Time for a Dip: The Haute 5 Swimming Pools in NYC

Here at Haute Living, we’ve decided we’re not going to let this bleary weather get us down. Au contraire. We’re just going to keep making summer plans, until summer actually arrives. While to many New Yorkers, summer in the city means leaving it for a few months, let us not forget that a weekend in town doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Below are the Haute 5 private pools in Manhattan, where you can spend your Gotham weekends relaxing in style.

Soho House Rooftop Pool

Whether you think Soho House is the most fabulous place on earth, or a little last week, you can’t argue with the fact that the rooftop pool is one of the best in the city. Members can sit back on a poolside lounger and sip cocktails from the bar or have a meal at one of the nearby tables. The views of the West Side of Manhattan and the Hudson are lovely. Best of all, the pool also has very strict children’s hours (they’re out of there by 11 a.m. on weekends) to ensure members get the R&R they need.

Soho House is located 29-35 Ninth Ave. in the Meatpacking District

Thomspon LES

Only two years old, the pool at Thompson LES has already made quite a splash. Summertime revelry at the pool and adjacent Above Allen bar has been so loud that neighbors complain constantly. With Above Allen and Chef Susur Lee’s CHANG restaurant in the building, Thompson LES is a one-stop destination. We also love the hotel’s art-heavy interiors designed by Jim Walrod and Ed Rawlings. Did we mention that pictures of Andy Warhol’s face grace the pool floor?

Thompson LES is located at 190 Allen Street on the Lower East Side

Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin Oriental has one of the only indoor pools on are list. At 75 feet, and sans sunbathers, that means guests can get some actual swimming done. Best of all, floor to ceiling windows overlook Manhattan. Trust, from the 36^th floor of the Columbus Circle building, the city looks pretty good.

The Mandarin Oriental is located at 80 Columbus Circle at 60^th Street

Le Parker Meridien

Less of a scene that the other pools on our list, Le Parker Meridien is the perfect place to go when you need some quiet space.  The hotel is conveniently located in Midtown, which makes it an easy escape from the buzz of the city. The rooftop pool, which is indoors but surrounded by glass, has a nearby deck for sunbathing. Stop by the Burger Joint downstairs for one of their delightful hamburgers or milkshakes.

Le Parker Meridien is located at 119 West 56^th Street

Trump Soho

Well, it may not be open yet, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t going to be one haute pool scene come summer 2010. Located on the seventh floor rooftop, the pool deck at Trump Soho will provide an outdoor heated pool with private cabanas and Bar d’ Eau, a seasonal indoor-outdoor bar and lounge. We can’t wait.

Trump Soho is located at 246 Spring St. 212 842 5500