LA’s rooftop bars are up there with some of the best in the world. And they offer so many varying skyline views that you can visit a different hangout every night of the week and enjoy the city from a new vantage point. Take in the sparkling shores of Santa Monica, the towering buildings in Downtown LA, the signature palm trees amongstBeverly Hills mansions, or the iconic Hollywood sign framed by steep hillsides. Find the right location, and you just might get treated to all of the above from a single perch. From luxurious poolside lounges to exciting eats by renowned chefs, LA has a bounty of rooftops with sparkling city views for any occasion.
Rooftop Bars on the Westside
Santa Monica
WIth unobstructed views of coastline from Venice to Malibu, the bar, which sits atop The Beacon by Sonder hotel, is decked out with ocean views and Art Deco touches throughout. We recommend snagging a seat on the outdoor terrace during sunset for maximum enjoyment. Chef Chris Sayegh, from lobby restaurant Layla, helms the food menu (try the burger or grilled fish tacos) while bartender Dushan Zaric created the cocktail menu.
Elephante
Santa Monica
Escape the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica (well really Third Street Promenade) with this hidden gem. Serving up a menu of coastal Mediterranean favorites, this rooftop restaurant is everything you want a Santa Monica hot spot to be: good vibes, good music, and good drinks, with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. You also have the option of making any cocktail a small or large punchbowl, which is the ideal way to celebrate with friends. The restaurant even bottles their own namesake rosė.
Calabra
Santa Monica
From the moment you walk into the lobby of the Proper Hotel, you’re greeted with a signature relaxed and boho vibe. The lobby bar, Palma, itself is a great hangout, with spillage from the rooftop Calabra bar lingering around, and even a unique afternoon tea, but the real party is upstairs. Settle into the inviting lounge seating and be transported with lush greenery and quirky furniture. Delicious Mediterranean-inspired plates—lobster and prawn puttanesca, and lamb chops with green garbanzo and tzatziki—are served alongside specialty cocktails and prime people watching. The wine and spirit lists are also sizable for those who prefer their drinks with less fuss.
High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin
Venice
Venice Beach should be on everyone’s LA bucket list, as should a sunset cocktail, in particular, a fun slushy or a beachy-themed mixed drink. Located in the heart of Venice Beach and overlooking the Pacific, you’ll find High Rooftop Lounge perched on top of this boutique hotel. The laid-back vibe pairs perfectly with curated cocktails, seasonal menu items (try The Venice Boardwalk oversized cheese plate made for groups), and of course, sweeping ocean views.
Beverly Hills
NYC's Dante has made its mark in Beverly Hills at The Maybourne Hotel. The rooftop bar and restaurant features Italian-Mediterranean cuisine with unique LA skyline views of the 90210 as well as wood-fired pizzas, pastas, salads and more. The real draw, however, are the bar’s famous martinis paired with live music weekdays from a piano vocalist and a DJ on weekends from 3–7pm. There’s also a Martini hour (3–5pm) with $10 martinis. Reservations are available on their website, and walk-ins are welcome for seats around the stunning indoor bar.
Beverly Hills
This sparkling Beverly Hills rooftop puts the others to decor shame with a pink quartz bar at the center of it all. The setting is perfect for chef Evan Funke’s delectable bar eats and speciality cocktails under the stars. Reservations are available on Resy for dining alfresco, and on Friday and Saturdays it’s walk-in only, starting at 5 pm, nightly.
The Rooftop Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Head to the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills for stunning 360-degree views of the city. Decked out in emerald and sage hues with a blooming garden that borders the edge of the roof (providing a perfect photo backdrop), plus plenty of plant life throughout, the covered rooftop feels like you’ve landed in a perfectly temperate jungle. The restaurant serves up an all-day menu daily, with most dishes leaning towards market fresh American-Italian. On weekends, brunch is served from 10 am–3 pm, providing a tempting invitation to indulge with french fries and caviar while sitting 12 stories above Beverly Hills. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are also available on OpenTable.
Terra
Century City
This expansive rooftop terrace restaurant on top of the Eataly marketplace at the Century City mall is the perfect way to end your shopping trip. Drinks are a no-brainer (and exploring the build-your-own G&T menu is a must), but if you’re hungry there’s also a full-service brunch and dinner restaurant centered around a wood-fired oven. Another bonus? You can stock your pantry full of Eataly goods while you’re there.
Westchester/Playa del Rey
Head to this outdoor poolside spot inspired by Baja California, AKA the perfect place (five minutes from the beach and just a mile away from the airport) to hangout before picking someone up from LAX or going straight to from the airport after a long flight. The breezy two-story space offers views of the Hotel June’s pool and must-try eats such as seasonal salads, organic steaks, local grilled fish plus a strong bar program: biodynamic wines, craft beer and small-batch spirits. Serving breakfast, brunch and an all-day menu until 10 pm, reservations are made through OpenTable.
Rooftop Bars in Hollywood
Hollywood
Private membership club The Aster’s open-to-the-public rooftop restaurant Lemon Grove is not one to miss. Located in Hollywood’s historic Vinyl District, expect views of the Hollywood hills, the iconic Hollywood sign, and the legendary Capitol Records building. Chef Marcel Vigneron is at the helm here with a seasonal California-inspired menu, serving weekend brunch (hello, bananas foster pancakes!) and dinner (try the lemon pasta or miso-glazed salmon).
Bar Lis
Hollywood
Escape to the French Riviera on the rooftop of the Thompson Hollywood. The chic terrace lounge offers indoor and outdoor seating with 360-degree views of Hollywood. On Tuesday nights listen to live jazz, while Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays bring live DJs that attract dancing crowds under the disco ball. Craft cocktails and snacks are on offer, including the Bisous cocktail which has Tres Generaciones tequila plata, watermelon, mango purée, aperol, velvet falernum, Fire Water bitters, and lime. Makesure you have a reservation; on weekends there’s typically a crowd waiting to catch the elevator to the party.
Rooftop Bars in West Hollywood
Merois
West Hollywood
Take in panoramic views from high above the Sunset Strip while enjoying a Wolfgang Puck-crafted menu that pull flavors from Japanese, Southeast Asian, and French-California cuisines, resulting in dishes like Crab Fried Rice with country ham and Squid Noodles in a ginger-garlic clam broth with Thai basil for dinner. Breakfast and lunch offerings include a morel mushroom omelet and applewood smoked salmon as well as wood grilled jidori chicken and a crispy rice crab salad, respectively. Located on the rooftop of West Hollywood’s Pendry Hotel, you’d be wise to ask for a table on the restaurant’s loungey patio, but generous floor-to-ceiling windows throughout mean that rooftop views can also be enjoyed from their elegant dining on those cooler nights.
The Roof at The West Hollywood EDITION
West Hollywood
Atop the EDITION hotel, this sleek modern restaurant and lounge merges indoor with outdoor via oversized glass windows that open up to a patio where poolside, candlelit dinner is served. Mexican-influenced plates like Crab Nachos and Barbacoa Quesadilla are served alongside a cocktail list that favors mezcal and tequila spirits, with notes of citrus and tropical ingredients. Topping off your experience are glittering 360-views of the city, making this the perfect spot to grab a cocktail (and a tostada) during sunset. After sunset, head to the pool, which during the day is exclusive to hotel guests only, for food and drink with stunning vistas.
Harriet's Rooftop
West Hollywood
Enter this cocktail lounge by the H.Wood Group, located at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood and snag one of the tables under the stars. And if you take a gander around, you just might spot a Hollywood starlet at this celeb favorite that has a designated nook for comedian Dave Chappelle, complete with photos of the entertainer and aptly named “Dave’s Corner.” The music here is always bumpin’ and sets the mood for this lounge space that’s also open for weekend brunch. Note that H.Wood Group is notorious for having a selective door policy, so unless you’re friends with a promoter, make a reservation on their website.
West Hollywood
This rooftop has great views, fire pits, amazing cocktails, and craveable small plates like Salt and Pepper Calamari and Seasoned Waffle Fries, plus a couple of sandwich and taco options. All craft cocktails are available by the glass or pitcher, with refreshing choices like Sexy Back with tequila, cantaloupe, lime, and ginger syrup, and several frozen options to cool you down on those balmy LA afternoons. Cut your work day short and stop by during weekday happy hour from 4–6 pm. Make sure to remember that the bar is walk-ins only.
How to book: Walk-ins only.
Rooftop Bars in Central LA
Downtown
Moxy Downtown's 8th floor has introduced a whole new concept with various dining establishments, live music venues, bars, nightclubs and rooftop spots with stunning views. Nightlife impresarios Jonnie and Mark Houston (aka The Houston Bros.) are behind the various spots which include Golden Hour—a Miami-meets-Copacabana rooftop spot with a carousel bar and poolside cabanas—and Mother of Pearl— an alfresco rooftop oyster and Champagne bar. Reservations are available on their respective websites and walk-ins are welcome.
Downtown
Escape to a rooftop oasis at this al fresco restaurant and bar from Michelin-starred chef Jose Andres at the Conrad Los Angeles. With vistas of Frank Gehry adjacent buildings, the open-air restaurant located at The Grand complex (also by Gehry), offers sweeping views of the DTLA skyline. The expansive restaurant serves a Spanish-inspired menu including a selection of Spanish cheeses, patatas bravas, croquetas de cangrejo, grilled octopus, pollo al ajillo, and more.
Broken Shaker
Downtown
At the top of the Freehand Hotel sits Broken Shaker, the type of rooftop spot that LA desperately needs more of. Bright, colorful, and buzzy, Broken Shaker is rocking some of the best DTLA views of any rooftop in the area. The cocktail and bites menus are no joke either—think beachside fish shack vibes like Fried Fish Tacos and Carne Asada Fries. Cocktails lean into the chill, no-fuss vibes with titles like Pharcyde of Fairfax (gin, St. Germain, cucumber, lime and mint), No Bucks Given (bourbon, pineapple, ginger and lemon) and the Guavafornication (tequila, guava, cointreau, agave, lime). For big groups, get the oversized punch bowl, which serves 10–12 guests.
Cara Cara
Downtown
Award-winning duo, chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur and sommelier Caroline Styne (AOC), expanded their LA empire with two restaurants within the Downtown LA Proper Hotel. The rooftop destination features all-day, California-inspired fare featuring local produce, ranging from salads, starters, and tacos to seasonal focaccias and grilled favorites such as Chipotle Carrot Tacos, all served in a lounge-like setting. Take a seat around a fire pit and enjoy the sweeping LA skyline alongside elevated fare and inventive cocktails.
Spire 73
Downtown
There are rooftops, and then there’s Spire 73. This open-air hotspot is, you guessed it, 73 stories in the air, and an absolute titan of the DTLA scene. Clocking in at over 1,000 feet in altitude, the Wilshire Grand Center is the tallest building west of the Mississippi (seriously), and that makes Spire 73—part of the building's InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel—the highest place to grab a drink in LA and the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. The views are breathtaking, and there isn’t a single piece of LA you can’t see. If you manage to take your eyes off the view, the Latin-inspired menu features items like mini fish tacos, shrimp tostada and a brisket hamburger.
Mid-Wilshire
Take the elevators up to the roof at The Hotel Wilshire, a Kimpton property. Here you will be transported to a vacation-like atmosphere with poolside tables and a bar serving up inventive cocktails. The eats here are breakfast items like French toast or a croissant breakfast sandwich; brunch (roasted corn salad, Miracle Mile burger), an all-day menu and dinner (skewers, steaks, shared plates). The real draw are the craft cocktails with fun images and quirky names to match each drink—try the Open Sesame or the Super Espresso Martini Bros. Book your table via Resy.
Ramona Savissis an LA-native who has a finger on the pulse of everything going on in the city. She loves to have a packed social calendar and is always planning her next adventure; you can find her byline in publications likeThe Hollywood Reporter,Variety,Time Out LA,Fodor’s Travel,Business Insider,Billboard,Los Angeles ConfidentialandAngeleno.
