren't issues...yet. The music is low and funky, making Glass a good place to bring a date or catch up with friends rather than get crazy get wild. Prices are steep but average for a hotel rooftop, but Glass better step up its service if it wants to compete with the big dogs of this popular summer nightlife genre. They didn't have the proper ingredients for several of their specialty cocktails, and the bartender may have been the slowest and dumbest I've ever experienced in Manhattan. Though not crowded, we waited forever for service at the small bar, were forgotten about mid-order, and yet she still got my drink vastly wrong. Since when does "rum and coke" sound like "unidentified yellow-ish vodka drink"? Glass needs to work out what are hopefully some opening weekend kinks, or it will soon indi-go-bye-bye.
Rating: 3 stars