Nothing enhances an exquisite meal like a bird’s-eye view—after all, panoramic vistas were made for devouring. At these scenic rooftop restaurants scattered across the U.S., the food and drinks are just as spectacular as the surroundings.
An Asian and Peruvian stunner in Miami, complete with vertical gardens, offers blazing sunset views. A charming lounge that soars 120 floors above Market Street in San Francisco is a coveted hangout for its fire pits and craft cocktails. In Chicago, a spacious patio at a swanky Chinese spot practically floats on the Windy City skyline.
If the dinner and show you’re searching for features cityscapes and glittering stars, look no further than this guide. From east to west and mountains to waterfronts, here are a dozen of the best rooftop restaurants across the U.S. to book right now.
Charmaine’s Rooftop Lounge – San Francisco, California
San Francisco is more known for pocket-sized cocktail bars than sprawling rooftop lounges, which is part of what makes Charmaine’s at the Proper Hotel so special. The stylish spot soars 120 floors above Market Street and is loved for its sleek striped sofas and individual fire pits—the outdoor setting is ideal for the city’s cool and foggy summers. Cozy up with cocktails from the team behind iconic bar Trick Dog, such as the Mister Bigglesworth with bourbon, mezcal, and apple mole. A dinner menu from award-winning chef Jason Fox (of Commonwealth fame) features housemade charcuterie, yuzu- and togarashi-dusted chicken meatballs, and potatoes stuffed with huitlacoche and wild greens.
Stars Restaurant – Rooftop & Grill Room – Charleston, South Carolina
Stars is set in a restored Arts and Crafts building and the only bar with a 360-degree view of the Holy City’s historic dining district—and it’s a downright heavenly one. The bar’s name traces its roots to the owners’ first awe-inducing visit there, when the skyscape offered an unforgettable look at the Milky Way. The restaurant downstairs specializes in live-fire cooking (spit-roasted ribeye, roast duck fettuccine with red wine thyme cream) on a wood-burning rotisserie using ingredients sourced within 100 miles. From the enchanting rooftop perch, diners can sip tap wines, craft beers, and signature cocktails.
Corrida – Boulder, Colorado
To access Basque country-inspired Corrida, diners take an elevator to an airy rooftop patio. Here, they’re greeted by a citywide panorama and sweeping Flatiron mountain views. A traveling cart serves gin and tonics tableside, accented with flavors such as elderflower, cucumber, yuzu, blood orange, and rosemary. Gather around a fire pit for daily tapas hour and snack on pintxos including olives, tinned grilled sardines with citrus breadcrumbs, and dry-cured Iberian ham. For those with heartier appetites, a full-fledged dinner menu includes wood-fired steaks, such as Japanese striploin cooked tableside on hot stones. The result is one of Boulder’s most transportive and spectacular meals.
Juvia – Miami, Florida
You may not expect to find one of Miami’s best rooftops on the penthouse level of a South Beach parking garage, but that’s just one of Juvia’s many surprising delights. The 10,000-square-foot venue features a terrace with stylish booths flanked by living vertical gardens, conjuring images of the Amazon rainforest—a nod to the Brazilian nut tree the restaurant is named after. Opposite this wall are views of Miami’s blazing sunsets and equally vibrant downtown. The restaurant’s menu is an extension of its cosmopolitan neighborhood and rich with French, Japanese, and Peruvian flavors. Begin your rooftop feast with bubbly from the Champagne bar, paired with truffle ceviche with leche de tigre and roasted piquillo peppers. Then graduate to heartier fare such as sea bass in a king crab risotto or grilled organic chicken in vadouvan gravy.
Sway Thai – Austin, Texas
Thailand meets Texas at this award-winning Austin favorite. Sway’s covered rooftop bar is a sought-after place for its plush banquettes and skyline views. Enter through the main dining room and ascend a light-filled open-air staircase to reach the deck. Menu favorites—Jungle Curry, made with black angus brisket, red chile, eggplant, and roasted corn, or the Son in Law, featuring braised pork shoulder and a crispy egg with thick soy—taste even better en plein air. Other highlights include a beer list that hops from Thailand to Japan before coming home to Austin, plus tropically accented cocktails and a strong sake selection.
Eiffel Tower – Las Vegas, Nevada
You may be indoors at this Vegas hotspot, but you’ll feel like you’re hovering above all the action, thanks to glass walls that tower 110 feet over the Strip. Fittingly, the Eiffel Tower is housed in the Paris Hotel & Casino and renowned for French classics including sole petite Grenobloise and roasted rack of lamb—plus one of Vegas’s largest wine lists with over 1,400 labels. A caviar bar and a three-course brunch menu (French onion soup, lobster eggs Benedict, and more) round out the lavish offerings. The pièce de résistance: views of the majestic Bellagio fountains and Sin City’s brightest lights.
Shanghai Terrace – Chicago, Illinois
Lauded as one of the Windy City’s top Chinese restaurants, Shanghai Terrace lives up to its name with a show-stopping patio. It’s perched on the fourth floor of the Peninsula Hotel, set just high enough to float on Chicago’s skyline. Settle into cabanas or comfy sofas, then sample a mix of traditional Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Sichuanese specialties and spins on the classics. A meal here might begin with Australian red abalone or lobster and chicken dumplings with black truffle followed by braised pork belly or Peking duck with wood ear mushrooms and lotus roots. Consider getting one of the creative cocktails, flavored with inventive ingredients such as duck fat or Longjing tea, and raise a toast to your postcard-worthy backdrop.
The Rooftop by JG – Los Angeles, California
Come for the million-dollar Hollywood views from one of LA’s largest rooftops. But stay for sophisticated New American fare. The Rooftop by JG is a lush garden oasis on the 12th floor of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and a go-to spot for impressing out-of-towners. The menu is all about bright flavors with Southeast Asian and Latin American flourishes. You can’t go wrong with JG’s truffle cheeseburger with brie and yuzu pickles, photogenic salads—inspired by the green surroundings—and colorful desserts such a strawberry sundae with honey brioche and makrut lime meringue.
Moonraker – Washington, DC
Welcome to DC’s ultimate see-and-be-seen spot. Moonraker is a Japan-inspired escape on top of the Pendry hotel and draws crowds for its Potomac River vistas and roaring fireplace. Not to mention a world-class whiskey collection and imaginative cocktails featuring Japanese ingredients including Fuji apple juice and shishito peppers. The sashimi and nigiri selection pairs well with the picturesque water views, as do izakaya-esque small plates such as pork belly fried rice and Tokyo-style fried chicken. Linger long over a nightcap or cherry blossom profiteroles and watch the sultry lounge become one of DC’s buzziest rooftop escapes.
Westlight – Brooklyn, New York
Take your pick from a chair on the terrace or a cushy couch in the glassed-in lounge at Westlight, a trendy spot at Brooklyn’s William Vale. The striking 22nd-floor hotel hotel bar pours classic cocktails (plus some playful riffs, such as the rye-forward Highline Smash) and serves dishes by acclaimed chef Andrew Carmellini, who shines the spotlight on global street food. Taste the Mediterranean in the roasted carrot hummus with labneh and coriander honey, Mexico via duck carnitas tacos, or Vietnam through tempura bass buns with fish sauce aioli. Then wander outside to the clear railing and gaze at the jagged cityscape to confirm you’re still very much in New York.
9 Mile Station – Atlanta, Georgia
This popular rooftop destination atop Ponce City Market nails the golden hour game. Unobstructed views of all three of the city skylines—Buckhead, Downtown, and of course, Midtown—are visible from the rooftop beer garden. The in-demand space (it becomes a 21-plus venue after 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays) is known for excellent draft beers, a large wine list, and reimagined cocktails, including three old fashioned varieties. Should drinks turn into dinner, there are creative takes on American classics, such as pork belly sliders and shrimp and grits with crab sauce. Consider a round of mini golf at neighboring Skyline Park to cap off your fun-filled evening.
Mare – Boston, Massachusetts
Sleek patio, check. Fire pits, check. Retractable roof making year-round outdoor dining possible, check. This versatile North End beauty (part of local restaurateur Frank DePasquale’s many ventures) overlooks Boston’s Financial District—but the scenic tableau is just one of Mare’s many enticing features. The kitchen is known for knockout Italian seafood including ricotta- and lobster-stuffed zucchini blossoms and a raw bar that serves caviar with polenta blinis, plus a few non-seafood options. To all that, add heated lamps and lounge seats, and you’ve got yourself an alfresco all-star.
Su-Jit Lin is an Atlanta-based writer specializing in travel, food—including groceries, cooking, and reference guides—and their impact on bringing people together in shared joy and experience.
Olivia Terenzio contributed to this guide.
