Fifty-Four Floors Above Times Square, and What to Bring Up There
High Above the City: Times Square at street level is a lot. That is the entire point of it, and most nights it is exactly what you want. But there is a specific pleasure in getting fifty-four floors above the whole thing and watching it happen without being in it.
Bar 54 sits on top of the Hyatt Centric on 45th Street, and it is one of the highest rooftop bars in the neighborhood. The billboards are below you. The crowds are a rumor. You can see the river.
The Daily Green is at 719 7th Avenue, a few blocks north, and we are 21 and up. Here is what to bring up with you.
Why Height Changes the Whole Experience
Being elevated at elevation is a different thing than being elevated on the ground, and it is mostly about scale. From fifty-four floors the city stops looking like a place you are standing in and starts looking like a system. Traffic becomes pattern. The light from the billboards turns into a glow on the underside of the clouds rather than something shouting at you.
Cannabis is good at exactly this kind of perception, the sort where you stop parsing details and start seeing the shape of something. A strain that opens up visual depth without scattering you is what you want up here.
The other thing worth knowing is that rooftops in New York are weather. It is windier and meaningfully colder up there than it was on the sidewalk, in every season. That is a real consideration for how much you want to smoke beforehand, because standing in cold wind is a lot less charming when you are too high to have thought about a jacket.
5 Picks for a Night at Bar 54
1. Old Pal – Sherbanger #7
- Type: Hybrid
- Why it works: Bright and citrus-forward with a clean, sociable lift. Rooftop bars are conversation rooms more than dance floors, and this keeps you in the conversation.
- Time it for: Before you go up on the walk down 7th Avenue.
2. MFNY – Super Lemon Haze
- Type: Sativa
- Why it works: Cerebral and alert, with the kind of visual clarity that a skyline view actually rewards. You came for the view. Pick something that helps you look at it.
- Time it for: Golden hour, if you can get a reservation that early.
3. Jetty
- Type: Vape
- Why it works: Small pulls, tight control, and a local brand. The practical choice when you are heading somewhere with a cocktail list and want to stay in charge of the evening.
- Time it for: Pre-elevator. Two pulls is plenty.
4. Wyld – Raspberry Gummies (1:1 THC:CBD)
- Type: Edible
- Why it works: The balanced ratio keeps things level, and the CBD helps if heights or crowds put you slightly on edge. Fifty-four floors is high enough to notice.
- Time it for: Ninety minutes before you head over, so it settles before the elevator.
5. Botanist – Whole Flower
- Type: Flower
- Why it works: Whole buds you break down yourself, which means you get the full aroma. Worth it for a night where the whole idea is paying attention to your senses.
- Time it for: An unhurried pre-game at home before you come out.
Getting from The Daily Green to Bar 54
High Above the City: Bar 54 is at 135 West 45th Street, at the Hyatt Centric Times Square. From our door at 719 7th Avenue between 47th and 48th, head south to 45th and then east. About seven minutes on foot.
Book ahead if you want the patio. The outdoor seating is the reason to come and it goes first, particularly in warm months and on weekend nights.
Location, Location
The Daily Green is at 719 7th Avenue between 47th and 48th, open to adults 21 and over. Our edibles selection rotates, so check the online menu before you come or ask a budtender what landed this week. Everything on our shelves comes through the licensed supply chain and is lab tested.
Pro Tips for a Rooftop Night
- Dress warmer than the street suggests. Fifty-four floors up is windy and cold year-round, and this is the tip everybody wishes they had taken.
- Consume before you arrive. New York permits cannabis where tobacco smoking is allowed, which does not include the rooftop of a hotel bar.
- Go lighter if you are also drinking. Cocktails here are strong and the combination hits harder than either alone.
- If heights make you uneasy, keep the dose modest and sit inside. There is indoor space and the view still works.
- Reservations matter on weekends. Walking up on a Saturday at 9pm is optimistic.
Make a Whole Night of It
- Start with us. Tell a budtender you are headed to a rooftop and want something clear rather than heavy.
- Aim for sunset if you can. The transition from daylight to full billboard glow is the best hour up there.
- Dinner in the 40s beforehand. Restaurant Row is a couple of blocks west.
- We are open until 1:00 am, which outlasts Bar 54 most nights.
The Final Take
The case for Bar 54 is simple. It puts the entire chaos of Times Square underneath you and turns it into something you can actually look at. Pick something bright and clear-headed, bring a jacket, and give yourself time to just stand there. Stop by The Daily Green on 7th Avenue on your way and we will get you sorted.
FAQs
Is there a dispensary near Bar 54 NYC?
Yes. The Daily Green is at 719 7th Avenue, about a seven-minute walk from Bar 54 at 135 West 45th Street.
Can I smoke cannabis on a rooftop bar in NYC?
No. Bars fall under the same restrictions as tobacco smoking regardless of whether they are indoors or on a roof. Consume before you arrive.
What strain is best for a rooftop bar?
Bright, clear-headed sativas and balanced hybrids suit a view-focused night better than heavy indicas.
How high is Bar 54?
It sits on the 54th floor of the Hyatt Centric Times Square, making it one of the highest rooftop bars in the area.
Do I need a reservation for Bar 54?
Recommended, particularly for outdoor patio seating and on weekend nights.