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8 Homes with Private Rooftop Decks and Terraces

Luxury Defined spotlights the best roof terraces and decks for watching the fireworks and enjoying the summer festivities

At long last, summer! For this year’s season of picnics, poolsides, and patios, let’s raise it to the rooftops: There, a deck for dining, entertaining or just relaxing is the epitome of luxury living. Whether in the heart of cosmopolitan Manhattan, Monaco, or Venice—or a beachfront home in Maine, simply stepping onto a rooftop terrace evokes a singular exaltation. That atmosphere of fresh air, height, and wide-open sky, paired with exceptional views never fails to inspire. Rooftop retreats come in many exciting forms. This Luxury Defined collection of homes showcases the extraordinary diversity that rooftop lifestyle offers.

Goose Rocks Beach Compound in Kennebunkport, Maine

This striking contemporary compound in the historic coastal town of Kennebunkport has a prized setting on one of Maine’s longest beaches. Goose Rocks Beach Compound consists of the main house and the beach pavilion, both situated to take in the views of Goosefare Bay, Timber Point, and the Stage Harbor Islands. The three-story main house offers 3,300 square feet of fluid, open living space with three bedrooms and four baths, enclosed by floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that bring in the light and air and the sounds of the sea. Topside, the third-floor entertainment space comes complete with movie theater, bar, and wine storage, and opens to a spectacular roof deck with a fireplace. The beach pavilion, also three stories, extends to 2,100 square feet with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a third-floor office, ideal as a third bedroom. A wide lawn leads to a private staircase and down to the white sands of Goose Rocks Beach.

Set in Venice’s Cannaregio district, this elegant penthouse is poised for Italy’s famous alfresco lifestyle on two canal-side floors atop the historic Palazzo Correr Contarini Zorzi. There are three private terraces: one opens from the dining room, a second overlooks the rooftops, and a third faces the Grand Canal itself; all are perfectly positioned to enjoy the views—especially the Festa del Redentore fireworks in mid-July. The 5,381-square-foot interior includes eight bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large reception room facing the canal, a formal dining room, sitting room, kitchen, and utility room. The home is in need of renovation; however, many of the original details remain intact. including parquet floors and a Soffitto a Cassettoni coffered ceiling in the living room. Adding to the allure of this unique Venetian residence are three separate entrances, including two water gates and a boat mooring with access to the Grand Canal.

Residence #2 at The Wren, Upper East Side, New York City

This elegant, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom residence is one of just five units in The Wren, a sleek, new development on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The home’s highest quality fixtures and finishes include Russian oak flooring, a chef’s kitchen with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances and sumptuous bathrooms with custom vanities and radiant heated floors. Building amenities include a sleek, contemporary roof deck, bike room, lobby and private parking. The Wren, built in 1922 as an industrial mechanical shop, was completely reimagined for the 21st century. Many of its original substructure remains, allowing wide-open living space and towering ceilings, which exceed any other conversion or newly constructed condo in New York City.

This glamorous penthouse is just steps from Cannes prestigious Boulevard de la Croisette. The 3,671-square-foot residence is configured as three separate apartments, all with grandly appointed interiors and wraparound terraces overlooking the Bay of Cannes. The main residence offers 1,830 square feet of living space with three en suite bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, and a magnificent reception room opening to a sea-view terrace with a Jacuzzi. The secondary dwellings include a 269-square-foot studio and a 1,582-square-foot apartment with a living room, open-plan kitchen, three bedrooms (with full bathrooms or shower rooms) and a grand marble terrace overlooking the dome of the legendary Carlton Cannes hotel. Four private parking spaces and two cellars are additional amenities.

River North Penthouse in Chicago, Illinois

Luxuriously renovated, this contemporary timber-loft penthouse sits alongside the Chicago River in the highly sought-after River North neighborhood. The expansive duplex residence features 7.5-inch plank white oak flooring and towering, timber-beamed ceilings throughout. The first-floor appointments include a vast contemporary kitchen with Sub-Zero and Wolf Wi-Fi-enabled appliances, Amish custom cabinetry and Silestone quartz countertops and backsplash. Farther along is a formal dining room and a spacious living room with sleek, vent-free fireplace and walls of windows to take in the city views. This floor also offers two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a laundry room. An LED staircase rises to the second level, housing a luxurious primary suite and private rooftop deck with a firepit, media lounge, summer kitchen, and guest powder room. Further highlights of the home include Sonos surround-sound, designer light fixtures, and motorized window treatments. Building amenities include two enormous storage units and two deeded garage parking spaces (available for purchase).

Tigné Point Penthouse in Sliema, Malta

This contemporary penthouse on Malta’s Tigné Point Peninsula has a panoramic vista of Valletta’s Grand Harbour and the Mediterranean Sea. The 5,414-square-foot duplex is situated on the top floor of Tigné Point, a prestigious lifestyle development in the coastal town of Sliema, just across the harbor from the Maltese capital. On the first floor, a grand entrance hall leads to a magnificent living room and open-plan kitchen. All principal rooms have sea views, including the primary suite, one of three bedrooms, all with private terraces. A signature wooden staircase rises to a rooftop terrace with a jaw-dropping view of Fort Tigné and St Elmo Bridge. Designed for alfresco entertaining, dining, and relaxation, the space includes a full open-air kitchen, barbecue grill, and champagne fridge; sitting and dining areas; and a heated pool with hydro-massage tub. The home is fitted with underfloor heating throughout, Bose surround-sound, automated blinds and curtains, designer lighting, security cameras, water irrigation system, and a two-car garage, guest powder room, utility room, and a separate entrance to the roof terrace direct from the lobby elevator. Residents of Tigné Point have access to the development’s shopping mall, restaurants and cafés, fitness center, and swimming pool.

This ultra-luxurious residence is in Parc Saint Roman, a distinguished development close to the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Monte-Carlo Beach hotel, the M.C.C.C. country club, and fine shops and restaurants. The sleek, three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence is on a high floor of the building with views from Cap Martin to Cap Ferrat. The home was renovated in contemporary style with airy, open-plan rooms opening to private terraces, increasing the natural light and allowing for indoor-outdoor living. The veranda, with its adjustable slats for shade of sunlight, enhances alfresco mealtimes or moments of relaxation. The large, open-plan kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances and includes a glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine cellar. The owners’ suite has a lavish en suite bathroom with soaking tub, shower, hammam, and its own spectacular sea view. This exceptional residence also includes two cellars and seven parking spaces and access to Parc Monaco’s leafy private park.

Palatial Apartment in Salzburg, Austria

This palatial loft-style residence has an unrivaled location in the former granary of Salzburg Cathedral, just below the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Dating from 1569, the Baroque structure conceals an utterly contemporary, 3,831-square-foot apartment with a luxurious owner’s suite, guest suite, and vast living, dining, and kitchen space with a fireplace, and two roof terraces. Despite the rigorous geometry of its contemporary aesthetic, the original character is evidenced by the high cathedral ceilings, structural beams, and wide-plank wood floors. Abundant natural light floods the main living space, with sitting and dining areas, and a modern kitchen. The focal point is an eye-catching spiral staircase rising to the roof level, a private retreat with two terraces high above the rooftops of the Baroque historic district.