We just left a rousing performance of Oh, Mary! at the Lyceum Theater and we were ready for a nightcap. As we walked along 45th St, we saw the sign for Bar 54 and a QR code that said it was reservations only. On a whim, I scanned the code to see if there was anything available - sadly there was nothing same day - but as we turned to leave the Hyatt Bellman asked if we were wanting to go to the roof bar. He said we could go right up, no reservations were necessary at that time. We rode the elevator to the 54th floor where we were met by a surly maître d' who sniffed at us when we said that we did not have a reservation, and who reluctantly seated us on a low couch next to the waitstation on the terrace. There were many open tables along the balcony railing so when the server came by we asked her if we could be seated there. She pleasantly moved us to a table with the million dollar view. We had a few drinks and a truly wonderful charcuterie board. The server was kind, welcoming, helpful and seemed truly glad to be there. She even took a few pictures for us.
I will note, that it was a Thursday evening around 10;00 p.m., after theater, in the summer. The bar was well populated with an adult tourist crowd. People seemed genuinely glad to be there, gawking at the skyline views and the lights of Times Square below. People were laughing, taking selfies and enjoying themselves - as were we. It was very nice. This makes the snooty maître d' seem all the more out of place. This is not an IT club with A-List clientele. It is a lovely rooftop bar, that makes a fun and exciting splurge for a handful of tourists who are grateful to be there and who can afford the price. He should be nicer. He should take a note from the servers and the bartenders who also all seemed to be glad to be there on a nice summer evening.