Four NYC Hotels For Watching the July 4 Fireworks

Ka-boom

It’s almost birthday time for one big country, and who needs candles when you’ve got fireworks?

This year’s July 4th sparklers, courtesy of Macy’s, explode over the East River, shot from barges floating between East 23rd Street and East 34th Street. You can see them from anywhere in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, provided there’s no tall buildings to obstruct your view (good luck). But a rooftop lounge at a well-placed hotel all but guarantees a great view (and drinks and food to boot). These four hotels are going all out to celebrate a big 239th for the USA.

Salvation Taco at Pod 39 Toast the 4th (and the fireworks) with tacos and tequila at this upbeat, open-air Midtown roof bar, perched 17 stories in the air atop breezy budget hotel Pod 39. When the fireworks end, switch your gaze to the Empire State Building, lit up in red, white and blue for the occasion and so close (visually, at least) you can almost reach out and touch it. (The hotel and the Empire State Building are sisters under their brick skins, designed by early 20th-century architect Arthur Loomis Harmon.) To book, email events@salvationtaco.com.

Pod 39, 145 East 39th Street between Lexington and Third avenues; 212 865-5700.

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel This stylish Midtown roof bar atop the elegant Kimberly Hotel has walls that retract and offers a July 4 bait and switch. You’ll stay dry if if pours, but rain or dry, you’ll only have partial views of the fireworks from the rooftop. The lounge moves into party mode at noon and continues into the night (2 am, to be precise) with DJ Greg Hanson spinning from 6:30 pm to 1:30 am. Sample savories, desserts and July 4 sangria (hey, it’s red). Can’t make it to the bar? Try the recipe at home.

Muddle half of a lime with 2 two teaspoons of sugar then add the following:

3 oz. Fruity Merlot wine

1 oz. Orange juice

1 oz. Sour cherry juice

Shake vigorously and strain into a wine glass with ice.

Top off with a splash of club soda (and garnish with a mini American flag)

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel, 145 East 50th Street between Lexington and Third avenues; 212 702-1685.

Z Hotel New York Rooftop Bar/Lounge The rooftop of this buzzy, four-year-old hotel in Long Island City, Queens is ideally situated for watching fireworks (the owners must have been on to something). For $175 ($75 for teens, free for kids 12 and under), you get all you can eat (hot dogs, burgers, chicken, BBQ ribs, cole slaw, potato salad, grilled corn, ice cream, you get the idea), limitless soft drinks and two alcoholic beverages. And an unobstructed view of the ‘works. The roof runs from 3 pm to 10 pm, food from 4 pm to 8 pm. Email events@zhotel.com

Z Hotel, 11-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City, Queens; 212 319-7000.

Ravel Hotel Penthouse 808 Rooftop July 4 BBQ is served up in Long Island City by Penthouse 808 at the Ravel Hotel along with spectacular Manhattan (and fireworks) views. The good news: the rooftop is an indoor/outdoor affair so you won’t get soaked if it pours. The bad news: it’s standing room only, and the cheap tickets are sold out. But $125 lands you a spot on the roof and a plate full of ‘Q.

Penthouse 808 at the Ravel Hotel, 8-08 Queens Plaza South, Long Island City, Queens; 718 289-6101.