These are San Francisco’s best rooftop bars

Located on the 12th floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel in the SOMA district directly next door to Oracle Park, the Kaiyo Rooftop bar offers a stunning view over the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge and a hint of the bay. The Nikkei spot has a mix of Japanese and Peruvian culinary influences and is a spin-off venue from Cow Hollow’s Kaiyō. Expect a distinct tropical vacation vibe with lush greenery, palm trees and vibrant colors throughout. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house here and the interior aesthetic—with the large, oversized bar, emerald green tiles, curved arches and hanging woven lanterns—completes the experience.

Rise Over Run sits atop the LINE Hotel in the Flatiron Building at the corner of Turk and Market. The lush, sky-high terrace and solarium offer panoramic vistas of the city. Catch views of building-sized murals and the dome of the 1922 Golden Gate Theatre next door while a DJ might spin a few grooveable tunes. Local beverage consultant Danny Louie crafts the cocktail menu, while the eclectic dining options include everything from smoked kanpachi to a “royale… with cheese.”

Find Cavaña on the 17th floor of the LUMA Hotel in the Mission Bay neighborhood. The views here are some of the best in the city: Take in the Bay Bridge, the waterfront and a glimpse of the Giants’ ballpark. A night at Cavaña is always a party, packed with friend groups and couples having a good time both inside at dining tables and lounge areas and outside by the firepits and standing ledges. The food and cocktail offerings are vibrant and colorful, highlighting Central and South American flavors.

Charmaine’s, the Proper Hotel’s rooftop bar, is where a European terrace meets laid-back California vibes. Cocktails are styled by Josh Harris’s James Beard Award nominated BVHospitality, the team behind Bon Voyage! and Trick Dog. Enjoy your beverages in the living room or venture to the patio with firepits and sculptural tables perched 120 feet over Market Street. Bar snacks come courtesy of chef Jason Fox, formerly of Michelin-starred Commonwealth, who heads up Villon, the restaurant below.

The Good Good Culture Club’s rooftop garden has bright paint colors, potted palms and wooden flooring, a comfortable space to grab a cocktail or two. Located near Dolores Park with a beautiful view of the iconic Women’s Building, this open-air roof garden sits atop a bustling Southeast Asian-meets-California cuisine restaurant so popular the website repeatedly asks customers to consider those with reservations after them.

Latin American-inspired Mission hotspot El Techo sits atop sister restaurant Lolinda and is one of the best-equipped rooftop bars in the city—which explains the constant crowds. Arrive before 5pm to avoid a wait; those lucky enough to snag a post-work table tend to linger. The open-air rooftop is bordered by glass walls—a welcome shield from breezes—and outfitted with sun-shading umbrellas and high-powered heat lamps. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6pm and includes discounts on beers, bar bites (go for the chili-spiced fried plantains) and margaritas. 

Rooftop 25 is an elevated outdoor bar at restaurant 25 Lusk with upbeat music and a casual vibe. Its playful menu offers boozy slushies (we love the spicy passionfruit margarita), wood-fired pizzas and Maine lobster guacamole. It’s a three-story building so the views aren’t crazy high, but it’s nice to see the sunset from the west-facing deck.

Boasting a “vantage point like no other,” the View Lounge on the 39th floor of the Marriott Marquis offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid. Open daily 4pm to midnight, the lounge offers shareables like the Pt. Reyes cheese collection with dried fruits and olive oil crackers, and for cocktails, the signature 10/89 martini whose name commemorates the fact that the hotel opened October 17, 1989—the day of the Loma Prieta earthquake. This beautiful building (that “jukebox” you notice in the skyline) only lost a single window and became a retreat for displaced residents.

Starlite, with spectacular 180-degree views from the 21st floor, has been part of San Francisco’s history for nearly a century. Atop the Beacon Grand hotel in Union Square (once the Sir Francis Drake), it has been a party powerhouse for past celebrities like Allen Ginsberg and Herb Caen, and now boasts a refreshed interior by San Francisco-based designer Alice Crumeyrolle. Relax into velvet fabrics with an emerald and gold Art Deco palette and sip on cocktails inspired by themes like the Gold Rush, cable cars and fog, curated by San Francisco native Scott Baird of Trick Dog. The bites menu is created by Michelin Award-winning chef and raw bar expert Johnny Spero, and accompanying that incredible experience is nightly all-vinyl, live DJ sets by Nina Tarr.

The Inner Sunset location of Fiorella, an extremely popular pizza and pasta restaurant, is a big factor in drawing crowds. The impressive bar also contributes to its allure, as do the delicious cocktails served on the tastefully designed rooftop deck—which all put together are reason enough to spend whole evenings here. There are now four locations dotted around San Francisco, but the Sunset District one is our favorite—not only for the rooftop bar but also because it (and the Noe Valley branch) serves that all-important contribution to Western civilized society, brunch.

The Rooftop Park at the Palm Court restaurant in the Dogpatch neighborhood near Pier 70 is a great one for history buffs and lovers of luxe architecture. Found within RH San Francisco (which itself occupies the historic Bethlehem Steel Building), the interior restaurant’s glass and steel atrium boasts a center fountain sculpted of Calacatta gold marble, recalling the glamour of San Francisco’s Gilded Age. Outside, you’ll find the Rooftop Park, a garden space with spectacular views of the city’s skyline where you can sip cocktails to the sound of trickling fountains.

It may be next to a Trader Joe’s and across the street from Ross Dress for Less, but Dirty Habit, a fifth-story hotel bar, is surprisingly sexy. Tucked atop the Hotel Zelos, the spot isn’t necessarily known for its views but instead as a stylish, upscale destination for craft cocktails. The landscaped terrace is outfitted with gas fireplaces and a range of indoor-outdoor seating, from bar stools to cushy leather sofas. Though the atmosphere inside is moody, the deck is more laid-back (you’ll still want to make a reservation, though, as the outdoor space usually fills up in advance). The cocktails are inventive, incorporating tea, spices and fresh herbs.

620 Jones is only on the second story, but trust us, you won’t mind. Enter through the wrought iron gates (they’re easy to miss), scale the stairs and emerge onto an open-air terrace decked with string lights and palms. This raucous Tenderloin bar is a scene-y happy hour spot, thanks to the ample seating and three bars. The perch affords views of FiDi, the Transamerica Pyramid and the TL below. There’s an all-around arty vibe, from the glowing neon signs to the surrounding murals. Happy hour runs from 4 to 6pm Tuesday through Friday.