The Riff Raff Club

R Riff Raff is easily one of my favorite nightlife spots in NYC, and a huge reason for that is Adrian — hands down one of the best bartenders in the city. Every time I come in, he remembers what I like, mixes drinks perfectly, and always brings great energy to the bar. His cocktails are not only strong but balanced, and he’s incredibly friendly without ever feeling rushed. The club itself has a great vibe: intimate lighting, fun music, and a crowd that feels lively but never overwhelming. The staff overall is welcoming, but Adrian really takes the experience to another level. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or staying for the night, he makes the place feel personal and elevated. If you’re looking for a spot with good music, great atmosphere, and a bartender who truly knows his craft, Riff Raff is the place. Ask for Adrian — you won’t be disappointed.

We had one of the best rooftop experiences ever. Our waiter Can and the host at the desk were very welcoming. Cocktails were very tasty. The view was amazing. We would def come back here for amazing drinks and great hospitality ❤️

We recently visited the new rooftop bar at the Virgin Hotel, and I have to say, it’s absolutely stunning! The decor is chic and inviting, and the view from the 39th floor is nothing short of magical. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and take in the city skyline. We tried several cocktails, and each one was delicious. A standout feature was the ice shaped like the Empire State Building—such a unique and impressive touch! Our bartender, whom we affectionately dubbed “Superman,” was exceptional. He was not only patient with our endless questions but also made sure we had the best experience possible. Overall, this rooftop bar is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for great drinks, breathtaking views, and fantastic service. I can’t wait to return!

Nice bar on the 39th floor of the Virgin Hotel with stunning views and a stylish atmosphere! Cocktails are mostly priced around $22-25, which feels pretty standard for NYC, and they were well-made and enjoyable. The large windows showcase the city beautifully, adding to the experience. The volume level is just right—busy and lively without being too loud, making it perfect for bringing out-of-town guests for a memorable night out.

Genuinely one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had in New York. This place desperately wants to be a night club masquerading as a cocktail bar, but fails to do either successfully. There's no one there, so evidently the people who want a club aren't into it. And the service, from the online reservations that demanded a per-person minimum, to the host who ignored them and told us tables were bottle service only due to a "special event" (spoiler: there was no event), to the bartender who served us mid cocktails with expired ingredients... does not cut it in the competitive landscape of NYC cocktail bars. Seriously, don't come here. At least until they figure out who it is they're trying to serve. Right now, it's no one.

I wish I could give this 10 stars! I attended the Riff Raff Club for a friend’s surprise birthday and the staff was INCREDIBLE. They went above and beyond with attentiveness and service to ensure the surprise was perfect, the cake was brought out at the right time, everyone had drinks flowing, and they were just so friendly and celebratory! The space is also beautiful & cocktails were great. We had a private room with a view of the Empire State Building. Truly a perfect evening

Couldn't really comment on the drinks because the front desk person blatantly disrespected us. We are guests staying at hotel and excited to check out the 39th floor bar. It’s 90 degrees and we are wearing sandals and shorts. The front desk person looked us up and down and said “we have a dress code. You can change and come back”, in an extremely condescending way. There are so many kinder ways to tell us about the dress code, and he chose the most condescending way. We have been staying at Virgin hotel for 4 days and he successfully ruined our experience. Bravo! I’m sorry my lord. How dare I show up to the hotel bar I’m staying at, in summer attire. How dare I ask you for seats in my peasant clothes, my lord. I beg your messy. I don’t deserve to taste your royal cocktails.

First night in NYC. Staff were so friendly. Great signature cocktail menu and great view.

It's worth coming here for the views alone. Spectacular vistas of midtown and east with a unique view of the Empire State Building. The drinks are also quite good, I was pleased with my Old Fashioned so much that I had another. Service was attentive and friendly. Don't expect to have an intimate conversation here, though, the music is cranked.

We visited this bar pretty early, right after dinner and before heading to an evening broadway show. It was very quiet and empty at that time, so we really enjoyed relaxing with a drink and taking in the views. The drink menu is good, and we were able to use our property credits that came with our room package here. We would return if staying at the Virgin again.

My colleagues and I were looking for a place to grab a drink since we had finished dinner and it was relatively early on a Friday. The problem was that it was a Friday in December and we had nothing booked so I didn't anticipate many options. The Riff Raff Club popped up for me with a table available, and since it was a short walk away we booked it and headed over. RRC is located on the 39th floor of the Virgin Hotel - easy enough to get to and we were seated right away upon entry. The space isn't too large - the bar sits in the center of the room with tables around the perimeter. The aesthetics gave off sceney vibes with low lighting and a red and black color scheme. The best feature of the aesthetics, though, are the floor to ceiling windows which give amazing views of the city - the vibes were on. The menu consists of craft cocktails, classics, as well as some snacks. We had a couple of rounds and both drinks I had were good - they specifically have a section of different martinis which I thought was really creative. For one of the rounds I had the breakfast one which was quite good. We also got some snacks - the popcorn was seasoned with paprika which gave it a little kick, and the pickled vegetables had good flavor. Note that the portions are a little small, so if you have a larger group I would order double or multiple snacks. Service was good, we were checked in on periodically and drinks came out at a good pace. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at Riff Raff Club - the cocktails were good, the snacks were a nice complement, and the service was on point. That, combined with the aesthetics would definitely make me a repeat customer.

We walked in on a Saturday night without a reservation. They were able to seat us right away (though with a bit of a time limit since there was a reservation in an hr or so). The drinks were delicious, the view was as amazing and the music was such a vibe. Will definitely be back!

Top notch cocktail bar on a high floor in lower mid town. Amazing views with cool staff and great drink selection. Cool stop over for one.

Awesome views! Service was also great, although the drinks were expensive (that's NYC for you, though). We also enjoyed the throwback hip-hop they were playing. It wasn't that busy, which was surprising, considering what a great find this place was!

Same with the other reviews; the views are great but service is lacking and space is too small to be a club. I am staying at the hotel it's in and ordered a drink. Followed up a few times with different servers, waited 20 minutes, then left because I never got the drink I ordered. They weren't busy, 2-3 empty tables and seats at the bar still. 3rd floor of hotel has a restaurant with a bar too so save your travel funds!

Great cocktails, amazing views of NYC skyline from 39th floor including direct view of armoire State building. I don't think this place has been discovered otherwise it would be packed.

This place does not have enough reviews!! I'm so skeptical of these cocktail bars with views, usually the drinks and food are lacking. That's definitely not the case here- the drinks are outstanding, as are the snacks. Riff Raff is on par if not better than the surrounding options (Portrait bar, Tusk bar, Little Ned).

Stopped by for a quick nightcap after dinner. Sat at the bar, however, you can reserve a table for a per person minimum charge. The place is not as big as say other rooftop bars. The cocktails were well-made and the bartender was very attentive. Has a nice vibe and nice city views. If you're ever in the area swing by for a cocktail.

Cute date night! We went for drinks while we were visiting NYC. It was a quick walk from our hotel, The Aloft. Drinks were great, views were beautiful and we loved the music.

I would avoid coming here. The view is fantastic, but it simply isn't worth it. They will pour you bottled water without asking if you want to pay for it - and by the end of the meal you have an additional $30 on your tab. The service was really disappointing, especially when a tip is automatically included. In the end, my one cocktail cost $36 after tip and the water gouging. (And I had to ask for the cocktail to be remade - it was not drinkable) I understand paying for a nice experience, but I simply did not have one.

Server was very unkind and was laughing at me and my friends while we were taking pictures (they have a great view of the empire state building). She barely checked up on us and charged us for three $10 water bottles that no one asked for. They provided the water to us as if it was complimentary and then we were shocked to see the $30 charge. Overall a disappointing experience. My cocktail was fine but definitely pricey. Unfortunately would not recommend.