Fruit and pizza are not two words that go together. But when you see Watermelon Pizza on the menu at The Blue Rooftop, the newly renovated 20th-floor oasis at the Marmara Park Avenue hotel, don’t pass it up.
The Turkish treat is a slice of watermelon topped with chopped blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, mint and feta, and is as refreshing as it is surprising. Don’t come too hungry though: The food menu is all similarly light fare meant to start your night like mezzes and ceviche. The full bar is also fruit-heavy, with an apricot margarita and a fizzy cherry smash with bourbon, with plenty of rose varieties in bottles and cans and, surprisingly, actual craft beers like Ithaca’s Flower Power.
The entire Blue Rooftop, located at 114 E. 32nd St. in NoMad, is done up in similar shades: purple and fuchsia cushioned couches, peacock-embroidered throw pillows on a white park bench, the azure tones of the Mediterranean sea on the walls inside the bar. The bar is fairly slim, so don’t expect parties and large crowds, but it’s got plenty else going for it.
There’s lots of seating along the entire perimenter of the Blue Rooftop, which boasts views downtown and the nearby Empire State and Chrysler buildings. The bar actually spans two floors, leading down into a more modern marble-heavy penthouse with additional seating on its own patio.
And if you’re looking for a little additional relaxation, the Marmara hotel also has a subterranean pool, Turkish hammam and spa.
The Blue Rooftop is open daily 5 p.m. to midnight at 114 E. 32nd St.
