The 9 Best Rooftop Restaurants in Los Angeles

The buzzy new restaurant helmed by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck is as sexy as it is delicious. With his highly anticipated return to the Sunset Strip, the culinary icon created one of his classic fusion menus with a heavy slant towards seafood but don’t overlook dishes like the Japanese A5 Strip that just melts in your mouth. Merois is located at the Pendry West Hollywood, adjacent to the hotel’s chic rooftop pool. Indoor seating includes velvet pink and navy-colored booths that face the twinkling lights of the city skyline with limited outdoor seating also available. Wolfgang Puck’s son and protégé, Byron, can be seen running around managing both Merois and Ospero, Puck’s more casual concept serving his signature wood-fired pizzas.

8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood; (323) 918-3410 or wolfgangpuck.com/dining/merois-west-hollywood

Calabra is a chic indoor and outdoor restaurant and lounge on the rooftop of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel serving elevated Mediterranean dishes with a California flair. The 1920’s-inspired hotel is designed by world renowned interior designer, Kelly Wearstler. Every corner of the hotel looks like a Pinterest board for your future living room decor. Relax on the rooftop and sip on cocktails or a healthy pressed green juice and order the Calabra meze board, an assortment of dips like hummus, labneh, avocado; feta cheese and olives which might as well be a full meal. But if you’re still hungry, try the branzino, or lamb chops with a side of the Calabra fries seasoned with za’atar.

700 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; (424) 390-0737 or properhotel.com/santa-monica/restaurants-bars/calabra

Middle Eastern cuisine is definitely having a moment and Sant’olina is one of the most fun places to indulge. The folks from The h.wood Group converted the top floor of The Beverly Hilton into a pop-up restaurant that puts the spotlight on Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine. Crowd favorites include the housemade dips like hummus and marinated feta served alongside fluffy and warm za’atar laffa bread, the chicken schnitzel and falafel. The makeshift restaurant is indoors but the pretty string lights and DJ playing lounge music Wednesday to Saturday night is what really sets the mood here.

9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills; (310) 285-1260 or santolinabh.com

Situated in the heart of the Melrose Design District, this seafood hotspot always draws a celebrity crowd and long lines outside. Walk past the idyllic floral-filled entrance (but not without snapping an Instagram-worthy photo) and request a table outside to enjoy the sunset from one of LA’s largest rooftops adorned with string lights or sink into one of the plush booths indoors. The menu includes a variety of sashimi and sushi rolls as well as larger entree dishes, but signature items include the Catch roll, truffle sashimi, A5 wagyu and the filling mushroom spaghetti. Look out for CATCH Steak later this fall opening in the former Fig & Olive space down the street.

8715 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood; catchrestaurants.com/catchla

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotel promises some of the most beautiful panoramic views from downtown to Santa Monica and The Rooftop by JG is the best vantage point to take it all in. Enjoy all-day dining alfresco perched 12 stories high while sitting under a steel trellis that provides ample shade without obstructing the LA skyline views. Start with cocktails in the late afternoon and admire the pretty pink hues as the sunsets into evening. For dinner, indulge in decadent dishes like a lobster burger or french fries served with caviar in a garden-like setting outfitted with jade-color furniture, a fireplace and tons of lush greenery including a living wall.

9850 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills; (310) 860-6566 or waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com/dining/the-rooftop-by-jg

Élephante Beach House is a vibey boho chic restaurant that’s always buzzing. Located in downtown Santa Monica, everything from the neutral-toned furniture and decor to the coastal Italian menu gives us Mykonos vibes. While many restaurants in LA turn into a fad, Elephante’s Mediterranean-inspired menu is on point and what keeps diners coming back for more. The restaurant offers gluten-free options like the fried calamari (yes, it’s gluten-free!) and a new spicy vodka pasta but any of the housemade pasta dishes, the whipped eggplant served with freshly-baked Puccia bread or the burrata pizza are also excellent choices.

1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica; elephantela.com

Set on the 71st floor of a downtown skyscraper, 71Above is an upscale, romantic restaurant serving a three-course menu with an optional wine pairing. Make sure to put in the request for a window table for the best views of the city’s twinkling lights (although reservations can be hard to come by). Alternatively, the Vista Patio on the 69th floor, a pop-up experience by the same team is another option which offers a limited preset mezze tasting menu but the same spectacular views.

633 W 5th St., Los Angeles; (213) 712-2683 or 71above.com