Pine Hall

We showed up at 3:50 p.m. on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, ten minutes before the doors opened, and were already about thirty people back. Clearly we weren’t the only ones with rooftop cocktails on the agenda. Pine Hall sits on the 12th floor of the Hudson’s building, named for the wood-paneled Pine Room that once served lunch inside J.L. Hudson’s on this exact site. The view earns the elevator ride: skyline in every direction, a polished terrace, an ordinary afternoon upgraded to an occasion.

The arrival could use polish. Downstairs, the path to the elevator wasn’t clear; a few stanchions would fix it. Upstairs, hosts split dining guests from drinks guests and let people up in waves, and our wait wasn’t unreasonable. Ordering took longer: fourth in line, one bartender on our section while others worked restaurant tickets. Growing pains at a new room, but at this price the first ten minutes felt less seamless than the rest.

The drinks were worth it. Andrea took a sparkling rosé, Mike had the Out of the Woods, and the non-alcoholic list was more thoughtful than most. Mike clocked the quality of the ice, because hospitality people notice things.

One real warning: shade. Umbrellas cover parts of the terrace, but not the standing area we landed in, and on an 82-degree cloudless afternoon — Mike in a suit coat — it got hot fast. Outdoor seats are first come, first served, so arrive flexible and dress for the actual weather. We drank and didn’t eat, so the tavern menu stays on our return list along with the rest of downtown. We left glad we went, and we’ll be back for a table and some shade.