7 New York Rooftop Gardens Locals Keep Quiet About
New York City might be famous for its towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, but above the concrete jungle lies a secret world of lush greenery.
Rooftop gardens offer peaceful escapes where you can breathe fresh air while enjoying stunning city views.
I’ve spent years exploring these hidden spot, and today I’m spilling the beans on seven spectacular spots that locals typically keep to themselves.
1. Brooklyn Grange: The Urban Farming Pioneer
Stumbling upon Brooklyn Grange was like finding a unicorn in Times Square! This massive 65,000-square-foot farm sits atop the Navy Yard, growing over 80,000 pounds of organic produce yearly.
Last summer, I joined their sunset yoga class and couldn’t believe I was downward-dogging surrounded by rows of heirloom tomatoes while the Manhattan skyline glowed orange in the distance. The farm hosts workshops on everything from beekeeping to pickling.
What makes this place truly special? Their commitment to sustainability goes beyond just growing food—they’ve created a complete ecosystem with honeybees, composting systems, and rainwater collection. Plus, their farm-to-table dinners will ruin restaurant meals for you forever!
2. Eagle Street Rooftop Farm: Greenpoint’s Hidden Oasis
Perched above a warehouse in industrial Greenpoint, Eagle Street Farm feels like someone’s secret garden project that gloriously got out of hand. This 6,000-square-foot organic veggie paradise was the first of its kind in NYC, pioneering the rooftop farming movement back in 2009.
My first visit happened by accident—I got lost looking for a friend’s apartment and followed the sound of chickens. Yes, chickens! In Brooklyn! The volunteer coordinator handed me a basket and invited me to pick kale for their community supported agriculture program.
Their Sunday market sells just-harvested produce that makes grocery store vegetables taste like cardboard in comparison.
3. Gallow Green: Chelsea’s Secret Victorian Garden
Holy botanical wonderland, Batman! Ascending to Gallow Green atop the McKittrick Hotel feels like stepping into a forgotten Victorian fairy tale. This isn’t just a garden—it’s theatrical botany at its finest, designed by the same folks behind the immersive “Sleep No More” experience downstairs.
I celebrated my birthday here last year, sipping herb-infused cocktails while surrounded by climbing roses, wildflowers, and twinkling lights. The garden transforms seasonally—lush and jungle-like in summer, cozy and lodge-like in winter as “The Lodge at Gallow Green.”
What makes this place magical is how it balances being both a functioning garden and a fantastical escape. Their Sunday brunch is legendary, featuring live jazz and punch bowls served in copper kettles. Just don’t tell too many people about it, okay?
4. The Met’s Rooftop Garden: Art Among The Clouds
Forget stuffy museum galleries! The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s rooftop garden is where art gets fresh air and spectacular views. Each year, they feature a different contemporary artist’s installation against the backdrop of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
My art-hating cousin actually gasped when we emerged onto this rooftop. We snagged martinis from the bar and watched the sun set behind the park’s treeline, turning skyscrapers into gold-tipped monuments. The rotating exhibits make each visit unique—I’ve seen everything from bamboo wonderlands to massive metal sculptures that play with light and shadow.
Pro tip: Visit on Friday or Saturday evening when they’re open late. The crowd thins out after 7pm, and watching twilight settle over the city while contemplating modern art is a quintessential New York moment that tourists rarely experience.
5. Bell Book & Candle: The Chef’s Secret Garden
“Wait, so my salad was growing six floors up just hours ago?” That’s the question I asked during my first meal at Bell Book & Candle in the West Village. This unassuming restaurant doesn’t advertise that 60% of their produce comes from their own rooftop garden.
Chef John Mooney’s 2,500-square-foot aeroponic garden system looks like something from a sci-fi movie. Plants grow in vertical towers without soil, using 60% less water than conventional farming. I finagled my way onto the roof once by befriending a server (thanks, Jess!) and was blown away by the 60+ varieties of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers.
The restaurant’s farm-to-table concept isn’t just marketing fluff—it’s literally farm-to-table in the same building! Their seasonal menu changes based on what’s ready to harvest upstairs, making each visit a delicious surprise.
6. Gotham Greens: Whole Foods’ Rooftop Farm
Grocery shopping became my new favorite activity after discovering the Gotham Greens operation atop the Whole Foods in Gowanus, Brooklyn. This commercial-scale greenhouse isn’t technically open to the public, but I sweet-talked my way into a tour by chatting up their representative during a farmers market demo.
Picture this: 20,000 square feet of high-tech greenhouse growing year-round produce regardless of New York’s temperamental weather. The operation is mind-blowing—computer-controlled irrigation, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems ensure perfect growing conditions for their pesticide-free lettuces, herbs, and tomatoes.
The coolest part? Their greens travel mere feet from harvest to store shelves downstairs. When you buy their butterhead lettuce, it was likely harvested that morning—a farm-to-table distance measured in stairs rather than miles!
7. Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project: Community Growing Power
Who knew milk crates could change lives? The Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project transformed the rooftop of Metro Baptist Church into a thriving community garden using nothing but milk crates, soil, and neighborhood determination.
I volunteered here last spring after a particularly soul-crushing work week, and digging my hands into soil while chatting with local families was better therapy than my overpriced shrink. This grassroots operation grows thousands of pounds of produce annually in their simple milk-crate system, distributing vegetables to local food pantries and teaching urban gardening skills to residents.
Unlike the fancier gardens on this list, HKFP is refreshingly down-to-earth (pun intended). Their volunteer-run operation welcomes everyone, regardless of gardening experience. The rooftop’s stunning Hudson River views are just a bonus to the real reward: connecting with neighbors while growing food for those who need it most.