elNico
Mexican restaurant · Williamsburg ·
Rooftop Mexican with creative dishes and skyline views
Rooftop Mexican with creative dishes and skyline views
"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
"We mostly just go to ElNico for drinks. The view from the top of the Penny Hotel in Williamsburg is nice, and there are lots of great Mexican-inspired cocktails to choose from, like one with tequila and bruléed banana. But there are plenty of tables where you can sit down for a full meal in the plant-filled space, and the food is pretty interesting. Think guac with chili dust and short rib barbacoa. Reservations are easy to snag, so keep ElNico in mind for a last-minute meal with some out-of-towners. They’ll love the terraces, cacti, and comfy green couches." - neha talreja, bryan kim, carina finn koeppicus, hannah albertine
"Onsite rooftop bar and restaurant elNico is a destination in its own right. If the weather permits, you’ll want to kick off the evening by snagging a seat on the outdoor terrace where you can enjoy stunning skyline views and the cocktail program: Under the direction Leo Robitschek, you’ll find an impressive list of cocktails that feature inventive ingredients. If you’re looking for a cocktail recommendation, the Bidi Bidi Bom-Fashioned features bourbon, rye, toasted coconut, black sesame, and szechuan peppercorns (but be prepared to experience a mouth-numbing sensation). If you’re looking for something a bit more refreshing, the cantaloupe paloma features a perfect marriage of mezcal, lime, cantaloupe, and jasmine. The Mexican-inspired food menu under Chef Fer Serrano offers light bites like a clam tostado, esquites, carne asada, and pulpo pibil. If you’re looking for something unique and seasonal, don’t sleep on the tlayuda, a crunchy tostado covered in tzatziki, market vegetables, pomegranate seeds, and sumac. And the cherry on top of it all: The fact that the dining room and terrace are gorgeous spaces, designed with colorful details and ceiling installations." - CNT Editors
"We mostly just go to ElNico for drinks. The view from the top of the Penny Hotel in Williamsburg is nice, and we’re fans of the Santo Pepino cocktail that a bartender here once accurately described as "spa water that gets you drunk." But there are plenty of tables where you can sit down for a full meal in the plant-filled space, and the Mexican-inspired food is pretty interesting. Reservations are easy to snag, so keep ElNico in mind for a last-minute meal with some out-of-towners. They’ll love the terraces, cacti, and comfy green couches." - neha talreja, bryan kim, carina finn koeppicus, hannah albertine
"The rooftop bar of Penny, a new dog-friendly hotel in Williamsburg, El Nico is hosting a collaborative November 15 dinner with La Tropikitchen; the four-course menu is priced at $100 per person and tickets can be booked through Resy." - Melissa McCart