Combine spectacular views, imaginative drinks and luxurious settings and you have the perfect location in which to fully appreciate a new city.
Whenever BusinessClass visits somewhere new on our international travels, we make a point of finding the best rooftop bars. Often, these are perched upon the city’s finest hotels, which we are also very fond of.
Here we take a look at the best hotel rooftop bars in the world. Enjoy!
Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok
With the highly competitive bar scene in Bangkok, Moon Bar, perched on the 61st floor of the 5-star Banyan Tree hotel, certainly stands out. Its 360-degree views, premium drinks and sumptuous accompanying restaurant, aptly named Vertigo, keep it head and shoulders above the rest of the city’s bars.
Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok
Photo: Banyan Tree Bangkok
Moon Bar is relaxed and informal, but retains a sophisticated atmosphere. Make sure to try the classic Vertigo Sunset cocktail, an electrifying mix of pineapple, cranberry and lime juices with Malibu, or the more potent Thai Sabai, a combination of Mekhong (a national sugarcane and rice-based spirit), lime juice, basil leaves, and soda water.
Rumpus Room, Mondrian London
Located on the 12th floor of the Mondrian London, Rumpus Room boasts chic city views from the edge of Southbank. Its delicious champagne cocktails and energetic DJs, along with a backdrop of St Paul’s Cathedral, make it one of London’d best rooftop venues.
Rooftop Rumpus Room at Mondrian London
Photo: Mondrian London
Inspired The Bright Young Things – a name given to a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s – the stylish Rumpus Room has remained somewhat of an inside secret in the capital, often being overlooked for the award-winning Dandelyan bar on the ground floor. However, when the sun sets on London, the 12th floor of the Mondrian London is where you want to be, cocktail in hand, of course.
Aer, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
This modern open-air bar covers the entire rooftop of Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, affording it panoramic views of the city and the Arabian sea. An extensive list of wines and champagnes is complemented with a simple but delectable Mediterranean tapas menu.
Aer, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
Photo: Four Seasons
Order a cocktail at the central bar or relax on contemporary seating and soak up the vistas. The lounge opens at 5.30pm and a DJ plays an eclectic mix most evenings. A canopy and windscreen protect the bar during the monsoon season, meaning Aer can be enjoyed year-round.
New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo
52 stories above Tokyo’s bustling streets, within the elegant 5-star Park Hyatt Tokyo, you find the stunning New York Bar. Famed for its part in the film Lost in Translation, as the setting for Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray unlikely relationship, New York Bar is Tokyo’s most spectacular venue for cocktails and live music, with top international jazz artists performing nightly.
New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo
Photo: Park Hyatt Tokyo
New York Bar also offers breathtaking views, premium cognac and brandies, and the largest selection of American wines in Japan. Please note that a cover charge applies after 8pm to those who are not guests at the hotel, and that smoking is permitted within the premises.
Rock Bar Bali, AYANA Resort and Spa
Undoubtedly one of Bali’s most idyllic bars – and often heralded as one of the best bars in the world – Rock Bar at AYANA Resort & Spa makes a dramatic and unforgettable setting for a sunset cocktail.
Rock Bar Bali, AYANA Resort and Spa
Photo: AYANA
Perched atop distinctive rock formations along the pristine Jimbaran coastline of south Bali, Rock Bar Bali sits just metres above the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. Join the glamorous sunset vibe from 4pm and enjoy the ambient atmosphere, premier international DJs, and postcard-worthy views.
CÉ LA VI (formerly KU DE TA), Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Reaching for the clouds on the 57th floor of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI bar has one of the best views in Singapore, helping it to become the city’s hottest rooftop venue. On one side of the venue you have the Sky Deck and Club Lounge, whilst the CÉ LA VI restaurant and Sky Bar are on the other.
CÉ LA VI, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Photo: Marina Bay Sands
As the sun sets, the bar starts to fill and the DJ brings revellers to their feet. The Club Lounge morphs into a dance floor, creating a uniquely energetic atmosphere way above the city. In way of cocktails, be sure to try Tony Stark’s Pepper (peppercorn infused Grey Goose vodka, caramel syrup, lemon juice, seared pineapple).
Ozone Hong Kong, Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
Ritz Carlton Hong Kong’s glitzy Ozone bar on the 118th floor is officially the highest bar in the world. With its enchanting blue-hued design, sweeping views and funky DJs, it’s easy to see why Ozone is one of the city’s most celebrated and exclusive rooftop bars.
Ozone Hong Kong, Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
Photo: Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
The striking venue offers lessons on how to make its creative cocktails, whilst an outstanding Asian tapas menu is available for when you get a bit peckish. Make sure to get to Ozone for 8pm, as it makes the ideal vantage point for Hong Kong’s daily Symphony of Lights display. Truly mesmerising!
Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, China
China’s highest alfresco bar, the sleek and stylish Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, crown of the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, is a warm and rustic venue. It consists a loft-like bar, ambient outdoor space, and renowned tapas-style and sushi restaurant 58 floors above the bustling metropolis.
Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
Photo: Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
Flair is worth a visit between 2pm and 4pm, when a plush afternoon tea is served and the city’s ever-evolving skyline is clearest. Sip your tea and enjoy the views on comfortable lounge sofas, or try something stronger from the extensive cocktail and spirits menu.
La Terraza Hotel Bagués, Barcelona
This 5-star boutique hotel sits right in the middle of Las Ramblas, making it the perfect base for your time in Barcelona. Set in a former palace and with a stunning rooftop bar and pool, Hotel Bagués is one of BusinessClass’ favourite Spanish hotels.
La Terraza Hotel Bagués, Barcelona
Photo: Hotel Bagués
The bar attracts a young, fashionable crowd due to its privileged views and exceptional cocktails and tapas. There are original Italian-style deck chairs and a small viewpoint from which to enjoy 360-degree views of the Barcelona skyline.
Radio Rooftop Bar, ME Milan Il Duca
Located on the tenth floor of ME Milan II Duca in Italy’s fashion capital, Radio Rooftop Bar offers an exclusive and high-energy venue with a selection of international tapas, classy cocktails, and fine wines and champagnes.
Radio Rooftop Bar, ME Milan Il Duca
Photo: ME Milan Il Duca
Dress to impress at this chic bar, where you can soak up unbeatable views of the Piazza della Repubblica before shaking your stuff to the house DJ who plays every night.