Memorial Day weekend may have been a washout, but the unofficial start of summer has arrived all the same. And while not every New Yorker can slip away to the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, or Jersey Shore on demand, the city has its own version of the seasonal escape: a private patch of outdoor space high above the streets.
For some residents, that means a building roof deck with skyline views, lounge seating, and grills. For the especially fortunate, it means something even more personal: a private roof deck or cabana reserved just for them. In a city where privacy and outdoor space are always at a premium, these elevated retreats can turn an ordinary apartment into a summer sanctuary.
For some residents, that means a building roof deck with skyline views, lounge seating, and grills. For the especially fortunate, it means something even more personal: a private roof deck or cabana reserved just for them. In a city where privacy and outdoor space are always at a premium, these elevated retreats can turn an ordinary apartment into a summer sanctuary.
The word cabana comes from the Spanish cabaña, meaning cabin, and still calls to mind glamorous beach clubs and waterfront resorts. In New York City, cabanas can often found beside residential outdoor pools, but they have also become increasingly common on regular rooftops, terraces, and landscaped amenity decks without a drop of water in sight. Their appeal is easy to understand: They offer shade, privacy, and a sense of destination without requiring residents to leave the building.
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In any setting, cabanas represent the modern evolution of the small huts that were built as changing rooms around early outdoor pools. Eventually, one or all sides were opened to let in fresh air while still offering protection from the sun and the elements. The Spruce notes that the term is often applied to pergolas, pavilions, and canopied daybeds because of its luxury connotations.
Depending on the size of the cabana, they can be used to house everything from a single lounge chair to a sofa to a full outdoor kitchen. Most commonly in city residences, though, they provide shelter to lounge chairs or couches, offering an outdoor space for reading or relaxation with an emphasis on comfort.
Depending on the size of the cabana, they can be used to house everything from a single lounge chair to a sofa to a full outdoor kitchen. Most commonly in city residences, though, they provide shelter to lounge chairs or couches, offering an outdoor space for reading or relaxation with an emphasis on comfort.
In New York apartments, private cabanas vary widely in size and setup. Some are intimate enough for a chaise lounge and a good book; others are large enough for sofas, dining tables, planting beds, or even outdoor kitchens. But their purpose is largely the same: to create a comfortable open-air retreat where residents can read, relax, entertain, or simply take in the city from above.
Below, see a selection of listings that bring the summer escape home with private roof decks, cabanas, and other enviable outdoor spaces.
Below, see a selection of listings that bring the summer escape home with private roof decks, cabanas, and other enviable outdoor spaces.
NYC listings with private cabanas
1226 Saint Marks Avenue, #4A (Compass)
1570 Prospect Place, #6 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
466 15th Street, #15 (Compass)
88 Morningside Avenue, #8G (Compass)
265 Weirfield Street, #PH-A (Nest Seekers LLC)
2101 Fifth Avenue, #4S (Serhant)
Vernon123, #2A (Serhant)
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140 West 80th Street, #5 (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
702 Greene Avenue, #4
$950,000 (-7.3%)
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 804 ft2
702 Greene Avenue, #4 (Serhant)
692 President Street, #4 (Corcoran Group)
Chatham 44, #PHA (Compass)
Griffin Court, #3P (Compass)
The Iris, #5C (Sothebys International Realty)
The Perrie, #PH2103 (Corcoran Group)
One Brooklyn Bridge Park, #924
$1,595,000
Brooklyn Heights | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 2 Baths | 1,309 ft2
One Brooklyn Bridge Park, #924 (Compass)
The Canvas, #3D (Compass)
5 One 5 Condominiums, #7D (Corcoran Group)
The Lenox, #PHE (Compass)
450 West 23rd Street, #E (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Linden Lane, #PHC (Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing LLC)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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