New York gives good skyline. That just can’t be denied. But when you’re part of the bustle at ground level, you miss it – and it’s one of the city’s most memorable experiences. Enter: The James. This sleek SoHo hotel’s made full and fabulous use of its rooftop with a teak-decked plunge pool and Jimmy, the sumptuous bar and lounge, both of which offer 360-degree river-to-river views of surrounding Manhattan.

While the rooftop is a draw, that’s not the only stellar outdoor space at The James. There’s also a multi-tiered urban garden, which includes the 130-seat David Burke Garden restaurant and bar. This whole area, at once artistic and lush, is open to guests and the public. After all, no one should be deprived of the opportunity to sit amongst the flowers and take part in one of the cultural events the garden hosts, like outdoor yoga classes and film screenings. And who wouldn’t want to sip a watermelon-yuzu margarita or tuck into classic American cuisine from David Burke kitchen? There’s even a herb garden up there that provides the necessary greenery to make the bitters, juices and syrups that make the cocktails at Jimmy so well worth the visit.

But, of course, The James is a hotel, as well as a destination for cultured, foodie, garden-loving visitors. The rooms here are decorated with furnishings and amenities that bely their seeming simplicity like luxe natural linens on the beds, slate bathrooms, and reclaimed wooden floors. And the rooms only get more decadent from there, with the rooms higher up the hotel adding sensational skyline views. The one-bed apartments and penthouse loft, meanwhile, are kitted out in such a way to give guests the feeling that The James is their home away from home, with thoughtful amenities and additional living areas and a wet bar. If only home was this luxurious.