Summer in the City: 8 of the World’s Most Exclusive Rooftop Bars

Once something of an afterthought, today the world’s most luxurious hotels and restaurants often make their rooftop terraces, lounges, and bars the main attraction—combining well-considered menus with the world’s best mixologists, swimming pools, leafy gardens and of course, unrivaled views of the city or landscape below them.

1. The Residence, Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, London 

Situated on the terrace of one of the hotel’s private residences, this sleek rooftop bar has one of the city’s best and most unique aspects overlooking Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Perched atop the impressive Grade II* listed Beaux Arts Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, The Residence itself is small and exclusive. From the west, views stretch across the River Thames, while at the east end, a maritime statue looms over visitors—a reference to the building’s past as the headquarters of the Port of London Authority. It’s open Thursday to Saturday evenings until September, with cocktails by the hotel’s head bartender Harry Nikolaou, a selection of Cloudy Bay wines, and a carefully chosen selection of dim sum, sushi, and salads.

fourseasons.com/tentrinity

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2. The Roof, Public Hotel, New York 

The rooftop at Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel in the Lower East Side boasts some of the best views in all of New York City—you can see all the major Manhattan landmarks from here, and you aren’t overlooked as this is downtown where the buildings are smaller. Herzog & de Meuron’s sleek glass tower has a terrace that wraps around a central bar that’s bathed in sultry blue and gold lighting. Outside the decor is kept minimal with day beds, tornado lanterns, and a few plants, to keep the focus on the breathtaking cityscape. The atmosphere is clubby, with classic and champagne cocktails, and DJs playing from sundown.

publichotels.com

3. Sky at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Maldives

Stargazing is taken to a whole new level at this rooftop destination in the Maldives. Located at the heart of a luxury resort on a private island in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, here you’ll find an observatory housing the largest telescope in the Indian Ocean and an unprecedented opportunity to look at a dazzling panorama of stars away from light pollution—while enjoying bespoke cocktails.

anantara.com

4. Moon Bar at Banyan Tree, Bangkok, Thailand 

Bangkok has no shortage of rooftop bars and restaurants, but towering above them all is the one that sits on the 61st floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok. The high-rise space has recently been updated to include a dizzying cantilevered selfie platform and the dazzling Moon Bar area that offers 360-degree views of the surrounding cityscape and an unrivaled spot for stargazing. Next to the Moon Bar is Vertigo, a restaurant offering market-fresh seafood and steaks cooked on a grill.

banyantree.com

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5. SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 

This all-singing, all-dancing sky park hovering 626 ft (191 m) above ground boasts the largest infinity-edge pool in the world with a vertigo-inducing 470 ft (143 m) vanishing border. After a dip in the pool you can move over to the SkyBar to enjoy thrilling panoramas of the city and a modern Asian-inspired menu, or from the expansive terrace cocktail bar and luxurious lounge of Lavo, an Italian-American restaurant that transforms into a glitzy nightclub as darkness falls.

marinabaysands.com

6. The Press Lounge, Ink48, New York 

Set at the top of the Ink48 Hotel and benefiting from a prime Hell’s Kitchen location overlooking the Hudson River, the Press Lounge opened in 2010 to great acclaim and has consistently remained among Manhattan’s top rooftop bars ever since. Cocktails are bespoke, the wine list extensive, the small plates perfectly presented, and the view unforgettable from its sunny terraces and glass-walled interiors.

thepresslounge.com

7. Terrass Hotel, Paris 

Set in the heart of the historic artistic district of Montmartre in Paris, the rooftop bar at the Terrass Hôtel is the perfect spot from which to survey the City of Lights. Choose from an innovative menu of cocktails named after Parisian legends, including the Moulin Rouge (Ketel One vodka, Chambord, Merlet Crème de Péche, fresh raspberries, apricot juice, cranberry juice, and champagne), or let the expert bartenders whip up something bespoke.

terrass-hotel.com

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8. Skye Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Unique, São Paulo, Brazil 

Skye’s signature feature is its stunning crimson red rooftop pool with an underwater sound system, which is surrounded by loungers that offers some of the best views over the São Paulo skyline and its distinctive skyscrapers. After a few laps you may want to order something from chef Emmanuel Bassoleil’s eclectic menu, which mixes Brazilian, French, Italian and Japanese styles of cooking, complemented by a creative drinks list.

hotelunique.com