With nearly half the country set to be blanketed by 100°+ temperatures, this weekend is looking like a scorcher. What better time to enjoy a roof deck? Well, there are probably plenty of better times, but for those hearty souls who don't mind a horrible sunburn, here are five of the best private roof decks on the market. This first rooftop escape—a cupola high atop NYC—comes from the Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO and is part of the borough's most expensive listing, the $19M penthouse at 1 Main Street. Featured on Selling New York and converted into a bonkers showhouse for Esquire magazine last fall, the apartment has been through a few brokers without, well, selling, but certainly has plenty going for it. Situated in the building's "Clocktower" unit, the penthouse has views through the clock of the Manhattan skyline and bridges, a 3,000-square-foot great room, and one monster of a private glass elevator that accesses the three main levels.
? Not surprisingly, the best rooftop decks are often part of a city's most expensive listings. Take this swimming pool, perched atop the townhouse at 74 Beacon Street in Boston. The house, currently listed for $14.95M, was designed by noted Boston architect Asher Benjamin in 1828, but has been updated to incorporate modern sensibilities, like a rich person's desire to have a swim and a view of the Boston skyline at the same time. With six bedrooms, six baths, and 8,450 square feet of luxury interiors, the rest of the house is nothing to shrug at either.
? Compared to the cities of the northeast, where space is at a premium, the mansions of South Florida rarely feature roofdecks. After all, who needs the space on top when there are broad lawns and ground-level patios to enjoy. Well, apparently there's at least one owner who wasn't satisfied without a rooftop to lounge on. Listed for $19.5M, the vaguely-Mediterranean mansion in Highland Beach, Fla. measures almost 20,000 square feet, with eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, guest house, dock, and stunning views of both the ocean and the intracoastal waterway.
? The expansive rooftop of this Golden, Colo. modern is a sight to behold, even unfurnished, so it is a pity that the rest of the house fails to impress. Sure, the exterior is sleek and incorporates local materials, but the generic interiors are a real letdown. The $5.5M price tag doesn't ease the disappointment, but throw a rooftop party on that 3,000-square-foot deck—with those jaw-dropping mountain and forest views—and all will be forgiven.
? The views from this 7,300-square-foot hillside manse in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. are so good, and patios and balconies so plentiful, it's hard to imagine there was any need for anything on the roof. But these things aren't really about need are they? Especially in a $5.5M house. The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion also boasts acres of glass, a swimming pool, and, currently, some disappointingly cheap Klimt reproductions.
· 1 Main Street #PH [Streeteasy]
· Benjamin Mansion [official site]
· 3901 S Ocean Blvd [Zillow]
· 918 Northridge Ct [Zillow]
· 3807 Crest Rd [Zillow]
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