The Perfect Ingredients For A Great Roof Top Bar

A beautiful skyline view is a must-have ingredient.

Spring has sprung in many parts of the country – some even a bit earlier than normal. This leads city dwellers outside to enjoy the crisp, enjoyable weather.

There’s nothing better than enjoying drinks and dinner on your favorite roof top bar. In this article, we look at the perfect ingredients for a great roof top bar. We also look at some of the world’s best roof top bars and uncover their ultimate benefits.

The Perfect Ingredients

Let’s get past the obvious. Music, food and great drinks are essential ingredients to a great roof top bar. (tweet this)

But, by far, the most important ingredient for a roof top bar is the panoramic views. (tweet this) Whether it’s views of the city’s skyline or views that stretch out far into the distance highlighting mountains and gorgeous countryside, it’s the view that draws customers in.

Warm weather drives people outside for dining, drinking and often dancing. So, a great roof top bar might have a nice dancing area for romantic dances in the twilight.

We also like roof top bars with comfortable, more laid back seating. Bars with seating areas of over-sized chairs and sofas lend a unique ambiance and provide for romantic conversation. Some of our favorite roof top bars sport small garden areas and pots of overflowing flowers.

Lastly, roof top bars with lighting that accentuates the view is a must. While the views should be enjoyable in the daytime, at night, you don’t want your lights to overpower the lights of the city that complement the views.

Now that we’ve looked at the perfect ingredients for a great roof top bar, let’s look at some examples of the best roof top bars.

The Roof in New York City

This jewel is nestled atop the Viceroy New York. A classy getaway, this roof top delight offers incredible views of Central Park.

A great getaway from the demands of city life, customers can enjoy the lounge and outdoor terrace’s luxury yacht-inspired aesthetic. Feast your eyes on brass details that complement their wide-ranging collection of spirits, beers and wine. They designed their own menu of cocktails featuring fresh ingredients.

A bonus – The Roof is open year-round, offering wool blankets and heating lamps during the fall and winter.

Visit: The Roof

Area 31 at the Epic Hotel in Miami

For obvious reason, Miami has a hot roof top bar scene. It really lights up during happy hour, and Area 31 is a great go-to place in downtown Miami where a live DJ plays by the pool, and customers can enjoy stunning city views.

Visit: Area 31

Le Perchoir in Paris

Whoever said Paris is best enjoyed in the summer was absolutely right. And, there’s no place better than from a roof top bar.

Aptly named, Le Perchoir, means the roost. You’ll get a birds-eye view of the city, and you’ll feel like a special agent walking up the steps to the unmarked door to enter the restaurant. It truly is one of the highlights of Parisian nightlife.

This restaurant is so popular, expect to wait at all times of the day and evening. A great place to relax and enjoy the culture, you’ll appreciate the wine list, menu and panoramic views.

Visit: Le Perchoir

Wine, delicious food and ambiance set the tone for a great roof top bar.

Upstairs in Los Angeles

This sky-high urban oasis sits atop the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Sporting a concrete pool and views in all directions of the city lights, this bunker-life roof top bar has events nearly every night of the week. You might walk in to find DJs, live bands, book release parties, pop-up shops and creative collaborations.

A decidedly Moroccan flair gives flavor to this open-air roof deck. Be prepared to wait to enter as this is a LA hot spot.

Visit: Upstairs

The Quarter Bar in Dallas

Located in uptown Dallas, you’ll love the indoor courtyard that fades right into the roof top area. The food comes from the neighboring Bread Winner’s kitchen right next door.

If you sit by the balcony, you’ll really enjoy the neon glow of the Dallas skyline.

Visit: The Quarter Bar

Dirty Habit in San Francisco

This intimate hideaway is perched five floors above the streets of San Francisco’s SOMA district.

Billed as the place for “inventive and sociable drinking and dining,” this is a bar-centric roof top bar that also provides seasonal cuisine along with a creative bar menu served in vintage glasses.

The dining room is inspired by film noir, and their outdoor patio is fully heated. Perhaps it can soon become your very own “dirty habit.”

Visit: Dirty Habit

230 FIFTH in New York City

230 FIFTH is New York’s largest outdoor roof top garden and fully enclosed penthouse lounge. One of the floors is fully enclosed, while the roof top garden is open to the great outdoors. For your comfort, they have umbrellas on sunny days and heaters on cool nights.

This is one creative roof top bar. They’ve been known to set out plastic igloos, champagne and TVs to accompany robes and heat lamps.

The roof top garden resembles beachside with wooden tables with umbrellas where busy New Yorkers gather to decompress after a long week.

The views of New York City are grand, and this is one stop you don’t want to miss.

Visit: 230 FIFTH

Skybar in Beirut

This roof top bar is known as one of the top clubbing locations in the world. It can hold up to 2,500 clubbers per night. This gigantic roof top spot often hosts fireworks, international singers and DJs. The music is loud, and the dancing is fierce.

Skybar has helped reinvent and reshape Beirut’s nightlife. It’s a must-go place for both locals and tourists where they can dine on fine cuisine and enjoy a wide selection of drinks.

It’s been featured internationally, and if you’re ever in the Middle East, this is a spot to try out.

Visit: Skybar

Final Thoughts

We’ve looked at the perfect ingredients for a great roof top bar, and we hope you agree that the view is paramount, followed by the ambiance, the food, drinks and the entertainment.

You’ve had an overview of some of the worlds’ best roof top bars, and now it’s time to hear from you.

Have you ever been to a roof top bar? Where was it and why did you like it? What makes it special? How’s the view? Would you go back? Share your comments below – we’d love to hear them.

Images: Emanuel Feruzi and Prayitno / Thank you for (9 millions +) views via VisualHunt / CC BY