Rooftop Bars in San Francisco That You Can't Miss
Nothing pairs better with a cocktail than a breathtaking view of the San Francisco skyline. Here are the best rooftop bars in the Bay Area.
San Francisco's Mediterranean climate means rooftop season lasts all year round. If you're looking for a place to pair a creative cocktail with gorgeous views of the City by the Bay, then you're in luck.
San Francisco is in the midst of a rooftop renaissance, from reinvented staples to a bunch of trendy new kids on the block. With so many new openings, it's best to use our guide to discover the best rooftop bars and lounges around San Francisco.
How many of these new rooftops have you visited?
620 Jones
Easy to find because its name is the same as its address; easier still to enjoy because 620 Jones is one of the largest outdoor establishments in San Francisco! Their weekday happy hour is popular with people finishing the workday, and their weekend brunches feature mimosas by the pitcher and even a breakfast martini.
Archimedes Banya
If you're looking to pamper yourself before a cocktail, head to Bayview's Archimedes Banya, San Francisco's only authentic Russian bathhouse. After a visit to a plunge pool or sauna, head to their rooftop bar, Zteamer's. Enjoy traditional Russian delicacies like caviar and perogies with your beverage of choice.
B Restaurant & Bar
Located atop The Moscone Center, San Francisco's premier convention venue, B Restaurant & Bar is perfect for anyone at anytime, not just convention attendees from out of town. Its known for its seasonal cocktails, raw bar, and priority given to using locally sourced ingredients.
Cavaña
Elevate your experience at Cavaña, the rooftop bar, and lounge at the Luma Hotel in Mission Bay. Offering sweeping views of the city skyline, Oracle Park, and the East Bay, this contemporary space provides a sophisticated retreat for locals and visitors. Guests can indulge in handcrafted cocktails, tapas, and shared plates that showcase the distinct flavors of Central and South America, like halibut ceviche, strip steak arrachera, and a pisco punch.
Stay At the LUMA HotelCharmaine’s
Step off the San Francisco Proper Hotel elevator and straight into the playfully opulent atmosphere of Charmaine’s. Perched 120 feet above the hustle and bustle of Market Street, this indoor/outdoor escape boasts a glittering backdrop of city lights and a dazzling array of cocktails to match it. The creative bartenders can mix something to please any palate, whether you’re in the mood for a quirky concoction or a classic Old Fashioned. The snack selection fits right in with Charmaine’s luxe-yet-cheeky theme. Don’t miss the hot dog dressed up with Bavarian mustard and fermented lettuce.
Stay At The Proper Hotel
Chotto Matte
In the heart of Union Square, you'll find San Francisco's newest rooftop bar, restaurant, and nightlife hub. Chotto Matte is an ultra-luxe yet down-to-earth food and beverage experience that showcases the very best of Nikkei cuisine with bold, eye-catching natural colors and mouth-watering taste sensations. Relax on the plush seating of their expansive wrap-around terraces, offering sweeping views of the bustling neighborhood below.
Cityscape Lounge
Located on the 46th floor of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Cityscape Lounge boasts unobstructed views of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Cityscape Lounge is fully enclosed, but the stunning 360-degree views of San Francisco make this sky bar a must-see.
Stay at the Hilton San Francisco Union SquareDirty Habit
Located on the fifth floor of the Hotel Zelos (which is just steps from amazing cultural institutions like the Contemporary Jewish Museum and SFMOMA), Dirty Habit offers tables and comfy sofas that are partially shielded from the elements. Their cocktail menu features tried-and-true favorites as well as adventurous new creations, and their small plates make for terrific shared snacking.
Stay at Hotel ZelosEl Techo
Sitting atop its sister restaurant, Lolinda, El Techo is one of the high points of the Mission—figuratively and literally! You can see for miles from this bar that offers cocktails by the pitcher and terrific Latin American street food. There's no wrong time to visit El Techo, whether its for their weekday happy hours or weekend brunches.
Kaiyo
Kaiyo's rooftop will transport you to a tropical oasis atop Hyatt Place Hotel, just blocks from Oracle Park. Nikkei, Japanese-Peruvian cuisine and cocktails, pair perfectly with the San Francisco Skyline. The beverage menu spans to include a variety of Japanese whisky highballs to cocktails that include pisco. You can come here before a Giants game, but you won't want to leave. You'll feel like you're on vacation and that's alright by us.
Stay at Hyatt Place HotelRise Over Run
Enjoy sweeping views of the city skyline at Rise Over Run, Mid-Market’s lush rooftop bar, and solarium at the LINE Hotel SF. Share a cocktail and small plates with friends around a fire pit, or stargaze through the glass roof. This is one of San Francisco's most unique rooftop venues!
Stay at the LINE Hotel San FranciscoRooftop 25
Located near Oracle Park, this is the ultimate rooftop to visit before or after a baseball game. Rooftop 25 offers outdoor seating with upbeat music and a casual vibe, perfect for kicking back with friends and family. Their wood-fired oven serves up delicious culinary bites with something for even the pickiest of eaters. Their full bar offers fun frozen and specialty cocktails, regional wines, and a great selection of ice-cold local beers.
Rooftop At VIA
Raise a toast atop the Hotel VIA in South Beach. The hotel’s Rooftop at VIA is a chic indoor/outdoor space complete with captivating views of the downtown skyline, Bay Bridge, and Oracle Park. Open-air fire pits and comfy seating create a relaxed vibe, and you’ll slip right into a celebratory mood thanks to VIA’s warm service, sophisticated drink menu and tasty tapas and sweets. Rooftop at VIA is truly exclusive; it’s available only to hotel guests or by renting one of the swanky six-person cabanas.
Stay Hotel ViaStarlite
Located on the top floor of the reimagined Beacon Grand, this San Francisco landmark pays homage to its illustrious past filled with some colorful characters. Continuing that tradition, Starlite welcomes all in a sumptuous space with sweeping Union Square views, perfectly mixed cocktails, and a classic vinyl spinning in the corner. Starlite was, and still is, one of the best parties in San Francisco.
Stay at Beacon GrandShelby’s Rooftop
Located in the artistic SoMa neighborhood, Shelby’s is on the top floor of the Canopy Hotel by Hilton. Shelby's Rooftop combines a seductive ambiance with a contemporary atmosphere, creating a distinctive San Francisco lounge. Whether indoors or outdoors, savor the mouthwatering shared plates, expertly crafted cocktails, and panoramic city views.
Stay at Canopy by Hilton San Francisco SOMATop of the Mark
Soak in views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge from the amazing penthouse lounge on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins. Along with its million dollar views, the Top of the Mark has a dance floor, signature martini menu and an exciting events schedule that includes live entertainment several days a week.
Stay at the Intercontinental Mark HopkinsThe Third Floor
Welcome to the Third Floor Terrace at The Jay, Autograph Collection, a new hidden gem located Downtown that is loved by locals and visitors alike. With cozy fire pits, plush seating, and a full bar, it's the perfect spot to unwind after a long day or with friends. Savor expertly crafted cocktails and seasonal delights while taking in panoramic views of the iconic SF skyline.
Stay at The Jay
The View Lounge
Located downtown in the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, The View Lounge is famous for its views and refreshing cocktails. Experience the San Francisco skyline through multi-story rounded windows, unlike any other vantage point in San Francisco. Order some small plates to share and a classic cocktail before dinner or as a nightcap after a fun evening.
Stay at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis Union Square
Aaron is the Manager of Digital & Social Media Marketing at San Francisco Travel. He has lived in San Francisco for over 10 years and has worked in Travel & Tourism for over 8 of those. He is usually exploring the Bay Area hunting for that new and unique experience and good food too!
You May Also Like
Whiskey lovers will find plenty of places to enjoy their favorite spirit in the City by the Bay.
There’s so much to see and do in San Francisco that visitors and residents alike could spend weeks exploring and still not see or do it all. But what about activities when the sun goes down?
Stretching back to the wild Gold Rush days, San Francisco's neighborhood bars are as reliable a source of the city's history as any museum.
Get to know one of San Francisco's trendiest neighborhoods with a day of dining, shopping and local culture.
Now you can enjoy San Francisco's excellent cocktails beyond the bar. Check out these delicious, refreshing to-go drinks.
Explore San Francisco’s neighborhoods through the lens of a cocktail glass or beer mug on these streets, perfect for bar hopping.
San Francisco is where tiki culture first took off in America. Here are the places where you can best experience it today.
San Francisco may not be the original birthplace of Irish Coffee, but we are it's adopted hometown. Since 1952, visitors have come for Buena Vista Café’s Irish Coffee, a...