Top 5: Rooftop Bars in America

Well-made, polished cocktails and Instagram-worthy views go hand in hand with rooftop bars around the country. Drinking outside, whether in warmth or cold weather, allows for a great time to unwind with colleagues, friends or family. It’s no wonder rooftop bars across the country are highly sought after. Taking into account the scene, vibe, cocktails and more, we’ve compiled a list of the top five rooftop bars in the United States.

Le Bain at the Standard High

The Standard High Line in Chelsea, New York City, opened in 2009, but the rooftop bar Le Bain maintains its cool factor. With indoor and outdoor space, the rooftop is open year-round, but summer months bring a dance floor plunge pool and a food truck.

Drai’s Beach Club at the Cromwell

Nightlife in Las Vegas is always top-notch, but nightlife impresario Victor Drai dives into the super-club arms race with his namesake party place at the Cromwell hotel with the 65,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor space; 150 VIP cabanas and tables; musical production by Stephen Lieberman, the visual architect behind the music festival Electric Daisy Carnival; and the city’s only rooftop pool.

Stars Restaurant and Rooftop Bar

Located in Charleston, S.C., the streets of Upper King Street have a new stomping ground: the third-floor pavilion at Stars. The 360-degree view provides only the best of Charleston’s rooftops and church steeples. While the street-level restaurant turns heads with its acclaimed Lowcountry menu, the real action is upstairs at the mahogany bar, engulfed by a giant wooden overhang. Ask the bartender to mix up a drink flavored with herbs grown on-site.

Upstairs Ace Hotel

The Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles took the 14^th floor of a 1927 Spanish Gothic building, renovated it,and gave it a Middle Eastern-inspired makeover, turning it into a Los Angeles hot spot. A coral tree strewn with ceramic lanterns is the centerpiece of Upstairs, but don’t forget about the deck adorned in bandanna-pattered awnings, alcoves with reclaimed cedar wood tables and Moroccan kilim cushions and a pool fringed by teak loungers. Guests can enjoy cocktails at three levels: low-, mid- or high-pool.

High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin

The High Rooftop Lounge sits on the seventh floor of Hotel Erwin, overlooking Venice Beach, Calif. The space serves drinks and appetizers nightly and offers cushioned banquettes, heat lamps and blankets. As one of the only rooftop bars in Venice Beach, lines get long. Enjoy a double IPA from San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co. or a jalapeno strawberry margarita, while spending a Sunday afternoon watching sailboats float across the Pacific.