Drinks with a View: 21 of the Best Rooftop Bars in the Country

From museum scavenger hunts to challenging escape games, adventures are a thirsty business. It’s only natural to head out afterward to toast your victory or to rehash your favorite parts of the game. This being summer, of course, you should really enjoy your post-hunt libations outside!

From glamorous hotel rooftops to the open-air bars at museums—like the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, above—we’ve rounded up some of our favorite outdoor bars in the seven cities with Watson Adventures scavenger hunts available to the public.

 

Boston

Airdeck at Coppersmith
40 W. 3rd. St., South Boston
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Casual atmosphere in a historic building, with food and drink served from a vintage Airstream camper trailer. It gets pretty fratty on Saturday nights, though, so keep that in mind.
Promenade Deck at Legal Harborside
270 Northern Ave., Boston
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The third-floor “promenade” of the immense Seaport District restaurant is widely considered one of the best rooftop bars in Boston. Go for the view, stay for the oysters and pitchers of sangria.
Felipe’s Taqueria
21 Brattle St., Cambridge
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Something of a hidden gem, Felipe’s is another obvious choice: rooftop tacos and margaritas in the heart of Harvard Square.

 

Chicago

Raised
1 W. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago
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Offering a skyline view from just south of the river, this hip indoor-and-outdoor space serves up craft beer, cocktails, and small plates. Bring your friends and spring for one of three $225 punch bowls.
Apogee
2 W. Erie St., Chicago
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This swanky spot atop the Dana Hotel is known for inventive cocktails served creatively—and, apropos for a place whose name literally means “the highest point,” its spectacular view.

Streeterville Social
455 N. Park Drive, Chicago
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Sometimes you want glam, and sometimes you just want a fun cocktail and a game of giant Jenga. Streeterville Social provides the latter, in a fun environment with gourmet grub and—you guessed it—a heck of a view.

 

Los Angeles

Stark Bar at LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
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LACMA’s own outdoor bar is of course the perfect spot for a fresh-air drink after a scavenger hunt at the museum. You’ll especially love it if you’re a fan of elaborate cocktails.

Broken Shaker
416 W. 8th St., Los Angeles
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At the top of the Freehand Hotel, gather ’round the thatched-roof bar to sip on creative cocktails, snack on street-food-inspired bites, and drink in the Downtown L.A. views.

Perch
448 S. Hill St., Los Angeles
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Perched (get it) a floor up from the restaurant, Perch’s rooftop bar offers breathtaking downtown views and life-giving drinks and snacks, be it lunchtime, aperitif hour, or late-night DJ time.

 

New York City

Gallow Green
530 W. 27th St., New York
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Amid fairy lights and vine-strewn trellises, enjoy modern cocktails on top of the McKittrick Hotel, near the High Line. One of the best spots up there is actually inside a dilapidated antique train car, but the atmosphere outside is just as whimsical.
Met Rooftop Bar
1000 Fifth Ave., New York
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Wine and cocktails, expansive views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, and fine art—all on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the finest museums on earth. Not a bad deal.

1 Rooftop
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 60 Furman St., Brooklyn
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While you sip wine near the pool at this fairly new Brooklyn Bridge Park hotel bar, you’ll see Governor’s Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and not a few envious tourists.

 

Philadelphia

Revolution House
200 Market St., Philadelphia
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One of the few rooftop bars in Old City, Revolution House’s lively upper level offers creative cocktails and the restaurant’s full menu of comfort food, with options like cheesy tater tots and cheesesteak egg rolls.
Continental Mid-town
1801 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
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A chic space known for its martinis and tapas—and for the sometimes overwhelming popularity of its roof deck. It’s one of the hottest spots in Rittenhouse Square for a summer night out.


Tiki
102 S. 13th St., Philadelphia
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On the more casual side, Tiki’s the place for fruity classics, like mai tais and Singapore slings, and tropical bites. Go for the generous happy hour, stay for the fresh air and fun.

 

San Francisco

Jones
620 Jones St., San Francisco
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Despite being perhaps the largest rooftop bar in San Francisco, this cash-only, second-story spot a couple blocks west of Union Square can fill up fast. But with strong cocktails for a fairly reasonable $10, that’s no surprise.

El Techo
2516 Mission St., San Francisco
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Meanwhile, this Mission District mainstay scoffs at your $10 drinks. How about $7 margaritas instead? That’s just part of the deal at happy hour, though a bit of a wait to get in is not unheard of.

California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco
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Thanks to its NightLife program, the museum comes alive after hours every Thursday night, complete with dancing, aquarium tours, various food options, and multiple bars. Enjoy your booze and bites on the “living rooftop,” with sweeping views of Golden Gate Park, including the Japanese Tea Garden and the de Young Museum.

 

Washington, D.C.

Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave NW
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Perched high atop the Watergate, this swanky rooftop features snacks, fancy cocktails, a custom gin-and-tonic bar, and genuinely stunning 360-degree views. And this summer, Top of the Gate is offering DŌ, the wildly popular cookie dough dessert.

Perry’s
1811 Columbia Road NW
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An Adams Morgan mainstay for more than 30 years, Perry’s serves sushi and drinks on its rooftop all year long. With the romantic terrace upstairs and the popular drag queen brunch downstairs, this place is always worth a trip.

POV at the W Hotel
515 15th St. NW
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Another fancy hotel bar, this one looks out over the White House, the National Monument, and more. The recently renovated POV is a great for a midday meal or a late-night tipple (the space goes 21+ at 7 p.m.), and bottle service is available if that’s your thing.

 

Thirsty Yet?

Join us for a scavenger hunt and then toast your victory. Learn more about events for the public, or contact us about private or corporate team building scavenger hunts.