The 8 best rooftop bars In Adelaide

Sitting atop the Mayfair Hotel, smack-bang in the city centre is Hennessy Rooftop Bar – an elegant space that blends effortlessly into the heritage-listed CML Building. The 13th-floor bar offers sweeping views across Rundle Mall and the city’s skyline, all while outlining the eastern Adelaide Hills as a backdrop – an ideal spot for taking in the pastel hues as the sun descends from day to dusk. Hennessy Rooftop Bar is designed for year-round relishing, with both indoor and outdoor areas – beneath the crystal chandeliers or beside the building’s terracotta-tiled crown, respectively. As for Hennessy’s tipple, South Australian wine, beer and spirits are in the spotlight, alongside enticing cocktails. Our favourite is the Lycee Lover with gin, lemon, ginger and of course, lychee.

The Latin definition of ‘sol’ means ‘sun’, and at Sol Rooftop, you’ll be nine storeys closer to the big ball of fire in the sky atop one of Adelaide’s chicest terrace bars. Describing itself as ‘West Hollywood casual sophistication with South Australian taste’, Sol Rooftop is clean-cut minimalist and lets the landscape do most of the talking. With north and west-facing views aside from the River Torrens, Sol offers vast visions of suburbia, the foothills and the coastline – not to mention a new perspective of the neighbouring Adelaide Oval. Come sundown, Sol is right in the line of fire for uninterrupted sunny scenes, and the seasonally-rotating cocktail, wine and spirit list reflects Mother Nature graciously. They even have a ‘Big Book’ for connoisseurs that enlists an award-winning selection of beverages. 

Whether you’re kicking it inside or sipping alfresco, Frome Street’s Luna10 brings a touch of lush to the East End. Perched atop the brand-new Crowne Plaza’s tenth floor, Luna10 serves as a poolside retreat from the city sounds. Unobstructed views to the east and west make for spectacular vistas across the rolling Adelaide Hills and brilliant coastal sunsets alike – all with Luna10’s infinity pool posing as a picture-perfect foreground. With an ever-so-tempting dining menu, Luna10 welcomes both eaters and drinkers upstairs, enticing patrons to stay for a good time and a long time without going hungry. Spirits and wines are a Luna10 highlight, while classic cocktails will surefire glisten in the sun’s rays. 

In a more-so recent addition to the Adelaide rooftop bar scene, the Merrymaker over by the Central Market is here with lively licks of paint and a montage of tiling that really does amp up the merry-making. The funky fresh bar is perched 16 storeys above Hotel Indigo, securing its place as the highest rooftop bar in Adelaide. With hill- and city-scapes to behold, Merrymaker invites sunset lovers up for golden-hour gazing, with guaranteed views and ice-cool drinks in hand. Local wines and inventive cocktails are all the rage, matching Marrymaker’s decor to a tee. Take the Black Forest with chocolate gin, mulberry and orange. Hunger pains are a thing of the past too, with piping hot pizzas, tacos and tapas coming out of the wazoo. 

Wedged between the city highrises lies Proof, one of Adelaide’s finest small bars. Yesteryear charm adorns the double-storey haunt – from the light fixtures and gold detailing to the mid-century citrus juicer that sits proudly upon the bar. And although there’s no panoramic vista visible from Proof’s second-level patio, it’s a rooftop nonetheless – just look up and get that tiny feeling amidst the concrete jungle, all while the sun’s kiss illuminates glasses of red and pints of nectar alike. Proof’s menu highlights wines from both near and far, alongside carefully curated cocktails, namely the Pineapple Puppy of gin, vermouth bianco, ginger, citrus and pineapple, naturally. Gourmet toasties are a crucial part of the Proof experience too, and you’d be silly to pass up the oozy opportunity.

As another contender for one of the best rooftop bars in Adelaide, Sora On Pirie soars at level ten with its mezzanine-style dining and entertainment hub. Having opened its doors in early 2024, Sora boasts an up-market fit-out with leafy touches, considered lighting and a layout that shakes things up a bit. The multi-level precinct allows patrons to experience a complete night out without leaving the venue – whether you’re filling your belly with Sora’s flavours from across Asia, popping a bottle of top-tier Champagne, or getting your groove on beneath the disco ball. The west-facing, skyline view is the ultimate backdrop that’ll bring a bit of pizzazz to your Insta game.

Head straight into the frying pan along Adelaide’s notorious nightlife precinct, Hindley Street. Entertainment-seekers flock to the clubs, those who’ve taken it a step too far park up with a kebab in hand, and those after a little refuge from the bustle know that Nineteen Ten is the place to be. Coming in hot as one of two rooftop pool bars in Adelaide, the third-level emporium is an open-air speakeasy of sorts, where live music and burlesque meets canopy seclusion. Inspired by prohibition-era New York, Nineteen Ten serves up fine tipple and a liqueur list to boot. Signature cocktails are aplenty with the likes of the Vampire’s Kiss, which drips of shiraz and ruby fruits, as well as the Ooh Mami, best described as that of a green Bloody Mary.

What can we say – Rocket Bar and Rooftop is Adelaide’s long-standing ol’ faithful when it comes to open-air good times. Sitting on the third floor of Crippen Place’s multi-level nightclub, Rocket’s rooftop serves those who are looking to party with the addition of fresh-ish ventilation. Resident DJs are a mainstay, as are tropical cocktails that are sippable aside the palm tree centrepiece. There’s something very Seminyak about it, if you know what we mean. Scooch into a comfy booth or hit the boogie floor with a gin ‘n’ tonic in hand, and let the music take you on a journey to carefree land.