There’s a particular Sunday in New York City when the air finally gives up and goes soft, when the light turns to honey somewhere around six o’clock, and the only correct decision is to go up. Not just up — across. To Brooklyn. To a 22nd-floor terrace where Manhattan unspools in front of you like the city was waiting to be looked at.
That’s Westlight. And if you’ve never been on a Sunday evening as the sun drops behind the Empire State Building, I’d like to fix that for you.
Why This Is the Sunset Spot
Most of NYC’s celebrated rooftops face away from Manhattan — which sounds counterintuitive until you remember that the best view of the skyline isn’t from the skyline. It’s from the borough next door. Westlight, perched atop the William Vale hotel in Williamsburg, sits on the perfect fold of the East River. From the open-air terrace you get the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Chrysler, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the long jagged line of midtown all stitched together in a single sweep.
On a clear Sunday, the sun sets behind that ridgeline, and for about twenty minutes everything turns the color of warm copper. The buildings glow. The water below catches it. People stop talking mid-sentence. It’s a thing.
The Place Itself
Westlight comes from chef Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality Group, which means the cocktails are serious and the small plates do not exist as afterthoughts. The interior — floor-to-ceiling glass, low lighting, mid-century modern bones — is the kind of place where a single drink can stretch into two hours without you noticing. But on a clear-weather Sunday, you want the terrace. You want the wind in your hair, the railing in front of you, the city laid out like a model.
The crowd skews a little more local than the Manhattan rooftops. Couples, small groups, the occasional first date that’s clearly going well. After 6 p.m. the bar is 21+, which keeps the energy adult without making it stuffy.
What to Order
The cocktail menu rotates seasonally, but the through-line is restraint — bright, well-balanced drinks that don’t fight the view for your attention. Order something with mezcal or a classic Manhattan riff and split the small plates. The kitchen leans toward the kind of food you can eat without putting your drink down.
Insider Tip: Walk in, don’t reserve. The terrace is first-come-first-served — reservations get you the indoor tables on the 22nd floor, but the actual outdoor railing seats go to people who arrive around 5 p.m. on a Sunday. Show up early, claim a spot at the rail, and stay through the golden hour.
The Walk Up Matters
Here’s what the guidebooks miss: the William Vale itself is part of the experience. Take the elevator straight to 22, but on the way out, walk down through the hotel’s open-air sky park on the 6th floor — a public terrace that’s free and almost empty after sunset. It’s a quieter encore. You get the same skyline from a lower angle, with nobody around. Two views in one trip.
How to Visit
Address: 111 N 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249 (atop The William Vale)
Nearest Subway: Bedford Av (L train), about a 7-minute walk
Sunday Hours: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Cost: No cover. Cocktails run $20-$24. Small plates $15-$28.
Reservations: Available one month in advance starting at 10 a.m. EST. Indoor only — terrace is walk-in.
Age: Open to all ages until 6 p.m. After 6 p.m., 21+.
Sunset times shift through the year — in late spring and early summer, you’re looking at around 8 p.m.; in winter, closer to 4:30 p.m. Check the time the day before and arrive at least 90 minutes early on weekends if you want a railing spot.
Why It Works
Manhattan has higher rooftops. Manhattan has more famous ones. But Manhattan can’t show you Manhattan. That’s the trick Williamsburg pulls. You cross one river, you go up 22 floors, and suddenly the skyline you live next to becomes the skyline you can finally see. Sunday evening, copper light, a cold drink in your hand — there’s no better argument for spending a couple of hours not doing anything in particular than this.
The L train back across the bridge, the city dark now and full of windows — that’s the second half of the trip. Don’t skip it.
Looking for more rooftop spots? We’ve also covered Pier 57’s secret rooftop on the Hudson and Overstory, the highest outdoor bar in the Western Hemisphere.
