Concert Guru

The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City is by far one of the coolest outdoor venues for a concert.  With the Manhattan skyline to your left, the Brooklyn skyline to your right across the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge serving as a backdrop behind the stage, picturesque seems to be an understatement.

The Rooftop has a maximum general admission capacity of 3,500 (less for shows with seating), the Rooftop has drawn many big name comedians and musicians since it opened in 2018, including Amy Schumer, Jeff Dunham, Billie Eilish, Ringo Starr, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown, and everyone in between.

Located directly across the street from South Street Seaport in Manhattan, the Rooftop is easily accessible by mass transit via subway (the A,C,J,Z, 2 & 3 lines are all a short walk from the venue), with the Staten Island Ferry a short 15 minute walk away as well.  There are also multiple bus stops along Water Street nearby.

Walking onto the pier, you'll find plenty of signs directing you where to enter.  You'll first have to pass through metal detectors and a bag check before heading into the building itself to head up to the rooftop via a series of escalators (elevators are also available).  Along the way, more so on the last floor before heading up to the rooftop, you'll find a merch stand, as well as restrooms on each floor.  Once on the rooftop itself, it's a simple rectangular layout with drinks and food stands around the perimeter serving the typical concert variety, though the drinks tend to lean more towards the craft type.  Keep in mind that you are in Manhattan, so prices will be higher than most other venues.

There is usually a "VIP" section located at the front left of the stage, with the rest of the rooftop being general admission.  (Seating is set up for comedy acts and some musical artists.)  There is some wooden bench seats located behind the GA area near the lighting and soundboard tower in the back, though this is usually a somewhat VIP area that is restricted.

Also, this is a smoke free venue, and they are quite strict about adhering to it, vapes included, so it's not worth taking the risk of lighting up.

The sound quality and lighting are excellent, especially for an outdoor venue.  I highly recommend keeping an eye on the weather as there is no roof or covering over the entire venue, so you will be exposed to rain and wind if either are forecast.

Overall, this is one of my favorite venues for a night out in the summer without question.  Unfortunately, due to the entire venue being exposed to the elements, the season runs along the same time frames as outdoor amphitheaters.

*Guru Tip*:  If you arrive early, there are restaurants within the Pier 17 building for a bite to eat before the show, or a short walk to South Street Seaport provides more dining options.  Also, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum are a short 15 minute walk (5-10 minute cab ride) away via Fulton Street.

Scores

Getting There:  9/10

While you are in Manhattan, and public transit is pretty much everywhere to be found and very easy to use and navigate, the only downside is no available dedicated or on-site parking at the venue.  Be mindful that the venue is located in lower Manhattan, so if you're driving, allow plenty of extra time for traffic.  Mass transit traveling into the city itself is more often than not the easiest option (Metro-North, PATH, LIRR, etc.).  Also, be aware that the only way to the rooftop are via a couple of escalators and elevators, so give yourself some time and have some patience with everyone entering and exiting the venue itself.

Cleanliness:  9/10

Overall, the venue itself is very clean.  Though you can't hold the venue responsible for the lower levels of the building, as they do not own the entire building, the bathrooms can be a bit unkept as the night progresses.

Production Quality:  10/10

Seaport Entertainment Group (the owners of the venue) definitely saw the potential for The Rooftop at Pier 17 to be a class-leading venue and went all-in on lighting and sound for the venue, even if it's only used for half of the year.  Definitely top notch production quality, with the lighting tower located and the back of the GA area so as to not impede with anyone's views of the stage (also a spot where artists are know to climb and perform from during their set, so keep an eye out back there).

Staff:  9/10

Any of the staff I interacted with was pleasant enough for the few times I spoke to them.  Bear in mind, if you're not used to New Yorkers, do not feel like you're being slighted, ignored, or being treated rudely.  The staff are not being rude, they're just trying to keep things efficient and keep the crowd moving through metal detectors and vendor stands.

Food/Drink Options:  6/10

There are definitely a variety of food options, albeit overpriced, so if you're arriving without eating dinner, you'll be able to find something decent when you get there.  Unfortunately, the drinks options are fairly limited to craft beers, seltzers, some mixed drinks, and water.  A larger variety of alcoholic beverages, or at least the inclusion of some more mainstream brands would go a long way.  Again, drinks are NYC-priced, so bring your wallet.

Other Amenities:  1/10

Unfortunately, due to the limited size of the rooftop, there isn't much else that could be added as far as amenities go.  However, there are some wooden benches located on the ground level and off to the back corners of the stage to relax and enjoy the views of NYC for a while pre-show.  Any nearby entertainment pre-show is pretty limited due to its location in Manhattan.

Parking:  1/10

Again, there is no on-site parking, so if you're driving, parking garages as your best best.  (Don't forget to use the SpotHero app!)

Overall:  8/10

While the lack of parking and additional amenities is a bit of a downer, if you live in NYC or are just wanting to enjoy an outdoor concert at an awesome venue, this is one of the best places in the city to go for a full-concert quality production.  Just pack a little patience for getting up to and down from the rooftop and be ready to navigate the city a bit.