Maybe the best happy hour view ever

The Monarch - Rooftop Bar

Situated in basically the perfect summer happy hour-ing spot on the 18th floor atop the Midtown Marriott, The Monarch is a sprawling, open-air cocktail-slinger with a Scandinavian-design-meets-lush-royal-living-room-vibe and some of the best views of the Empire State Building you are ever going to get while eating a footlong kobe dog.

Rooftop Bar - The Monarch

Here's that inside. It's cool, but don't you dare stay in here. That's not the point.

Rooftop Bar - The Monarch

Caprese flatbreads taste even better when you're staring at tourists who're staring at you.

Rooftop Bar - The Monarch

It would take infinity licks to get to the center of these chicken lollipops, and significantly fewer bites.

Rooftop Bar - The Monarch

The cocktails are as refreshing as the view. Try the Fiery Skipper -- it's almost a margarita with blanco tequila, pineapple, agave, and freshly grated pink peppercorn.

Rooftop Bar - The Monarch

Just for good measure, here's that view again.