31 Rooftop Bars in Los Angeles for Stellar Drinks and Stunning Views

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: French onion dip
• Reservations: sevenrooms.com
• Location: Hollywood 

The Thompson Hotel in Hollywood and Ten Five Hospitality have created a little slice of the South of France on the expansive roof that was inspired by the effortless glamour of the Côte d'Azur in the 1960s. Take in the view of Hollywood sign while you graze on elevated canapés at Sunset Hour and drink rosé Champagne out of coup glasses before the second round of oysters arrive. There is also a Terrace café and plenty of alfresco seating near the pool plus the breezy indoor lounge area with velvet banquettes for Jazz Eclectic live jazz music on Tuesdays. Wellness Wednesdays bring soothing twist with a relaxing sound bath session (I guess we are in LA?) before signing and live piano night begins. Ooh, la la!

1541 Wilcox Ave.

Best Traffic Jam Antidote

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: lobster burger
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: Beverly Hills

Get thee to the Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria immediately, if not to sleep there, then to have a drink at the bar and see the lights go down over Beverly Hills. Skip the weekends, when it’s packed; weeknights, this is your perfect after-work place to wait out the traffic.

9850 Wilshire Blvd.

Best Hipster Watching

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: taco plates
• Reservations: truflbookings.com
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles 

The top of this 1927 building draws in the fashionable crowd, who may be visiting out-of-town friends staying in the hotel or seeing a show at the grand theater in the building. Decorated by trendy celeb favorites Commune Design, the space features an outdoor area inspired by restored Aztec architectural elements and plenty of seating to mingle.

929 S. Broadway

Best for Out-of-Towners

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: Westminster (bbq) wings
• Reservations: Resy
• Location: Venice

During the day and at sundown, this is the best perch for an ocean view of the action on Venice Beach with the bike path and muscle beach below. But you’ll be oozing chill on top of the funky Hotel Erwin listening to music with a frozen mango margarita in one hand and a fish taco in the other.  When the sun dips and the warm ocean breeze turns to a chill, order from the hot toddy or mulled wine section of the menu and settle in for the night.

1697 Pacific Ave., Venice

Dinner and a Movie

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: salt and pepper calamari
• Reservations: Resy (walk-ins only on the rooftop)
• Location: West Hollywood

Just upstairs from the sister restaurant, modern-Mexican eatery BOMBO, the wraparound wooden bar looks like something from the Hollywood Hills, which is, not coincidentally, what you’re looking across into. But the real surprise from this perch is the Melrose Rooftop Theatre showing a mix of old and new releases seven nights a week. You’ll want to order tacos from charcoal grilled skirt steak to fish or mushroom, along with craft cocktails, such as the Tenderoni (gin, sloe gin, cherry herring, pineapple, lemon) which goes down easy in a bean bag chair while the sun sets.

603 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood

Best for Funky Hollywood Street Life

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: Le Royale Burger
• Reservations: sevenrooms.com
• Location: Hollywood

The multicolored tables and poppy striped banquettes lend a youthful feeling to this sixth–story rooftop, which takes over the roof of the reasonably priced (rooms start around $200!) boutique hotel of the same name. Light meals include salads and whipped white beans with grilled flatbread, but the move here is for a juicy gourmet burger which can also be ordered ‘impossible’ style. A glass (or two) of rose sangria pairs perfectly with that and the view. And, speaking of said view, there is a new Secret Sunset Party on Wednesday with a drink special and a Mama’s Boogie Night on Monday with disco and DJs.

6500 Selma Ave.

Best For the Actual Drinks

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: hot dog
• Reservations: Call (310) 388-6860
• Location: Beverly Hills 

Those frothy-fruity-frozen piña coladas with a floating Hawaiian hibiscus flower from Lono in Hollywood are a work of art and also pack one helluva punch. Now you can get them on a fancy rooftop ‘social club’ at the Sixty hotel in Beverly Hills, along with burger-bar-bites thanks to the crew behind The Melrose Umbrella Company. There are cozy corners with fireplaces and sofas by the pool as part of the semi-private Umbrella Swim Club concept trio that will soon include a swanky new restaurant, Umbrella Supper Club on the ground floor.

9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills

Best for a James Beard Award-winning Duo

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: lamb meatballs
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles

Award-winning restauranteurs Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s (of beloved A.O.C.) long awaited outpost at the Downtown LA Proper Hotel (sister of Santa Monica Proper), designed by Kelly Wearstler, includes an all-day rooftop restaurant and bar. You can lounge by the pool and firepits, with stunning unobstructed views and a menu that focuses on market-driven cocktails and Angeleno food-favorites from al pastor tacos to Piri Piri fried chicken and focaccia from the wood-burning oven.

1100 S. Broadway

Best For Date Night

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: lamb flautas
• Reservations: Resy
• Location: Los Feliz

From the owners of fan favorite Mirame in Beverly Hills, this sister eatery in Los Feliz has even more nooks and crannies for a sexy date night that feels like you are in Tulum. There are multiple bars and levels but for a more intimate experience, head to the Tree House top level with a raised retractable glass ceiling and view of the iconic Griffith Observatory. Kick back and order an array of ceviche and mezcal concoctions the brand is known for.

1712 N. Vermont Ave.

Best Mix of Old and New Hollywood

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: sushi
• Reservations: Explore Tok
• Location: Hollywood 

Spanning over 12,000 square feet, i|O at The Godfrey is one of the largest rooftops in Hollywood that includes two full bars, black and white modern lounging areas with a touch of art-deco, a pool, and spectacular views of the iconic Hollywood sign and Hollywood Hills. Graze on a full array of sushi, sashimi, rolls and poke bowl offerings and a White Cherry Ice concoction with sake, tequila and fresh cherry juice with lime while you’re waiting to be discovered.

1400 Cahuenga Blvd.

Best for DJs and Day Drinking

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: breakfast burrito
• Reservations: TAOGroup.com
• Location: Hollywood

If you want live spinning while you look out over the Hollywood Hills, the Dream is known for booking top-notch DJs on the roof including Fisher and Steve Aoki. They also unveiled a new weekend brunch menu with standout versions of shakshuka, French toast made with challah bread, a breakfast burrito and the Party Pouch cocktail with white wine and brandy nectar because it’s high time for day-drinking.

6417 Selma Ave., Hollywood

Best Pacific Design Center Views

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: sweet potato taquitos
• Reservations: reservations.weho@editionhotels.com
• Location: West Hollywood

OK, it’s not just the colorful Pacific Design Center views that keep us coming back, but the crispy sweet potato taquitos with red mole are also on point, and worth the wait for the elevator at this chic hotel from the legendary Ian Schrager. The open-air bar and lounge awash in shades of white has a wrap-around landscaped terrace that leads to a pool where everyone looks straight off a fashion runway.

9040 Sunset Blvd.

Best Bar Duo

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: duck fat popcorn
• Reservations: sevenrooms.com
• Location: West Hollywood

Bar at Merois is the gateway food drug to Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant of the same name on the roof of The Pendry West Hollywood. Before your meal, after dining, or just for the fun of it, enjoy a Samurai Sword whiskey, Cointreau, ginger and honey concoction by the fireplace in a cozy art-deco clad lounge. Watch the parade of eclectic people going between the eatery and The Britely Social Club (where you must be a member) on the other side of the pool, also with spectacular views to downtown.

8430 Sunset Blvd.

Best for Gin Botanicals

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: grilled whole branzino
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: West Hollywood

Enter the marketplace level of Eataly at Westfield Century City and head up to the Terra restaurant where Bar Botanico takes center stage of the rooftop terrace. The wood-burning grill nearby wafts smoked meats and veggies with a menu called “Earth, Gin and Fire,” but the bar serves up its own smokey botanical cocktails with top-shelf gin and tonics, plus wines from Italy, if you must do the ‘when in Rome’ thing.

10250 Santa Monica Blvd.

Best Mexico City Vibe

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: tuna tostada
• Reservations: Resy
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles

The Downtown LA Arts District is no stranger to rooftop views but this one has a bar-concept straight from the popular Colonia Tabacalera district of Mexico City. This buzzy south-of-the-border sister spot boasts a regional Mexican wine list, along with crunchy tostadas topped with blue-fin tuna, succulent carnitas with Heritage confit pork, plenty of private nooks for imbibing when you’re not at the large outdoor marble bar gulping a mezcal or tequila-based cocktail.

812 E 3rd St.

Best Ceviche by the Beach

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: ceviche
• Reservations: esperanzamb.com
• Location: Manhattan Beach 

Designed by uber talented Gulla Jónsdóttir (Kimpton La Peer), the chic all white ground-floor restaurant exterior-interior will lure you to a semi-secret back entrance staircase that leads ups to a lounge-bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking Manhattan Beach. Here, locals drink strong fruity margaritas and nibble fresh fish ceviche in the salty sea air almost just like you’re on a weekend break in Cabo, Mexico.

309 Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Best for Agave Spirits Near LAX

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: squash blossom quesadilla
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: Westchester

The Hotel June rooftop bar-lounge at the adjacent Caravan Swim Club structure was inspired by a Baja-California road-trip with colorfully woven lounge chairs and hand-painted wall murals conceived by Venice-based Studio Collective. Restaurateur Steve Livigni curated an agave-based spirits list with over 100 options where you can graze on squash blossom quesadillas and all-day breakfast tacos while you can catch a glimpse of planes landing at LAX and plot your next getaway.

8639 Lincoln Blvd.

Best Bar for a Food Hall

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: Go Go Bird fried chicken
• Reservations: walk-in only
• Location: Culver City

With all the new development in the downtown Culver City area off Main Street, you might have missed one of the greatest rooftop places to perch with a drink. This delightful rooftop is located inside the Citizen Public Market where you can also find newcomers Bang Bang Noodles, ILE Bistro (acclaimed Nigerian fare) along with Good Boy Bob’s coffee shop, The Jolly Oyster, WEHO Sausage company and Go Go Bird. Take the stairs or elevator up to a full bar floor (from the folks behind Café Birdie in Highland Park) with an ample, newly expanded with revamped décor, outdoor wooden patio. Pro tip, you can even bring your food up here or order bar snacks so it’s a happy hour sunset win-win.

9355 Culver Blvd.

Best For DTLA Poolside Action

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: beef empanadas
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles

On the rooftop of the Hoxton hotel, Cabra is an open-air restaurant and bar from Top Chef Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat fame. This time, the fare is Peruvian-influenced with empanadas, crab causa, Jalea mixta and chorizo skewers. The downtown skyline is mesmerizing, but the pool is also centered right in the middle of the action and good for daytime people watching. After the sun sets, if you have one too many strong pisco cocktails, a staycation might be in order.

1060 S. Broadway

Best for Tiki Cocktails

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: crispy Brussels and pork belly
• Reservations: wayfarerdtla.com
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles

Another mid-century modern inspired downtown hotel drawing an artsy crowd, The Wayfarer just re-opened on Flower Street is going strong with an enviable skyline view from The Rooftop bar and lounge that specializes in Tiki cocktails. There is also a tiny splash pool for cooling off if you decide to make a day of it and a firepit for when the sun goes down. We’ll call this one a daycation.

813 S. Flower St.

Best Hotel History

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: mushroom risotto arancini
• Reservations: sevenrooms.com
• With views of DTLA and the

The historic 95-year-old Hotel Figueroa (which used to be a safe haven for female travelers back in 1926, and still supports female artists with a rotating art program) also holds a Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired two-story villa and cocktail lounge. With views of DTLA and the famous coffin-shaped pool, La Casita features a coastal menu with ceviche, grilled shrimp and tacos alongside a hand-crafted cocktail program with an expansive agave list.

939 S. Figueroa St.

Best in Glendale

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: pork shawarma sliders
• Reservations: Open Table
• Location: Glendale

That’s right, there is something cool to do in Glendale—the next-door neighbor of Burbank. Not far from the Americana at Brand lifestyle mall, lies the under-the-radar Glenmark hotel. The mid-century-inspired lobby décor leads to an elevator that will whisk you up seven floors to a massive 5,000 square-foot outdoor deck for cocktails with a Japanese-French inspired sushi and steak heavy menu. Look into the refreshing Glenmark Rumble with rum or tequila and pineapple or the pomegranate mojito that is worthy of a west-side venue, along with the garlic roasted bone marrow and Kumamoto oysters.

1100 N. Brand Blvd.

Best for Getting in a Workout

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: potato chips and caviar
• Reservations: sevenrooms.com
• Location: Hollywood

Award-winning chef Michael Mina brings his ode to healthy-comfort cooking to Hollywood—yes, it’s a thing. And you’ll find it on the rooftop of the new HEIMAT five-story wellness concept building designed by Martin Brudnizki with several floors of workout equipment, classes and a spa. After breaking a sweat, head to the roof for a seat at the bar where the menu speaks to diets like keto, plant-based, anti-inflammatory and brain-boosting which is perfect for Angelenos.

960 N. La Brea Ave., 4th Fl.

Most Iconic View

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: mixed mushroom flatbread
• Reservations: Resy
• Location: Hollywood

For one of the most iconic views, head to the Aster Members Club and Hotel in Hollywood where you don’t have to be a member to dine on the roof at Lemon Grove Bar(adjacent to the main restaurant dining patio)with a view of the Capitol Records building. As an extra added bonus, Food Network regular Marcel Vigneron is the chef and they have just kicked-off a new Notorious Cocktail Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday with discounts on cocktails, beer and wine, plus you can nibble on bar bites in the lounge area under the stars.

1717 Vine St.

Best New York Import

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: cedar smoked rainbow trout
• Reservations: Resy
• Location: Beverly Hills

Exciting news for Beverly Hills can be found at UK import the Maybourne Hotel where the iconic New York aperitivo bar Dante has taken up residency on the rooftop by the pool in April. Expect perfectly executed cocktails, such as the caviar martini with Grey Goose and even a tequila martini with Casa Dragones blanco, and while they do have a martini hour (from 3 to 5 p.m. daily), do not skip the “fluffy” margarita royale with whipped pineapple, prosecco and Hawaiian lava salt for a sweet and salty treat. Santa Barbara black cod, with a view and a piano player to sooth your nerves after a long day of shopping on Rodeo Drive.

225 North Canon Dr., Beverly Hills

Best Beverly Hills View 

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: crudo 
• Reservations: Resy (walk-ins only at the bar) 
• Location: Beverly Hills 

Evan Funke brought his beloved pasta and pizza (from Venice and Hollywood) to three different floors at his namesake Funke in Beverly Hills. Pass the ground floor pasta lab and vaulted ceilings to take the elevator up to the third-floor rooftop patio. After you walk under the garden trellis entrance and take a selfie, you can sip negronis and order crudo and caviar while you watch the sunset over 90210 at a stunning rose quartz bar. It’s a glorious setting but don’t expect to order one of Funke’s famous pasta dishes from this perch. Those can only be had on the other two dining floors, but this is a good place to end your evening or kill time waiting for a table under the stars, so a win-win either way. 

9388 Santa Monica Blvd.  

Best Music History 

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: pizza by the slice 
• Reservations: Resy 
• Location: Hollywood 

Brought to you by the owners of E.P./L.P., this brick building in the vinyl district holds anecdotal history and memorabilia from when it was a recording studio, where everyone from David Bowie to Gwen Stefani laid down album tracks, so take note on your way up to the top. Now, you can sip cocktails with a Hollywood hills view on the 4,000 square-foot roof and rub elbows with the new rockstars while indulging in a modern Italian menu that includes pizza by the slice. If you prefer hanging out during the daylight hours, don’t miss the weekend jazz brunch. 
 

1518 N Cahuenga Blvd. 

Best for All-Day 

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: tempura fries 
• Reservations: Parties of 6 or More  
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles 

Sweep past the lovely spring floral covered sofas on the ground floor of the revamped Hotel Per La (formerly Nomad) and head to the roof for snacks that ranges from Harissa prawns to tempura fries and citrus chicken panini. With an all-day menu and serious pool action with DJs, you’ll want to keep the party going. To that end, order The Buzz with Milagro reposado tequila, Mr. Black coffee liqueur and cocoa which should do the trick. 

649 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles 

Best Former Private Club 

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: wagyu fried rice 
• Reservations:  melroseplace.la 
• Location: West Hollywood 

This petite spot on one of the most iconic streets (which formerly housed the Allbright private women’s club) has a townhouse feel as you ascend upwards past the mirrored lobby to the top floor above the restaurant. The surprise is a cozy atmosphere with firepits, banquettes and panoramic views of West Hollywood from the marble bar. Just like home except here you can order miso eggplant, wagyu fried rice and caviar fries, along with the porn star martini topped with prosecco and gold sprinkles. 

8472 Melrose Pl. 

Best Live Music  

• Can’t-Miss Menu Item: garlic shrimp 
• Reservations:  OpenTable 
• Location: Downtown Los Angeles 

Located on the roof of the AC hotel (connected to the Moxy hotel sister property) and designed by the award-winng Yabu Pushelberg, look for the monthly Sunday events by cremaLIVE in partnership with mitú, the Latino media company, which features emerging artists who you can now catch live with a view of the downtown skyline. Brunch also happens on the weekends with tortilla Española, potato chips and chive scramble. Balmy evenings bring tapas-style dishes from shrimp with garlic, patatas bravas, and grilled steak skewers, which all go great with the gin and tonic selection—and do take a closer look at your ice-cube, yes, that’s an edible flower inside.  

1250 S. Figueroa St.