We asked Leslie Adatto, author of 111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss, for some of her favorite Queens rooftops. These are her selections:

Queens has a huge variety of public access rooftops, and here are a few notable ones. 

Brooklyn Grange Flagship Farm on Northern Blvd. in Long Island City is a happy surprise in the sky! The first of Brooklyn Grange’s three rooftop farms, this site, at just under an acre, is where the innovative urban farmers, who had a radical idea to farm on the city’s rooftops, began and honed their skills through some trial and error. What they came up with is a functioning, profitable rooftop farm that serves local restaurants and has a CSA (community supported agriculture) program for locals to get roof-grown produce. The Grange has also become a popular event space for farm dinners, fund raisers, and corporate events. They have a weekly open house during the growing season, and if you haven’t been up there to enjoy the farm, the view, and the sheer joy of this unexpected rooftop, make sure you get there!

Upper 90 Soccer Center in Astoria transformed a former garage into a rooftop urban soccer oasis. At ground level is a soccer sporting goods store, a kiddie-sized soccer pitch, and a trendy coffee shop. Up on the roof are two soccer pitches that are used extensively by people who love the game. There are organized matches, as well as pick-up games. Just check their website for what suits your needs. Upper 90 also uses its fabulous artificial turf covered roof as a unique setting for private events like birthday parties, and for rooftop yoga and fitness classes. 

Ravel Hotel in Long Island City has two completely different roof elevations. Penthouse 808 is the bar/restaurant/club that has an unobstructed view over the East River and directly into the iconic 59th Street Bridge. Penthouse 808 has a lot of romantic appeal and is a popular place for couples to become engaged. They also host weekly Jazz Brunches with dancing, club nights, and after-work drinks and snacks. On the back side of Ravel Hotel is the pool roof deck, which is open all summer, and has a completely different Miami-style vibe. Around the pool are lounge chairs and places to get terrific food because guests who are not lodging at the hotel can buy day passes and stay all day into evening.  

Leslie Adatto will be speaking at Hunters Point Library on Saturday, November 2, at 2:30pm.