"There’s usually at least one annoying thing about a rooftop bar, whether it’s the line, the crowds after you get through the line, or the fact that it’s in Midtown. ElNico, on the 11th floor of The Penny hotel in Williamsburg, presents no such problems. It’s spacious, takes reservations, and has two huge terraces. There are also comfy green couches among cacti and floor-to-ceiling windows. The house cocktails incorporate interesting ingredients, like a Desperado with paw paw fruit." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman