I had the pleasure of visiting Slate’s new rooftop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and was able to enjoy premium access before it opened to the general public. Accessible through the Pod Brooklyn hotel, it offers a creative and modern take on the weary rooftop bar concept, and makes drinking amidst a New York breeze somehow feel new again.
Upon exiting the elevator to the rooftop area, one is immediately treated to a sign that presents two options: “Influencers” to the left, and “Under the Influence” to the right.
The welcome sign
This split gives visitors two options for the general vibe they wish to experience: a more straight-forward bar with seating a live DJ, in a more photo-op worthy environment, on the Influencer side, and a relaxed and more open seating option with a poolside-style cantina-themed bar in the Under the Influence side. Both offer absolutely gorgeous views of downtown Manhattan, as well as the surrounding Brooklyn rises.
DJ Alo Wiza
I first took a look at the Influencer side. Right upon entering, I was greeted by two giant statues of unicorns, one silver and one bronze, stationed immediately across from the entrance and screaming to be noticed.
Unicorns
This immediately gave me an eclectic and playful impression of the rooftop, and this was only the beginning. DJ Alo Wiza was stationed nearby, and was churning out bangers on the rooftop’s incredible speaker setup. As I meandered towards the bar, I immediately noticed what made this rooftop so special: each table was adorned with a particular party game. What some may scoff at as child’s play here was the primary selling point, and everyone was having a blast. I saw colorful Jenga tumble to the floor, and individuals eager to connect four tiles in a row with Connect-Four. It was truly remarkable.
A bit of fun
Mango Mojito
On the way to the bar, a waiter stopped me to ask if I wanted any hors d’oeuvres. He was carrying a plate of balsamic watermelon on a skewer, sprinkled with cheese. Taken aback by the strange combination, I tried it, and was immediately pleased. It packed a nice sweet and savory punch that was absolutely delightful. This came to be the theme for other small bites that were given: each presented a juxtaposition of flavors that truly shifted from the mundane. For instance, I tried savory breaded cheese balls that were presented in a sweet barbecue sauce, and a sweet glazed mini doughnut that was covered in cheese and a marinara sauce. These odd-on-paper creations were an absolute blast. Finally, at the bar, I settled for something more normal: a colorful mango mojito.
Cheese-Covered Mini Doughnuts
The Slate Rooftop Bear
Once I finished taking in the Influencer side, I walked over to the Under the Influence side, which was much more open and laid back. Seats were replaced with couches, and there were several under-the-table soccer games that pairs of individuals were playing, complete with goals molded under each’s seat. Here, the bar had fewer choices but was much bigger, giving extra room to sit and enjoy others’ company. The view was fantastic as well, as the lack of walls gave a clear look at downtown Manhattan, glittering past the river not too far away.
The “Under The Influence” side
Here, I saw a bowl of doughnut-hole style pastries, with the twist being that each person was given a syringe filled with either key lime or peach cobbler, ready to inject into the dessert. I smiled at the sheer ingenuity of it all as I stuffed my mouth with the coveted dripping pastry, just noticing a giant golden bear statue right behind me wearing a “Slate Rooftop” necklace. Welcome to 2023.
Pastries with Sauce Syringes
I had simply an amazing time at Slate Rooftop, and although I thought it impossible to surprise me, I was astonished at every corner at this magical place. Let your inner child out and head over to the new Slate Rooftop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, open to everyone right now.
