Cooling cocktails on warm nights, skyline views backed by peach sunsets, your favourite company and great music – is there any better recipe for a dreamy summer vibe? At these hangouts, with unrivalled locations perched high above some of America’s most beautiful cities, the experience can all be yours. There are options on this list to appeal to everyone – whether you’re seeking somewhere chilled, glamourous, grungy or eccentric – so come with us on our virtual tour of the best rooftop bars across the country. Please note, you must be aged 21+ to access the majority of spaces on this list.

On the sun-soaked roof terrace of this trendy LA hotel, revellers can spy the iconic Hollywood sign and recline on candy-striped couches while working their way through the fruity cocktail programme. Open from noon to midnight seven days a week, the rooftop at Mama Shelter holds a Happy Hour between 4pm and 6pm daily, with discounts on house pilsner, ales, wines and spirits, plus $5 (£4) martinis and $3 (£2.40) oysters on Wednesdays. Other events include regular vinyl DJ sets and April 2022 saw the venue’s inaugural ‘Adoptable Meet and Greet’ – a comedy show attended by shelter pups looking for forever homes.

With an “elegant casual” dress code and 360-degree panoramas of Manhattan and the Hudson, The Press Lounge is one of the most desirable destinations to grace our round-up. It sits at the top of Ink48 Hotel, 16 storeys above PRINT Restaurant, and serves seasonal cocktails and locally-produced wines year-round. Try Spill the Tea, an aromatic infusion of white bergamot tea, cardamom lemon and grapefruit, or the moody Which Twin Is It? with bourbon, Scotch, maple syrup and chocolate bitters. Open every evening of the week until late, customers can expect to feel relaxed and sophisticated all at once in these stylish, cosy surroundings.

Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighbourhood is known for being the childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr., and today is the city’s hotspot for creativity and culture. Here you’ll find Nine Mile Station, an outdoor patio occupying the top floor of Ponce City Market, offering craft beer, cocktails (including three different riffs on an old fashioned) and weekend brunches alongside views over Buckhead and Downtown. It shares the rooftop with Skyline Park, where you can play vintage amusements, mini golf and more. Reservations are required to guarantee a table for your party, with a $25 (£20) deposit per head which gets redeemed against your final bill.

Overlooking the bright lights of Sin City’s skyline, Legacy Club is a rooftop cocktail lounge on the 60th floor of the Circa Resort and Casino. Its design takes inspiration from the Las Vegas founding fathers, featuring fire pits, metal busts and a display of 500 bespoke gold bullions. From the afternoon to the wee hours of the morning, guests can sample the handiwork of a masterful team of mixologists and there’s even a craft cocktail-making evening course you can book for. Head outside with the Sunset Package for a truly memorable experience: you’ll receive two signature cocktails and a Champagne toast as the sun dims over the valley.

Discover the world's coolest bars

Whether it’s sunshine, showers or snowing in downtown Seattle, Frol!k has your back. This versatile deck space, found on the fifth floor of the Motif Hotel, offers rain cover and warming tabletop fireplaces should the weather require them, but the ambience always remains. Happy Hour runs from 4pm to 6pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with speciality cocktails and local light bites served at lower prices than usual. The bar team here clearly love a theme, crafting everything from a Baby Yoda cocktail for May the 4th to Valentine’s Red Velvet Kiss shots. In June, the venue’s annual PRIDE Drag Brunch event returns.

As the cool kids would say, the vibe is immaculate at Sugar. Situated on the EAST hotel’s 40th floor, it brings together that trademark Miami chill and the flavours of Asia. Come dressed in your best to this sleek rooftop hideaway, where the city views fight for attention against an abundant and imaginative menu. Cocktail-wise, you could go East of Miami with a gin, green tea, ginger and citrus concoction, or taste the Lychee Blossom with notes of sake and elderflower. The food offering is equally delicious: from pork belly buns and sushi rolls to satay skewers and naughty alcoholic ice cream.

Resident Angelenos and out-of-town visitors love this spot on top of Hotel Erwin. The perspective offered from High Rooftop Lounge perfectly frames magical sundowns over the Pacific Ocean and the Venice promenade, making it an ideal location for some California dreamin’ over a few dripping cold beers. Happy Hour is 3pm to 5pm on weekdays, offering deals on draft beer, house wines, hard seltzer, Moscow mules and accompanying nibbles. Highlights from the regular menu include a curated list of signature cocktails (the Mezcalita Negroni sounds great) and adult-only slushies.

Acme Feed & Seed has the music for which Nashville is world-famous embedded in its very soul. The historic premises houses not only a great rooftop bar but also a boutique selling wares from local artisans, an intimate lounge area, casual restaurant and an independent radio station. Guests can take their food and drink up to the roof, where they’ll be greeted by panoramic views of Broadway, the Cumberland River and beyond. Music industry professionals get together here on Thursday nights for special networking events and on weekends, there’s Yoga Buzz classes and dance parties. Join in with happy hour from 4.30pm to 6.30pm Monday to Thursday.

Named after Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguard, the J. Parker lies above Hotel Lincoln and boasts weather-proof features, such as a retractable roof, for whenever the Windy City starts living up to its epithet. But regardless of what’s going on outside, the view from this rooftop is perennially lovely, capturing sights of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan within its frame. While wine and beer drinkers can’t go far wrong here, the menu particularly swings in favour of spirits and cocktails; the latter currently inspired by figures from Greek mythology. Looking for something to soak up that liquor? Treat yourself to some truffle and parmesan fries.

From its outpost on the Watergate Hotel, Top of the Gate grants guests a 360-degree aspect of DC and its landmarks, including the Washington Monument and Potomac River. Added to the hotel during a recent $200 million (£160m) revamp, the bar has quickly become a playground for discerning merry-makers, being crowned one of the 10 Great Rooftop Bars Across America by Maxim. The seasonal featured cocktail is currently a Summer Bloom, mixing flavours of elderflower with vodka and limoncello. Playful versions of year-round favourites include the Mango Mule and Capital Negroni. Note that reservations here are strongly advised and they’re only open Thursday to Saturday evenings.

Check out the world's best hotel restaurants

As a former mortuary, the setting of Linger might be unusual – but don’t let that put you off. Even the original neon sign has been repurposed, now illuminated to read "Linger Eatuaries" instead of "Olinger Mortuaries" after dark. On the rooftop, drinks are served from a 1975 GMC RV; choose from wine, beer or perhaps a hard kombucha if that’s more your thing. The cocktail offering is fun and flavourful, with a spicy New Saigon (gin, lime, basil, cucumber and jalapeño) and the Frozen Painkiller giving tropical island energy. The perfect foil for these punchy beverages is the street food-style menu, complete with Korean BBQ tacos and wagyu sliders.

Located on top of NOLA’s Ace Hotel, it’s possible to still enjoy the many luxuries of Alto as a non-hotel guest. By purchasing a pool pass, customers not staying overnight can access the rooftop facilities – bar, restaurant, garden and heated pool – during daylight hours. For those with a room booked, additional perks include live DJ sessions between 6pm and 9pm on Saturdays for sunset, and noon and 4pm on Sundays. Food and drink is available to everyone, with a great discount on canned drinks when you buy five of the same variety. Happy hour is 5pm to 8pm daily, with a different signature $8 (£6) cocktail each day.

Presiding over downtown Portland from the highest point of the Meier and Frank Building, Departure brings a taste of the Far East to the Pacific Northwest. Its pan-Asian cuisine is the jewel in the crown, with a menu of sushi, dim sum and decadent entrees. But people often just come to drink in the views of the city centre while nurturing their beverage of choice. Sample a selection of house cocktails, craft beers and sake, as well as usual suspects from behind the bar, on the outdoor patio (divided into an east deck and west deck) or in the lounge. Open Wednesday to Sunday between 4pm and 11pm.

Situated above the Envoy Hotel, the views from Lookout over the Boston Harbour and Seaport district are really something to behold. Open every day of the week from 11am, with slightly later closing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the bar showcases expertly crafted cocktails and mocktails alongside draught and canned craft brews and a plentiful menu of whiskey, tequila and wines by the glass. Cocktails are categorised into top-shelf classics and signature specialities, with espresso martinis and Aperol spritzes rubbing shoulders with Don’t Feed the Bears (Irish whiskey, tangerine and thyme) and The Basic B (cucumber vodka, aloe and lemonade).

Perch is a double-decker rooftop hangout with al fresco dining on the 15th floor terrace and a lounge bar above, decorated with Mediterranean-style tiles, miniature palms, fire pits and mismatched garden furniture. The leading stars of the beverage menu are a bounty of thoughtfully curated cocktails, featuring the My Fair Lady; a peach-tinged reinvention of a cosmopolitan, the Otto with whiskey, lemon and bail, and Hemingway on the Beach, headed by Damrak gin and maraschino cherry liqueur. There’s also a plentiful supply of wines and Champagne, with live music nightly from 7pm, although aperitif hour is sadly suspended for now due to COVID.

Discover the restaurants with the best views in America

With not only one but three outdoor patios on which to soak up the atmosphere, the Monarch Club looks out over downtown Detroit and a sea of glittering skyscrapers. Tucked behind the stone parapet of the neo-gothic Metropolitan Building, this penthouse venue pays homage to the mid-century rooftop bars of the city’s heyday, while incorporating its own contemporary twist. Drinks range from exclusive craft cocktails like the caramel-rich Round Midnight and floral Summer Wind, to wine, beer and reams of spirits. Snacks and small plates can be ordered to accompany them, with salty charcuterie and sticky chicken wings cutting through the boldness of alcohol.

With wicker chairs, soft-lit lanterns, marble tables and stunning vistas of the Lady Bird Lake, P6 is the phoenix that rose from the ashes of a former car park. It is one of several hospitality options offered by the Austin arm of The Line hotel, where guests can come to escape the chaos of city life and unwind in front of the Texas sunset. This open-air lounge bar is perfect for dinner or drinks, with happy hour kicking off at 4pm until 6pm on weekdays. If you don’t need to be up for work on Monday, there are Sunday night savings of $20 (£16) off wine by the bottle.

Across the East River from Manhattan, Westlight lies on the 22nd floor and tops The William Vale hotel in the heart of hip Williamsburg. Those wanting a closer look at the epic skyline can make a beeline for one of multiple bright yellow viewfinders, dotted both inside and out on the rooftop terrace. Open year-round, it presents an exciting menu of cocktails – old favourites and original creations – which provide the focal point of the drinks offering. Try The William; a combination of gin, vermouth, pear brandy and absinthe, or the Remy Rouge with hints of refreshing pomegranate and pineapple. Supplement these with light bites such as empanadas and ceviche.

Assembly commands the space at the top of The Logan Hotel, nine storeys above Benjamin Franklin Parkway. There are open-air lounge areas with plush seating, cosy fire pits and views of Philly’s cultural quarter, as well as covered spaces so that customers can appreciate the wonderful setting in all weathers. Choose a bottle of bubbly or cocktail; the choice is characterful and wide-ranging, from The Stay-cation (dark rum with tropical undertones) to Down the Shore, a symphony of bourbon, basil and strawberry. Reservations are recommended and happy hour is 4pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday.

Another nine-storeys-high destination, the view from The Outsider surveys Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward neighbourhood. It provides “an elevated social experience, where there’s always something going on and always something to sip”, in its own words. On the sipping front, festive cocktails, regional small-batch spirits and craft beer on-tap bring the party; taste the ethereal Starry Night, with pisco, Cointreau and creme de violette, or an apple-fresh Almost Famous. Whatever your tipple, it can be savoured across six purpose-designed indoor and outdoor zones. Retractable walls allow for the ultimate seasonal flexibility, enhanced with day-beds and blankets depending on what the weather dictates.

Being something of a Chicago institution, Cindy’s nestles above the Athletic Association Hotel and looks out over Cloud Gate (affectionately known as “The Bean”) and the surrounding Millennium Park. A glass atrium, evocative of a Great Lakes beach house, is the main setting for this rooftop bar and restaurant, but the wraparound open-air terrace is the place for washing down oysters and peppered porterhouse-for-two with glasses of biodynamic wines and top-tier cocktails. Sourced from vintners all over the world, the diversity of the wine list is super impressive, while the cocktails centre around vibrant fruits, aromatics and botanicals.

The Nolen sits on the 14th floor of the Courtyard Gaslamp building, watching over the San Diego skyline. The drinks programme features a select few small-batch spirits distilled in and around the city, as well as from the wider US. Their cocktails are little different here too, incorporating barrel-aged spirits in innovative ways to provide guests with something intriguing. The Third Rodeo is a heady mix of rye whiskey, chai syrup and sarsaparilla smoked bitters, whereas the Jungle 2 Jungle brings a house blend of rum together with Aperol and lime. Don’t miss happy hour: Monday to Wednesday from 5pm until 7pm, and from 3pm on Sundays.

Check out the best date night restaurant in every state

While it doesn’t quite possess the towering stature and chic elegance of some of the other bars in this list, the second-floor rooftop at Brit’s Pub certainly doesn’t scrimp on atmosphere. Loved by Anglophiles and sports fans, it attracts passionate spectators of football, rugby and lawn bowling, which is played below in the English Garden Park. Drinks-wise, the authentic choice would be a G&T (gin and tonic), Pimm’s (fruit liqueur typically served with lemonade) or a pint of beer. Pair with a Scotch egg for the full experience of feeling like you’re in a proper British boozer. Happy hour is every weekday from 4.30pm to 6.00pm.

There’s all sorts of cool stuff going down at The Lost Square, and we don’t just mean the sun – although Sunset Hour does run Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 8pm, and involves special deals on bar food, bubbles and cocktails set to a panoramic backdrop of Savannah’s riverfront. The cocktail menu is succinct and seasonal, but includes a draught highball option and a “cocktail with a cause” (which gives $2 (£1.60) to charity for every one sold). Looking for love? Join in with the venue’s Single in Savannah happy hour every Thursday evening. There’s also live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and service-industry employees get 30% off their bill on Sundays from 2pm.

The Dewberry won a coveted place on Condé Nast Traveler’s elite Gold List of hotels in 2022, and its rooftop Citrus Club is certainly a suave hangout worthy of such an establishment. This 8th floor terrace occupies the highest rooftop in Charleston and captures views over the city and harbour, out to the Atlantic Ocean. It is further embellished by the presence of fragrant citrus and olive trees, creating a blissful setting for sundowners on balmy evenings. The cocktail offering is especially marvellous here, with all-day drinks like the Strawberry Fields and The Cooper alongside cooling daiquiris and house specialities revolving around zesty fruits.

One of the newer kids on the block, Lady Bird sits atop the Kimpton Hotel Banneker and takes its name from former First Lady, ‘Lady Bird’ Johnson. The bird’s-eye view offered from its location includes a lesser-seen perspective of the White House and, on a clear day, the National Cathedral in the distance. Patio heaters, homely plants and soft furnishings add to the comfort levels outside, while the duck egg-hued interiors are lovely too and retractable glass panels give the space an indoor-outdoor feel. Reservations are required for food and drink, with a menu featuring sweet strawberry cocktails and salty goat’s cheese hush-puppies.

Another Kimpton property, Area 31 is located on the 16th floor of the EPIC Hotel, giving it an amazing outlook over Biscayne Bay and the Miami River from both its restaurant and outdoor bar lounge. The drinks programme covers everything from seasonal cocktails enhanced with ingredients grown in the venue’s own herb garden – think pumpkin pie martinis – to wine and craft beer from all over the world. On Thursdays and Fridays, get involved with social hour between 5pm and 7pm, when there’s special discounts on beverages and light bites.

Discover the best places to enjoy America's most famous dishes

El Techo serves up “street food, rooftop views and your favourite cocktails 'del sol', 364 days a year.” Bringing a Latino vibe to SanFran’s Mission District, the venue is entirely open to the elements, with wind shields and heaters should that signature Californian sun unfortunately elude you. It’s a buzzy hangout, always alive with the laughter and conservation, with people frequently queuing around the block. Whether cocktails (the Oaxacan Old Fashion is a play on the classic; adding mezcal, tequila and chocolate-orange bitters) or cerveza is more your jam, you’ll be well catered for here... happy hour is 4pm until 6pm on weekdays.

You won’t have to look hard to spot the Empire State Building from the rooftop at Spyglass. Situated on the Archer Hotel’s 22nd floor, the city consumes you as you walk out onto the open-air terrace and into a cloud of enigmatic ambience inspired by the Hitchcockian masterpiece, Rear Window. The cocktails here cover both common and more adventurous ground, with classics like espresso martinis and kir royales going up against craft variations such as the District Fashion and Pink Negroni. Wine and beer is also available, ready to be paired with vegan sliders and bacon-wrapped jalapeños from the snacking menu.

Views? Check. Cocktails? Check. Pool? Check. Larger-than-life pink bust of Dolly Parton? Also check. The Graduate Nashville’s rooftop pleasure garden, White Limozeen, is a fabulously garish love letter to the iconic 9 to 5 singer and is named after her 1989 studio album. Despite having only opened to the public in the midst of the pandemic, the venue knows immediately what it wants to be – an intentionally over-the-top, hybrid haven of indoor-outdoor recreation that celebrates the queen of country music and everything she stands for. Guests must book for pool access and table dining on the French-inspired menu, but it’s walk-ins only for themed cocktails on the kooky patio.

Discover the 30 best French restaurants in America