A couple of our favorite outdoor drinking destinations have been out of commission so far this summer — there’s still no word on when the Frying Pan will finalize a lease at its problematic new location — but we can at least bring the good news that tonight at 5 p.m. the formerly dingy Hotel Metro Rooftop Bar will reopen with some added amenities: Waitresses will now be serving specialty (including frozen!) cocktails from a centrally located granite-topped bar, and unsightly exhaust pipes no longer protrude from the floor, which has been redone in stone. The hotel hopes an upgraded neighbor-friendly sound system will mean longer operating hours — currently you can enjoy bar items like nachos and calamari from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., but lunch and new entrées like lamb chops and macaroni-and-cheese balls will be implemented in the coming weeks. Finally, the “Rooftop Bar-Cash Only” sign is no longer— they’re now accepting credit cards.
Related: It’s More Fun on a Roof