Few things say Los Angeles like a drink in hand while the sky turns orange over the hills or the Pacific. The city’s rooftop bars range from a 73rd-floor deck in Downtown to a Western-themed saloon in Hollywood and a Greek-inspired lounge a block from Venice Beach. This 2027 guide to the rooftop bars in Los Angeles is organized by area so you can match a rooftop to the rest of your day.
LA rooftops change hands often. Since our last edition, Mama Shelter in Hollywood closed in 2025, E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood closed in March 2026, the Mondrian’s Skybar became White Rabbit Sky Lounge when the hotel was renamed The Valorian, and the Waldorf Astoria’s Rooftop by JG was reborn as Gemma. Every venue below was confirmed as operating in autumn 2026. Hours, minimums and policies change often, so please check the venue’s own website before you go.
Downtown LA Rooftop Bars
Downtown is where you go for skyscrapers at eye level. The rooftops here look across glass towers and early-20th-century bank buildings rather than out to the ocean, and the skyline lights up quickly after sunset.
Spire 73 (InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown)
Known for: height. Spire 73 sits on the 73rd floor of the Wilshire Grand Center at 900 Wilshire Blvd and is billed as the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. The views run across the whole basin, with fire pits on the deck. Time Out notes a $60 per-person spending minimum, reservations through SevenRooms, and very little shelter from the wind, so bring a jacket even in summer. Go for the view and the bragging rights rather than a quiet drink.
Perch
Known for: French-bistro style above Pershing Square. Perch, at 448 S. Hill St., is one of the oldest and most popular rooftop bars in the city. Its bar, patios and rooftop deck sit 16 floors up, with views of the Downtown towers and, on clear days, the mountains beyond. Expect patterned tiles, string lights, fire pits, DJs and live bands. Perch runs a weekday happy hour and weekend brunch, takes walk-ins, and books tables through its website and OpenTable; the VIP rooftop tables are limited and prepaid.
Broken Shaker (Freehand Los Angeles)
Known for: creative cocktails around a pool. This LA outpost of the James Beard-nominated bar that started in Miami fills the roof of the Freehand hotel, inside the historic Commercial Exchange Building at 416 W. 8th St. Palms, bright colors and shareable punch bowls set a relaxed tone, and the sunset views face the Downtown towers. The bar is listed as open daily from noon to midnight. Non-hotel guests who want pool-area seating have a $65 per-person minimum and a two-hour limit.
Bar Clara (Hotel Per La)
Known for: a Baja-meets-Mediterranean pool deck. Bar Clara is the 12th-floor rooftop of Hotel Per La at 649 S. Olive St., the hotel that replaced the former NoMad. Expect tropical cocktails and Mediterranean plates. Poolside seats are for hotel guests or resort-pass holders, but the regular lounge has the clearer skyline view anyway.
Florentín Rooftop Bar
Known for: a low-key, walk-in-only rooftop in the Historic Core. Florentín, at 617 S. Spring St., is reached through an alley and looks out at the Gas Company and U.S. Bank towers. The drinks lean Mediterranean, with non-alcoholic versions of the cocktails. It’s a good choice when you don’t want to book anything.
Hollywood & West Hollywood Rooftop Bars
Hollywood rooftops face the hills (and in some cases the Hollywood Sign), while the Sunset Strip bars in West Hollywood look south over the whole flat grid of the city, a view that’s at its best right after dark.
Bar Lis (Thompson Hollywood)
Known for: a French Riviera mood above Hollywood. Bar Lis tops the Thompson Hollywood at 1541 Wilcox Ave. and channels the French Riviera, with views toward the Hollywood Hills and DJs on many nights. It’s a dressier, later-night spot. Its events are strictly 21+, some nights carry table minimums, and walk-ins have the best chance early in the evening.
Desert 5 Spot (Hollywood VOLUME)
Known for: line dancing on a roof. This Western-themed bar sits on top of Hollywood VOLUME, a Tribute Portfolio hotel at 6516 Selma Ave. It has a kitschy country-saloon look and a casual crowd. The hotel lists line-dancing lessons from 7 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, followed by cowboy karaoke or a live band. It’s walk-in only, except for large parties.
White Rabbit Sky Lounge (The Valorian, formerly Skybar)
Known for: the classic Sunset Strip view. In spring 2026 the Mondrian Los Angeles at 8440 Sunset Blvd. became The Valorian Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton, and its famous Skybar was reimagined as White Rabbit Sky Lounge. The open-air deck still looks out over the Hollywood Hills and the Downtown skyline, and moves from a sunny daytime lounge to late-night programming. The hotel lists a weekday happy hour from 7 to 9 pm.
Harriet’s Rooftop (1 Hotel West Hollywood)
Known for: a glamorous, club-like scene. Harriet’s is on the 9th floor of the 1 Hotel’s West Tower at 8490 Sunset Blvd., reached by its own elevator from the lobby, with panoramic city views. Expect Asian-inspired bar bites and bottle service. It’s closed on Mondays, opens in the late afternoon the rest of the week, and takes bookings on SevenRooms and OpenTable. If nothing shows online, the hotel says there’s no availability.
The Roof at The West Hollywood EDITION
Known for: greenery, wooden benches and long views from the top of 9040 Sunset Blvd. The Roof serves Latin-inspired small plates and tropical-leaning cocktails, and it’s one of the few rooftops that also serves breakfast. The hotel lists the dress code as casual and stays open later on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are through the hotel’s dining page.
Beverly Hills Rooftop Bars
Beverly Hills rooftops are quieter and more polished, built around hotel pools and serious kitchens. They pair naturally with an afternoon on Rodeo Drive.
Dante Beverly Hills (The Maybourne Beverly Hills)
Known for: world-class cocktails. Dante is the West Coast outpost of the famous New York cocktail bar, set beside the 9th-floor rooftop pool of The Maybourne at 225 N. Canon Dr. It looks toward the hills and took the top spot in Time Out’s October 2026 ranking of LA rooftop bars. Drinks cost more than average (mostly $19 to $30, per Time Out). It takes reservations and walk-ins, but book ahead on weekends.
Gemma (Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills)
Known for: a 12th-floor view of the Santa Monica Mountains, Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills. Gemma opened in May 2026 in the space that was the Rooftop by JG, at the top of the Waldorf Astoria at 9850 Wilshire Blvd. The new menu is California-inspired Pan-Asian (dim sum, sushi, grilled Wagyu), and the bar leans tiki with Mai Tais and Scorpion bowls. The hotel lists all-day dining from 11:30 am on weekdays and from 2 pm on weekends, after brunch. Reserve through OpenTable.
Santa Monica & Venice Rooftop Bars
If you want the sun to set over water, head west. These three rooftops are all within a short walk of the sand.
The Penthouse (The Huntley Hotel)
Known for: sweeping ocean views from 18 floors up. The Penthouse sits on the 18th floor of The Huntley at 1111 2nd St., with 360-degree views of the Pacific, the coastline and the LA skyline. It’s open to hotel guests and the public. Book ahead for the dining room. The bar and lounge are first-come, first-served, which works well for sunset cocktails. The hotel lists live music on Thursday evenings and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Calabra (Santa Monica Proper)
Known for: polished design and ocean views from every seat. Calabra is the rooftop restaurant and bar of the Santa Monica Proper at 700 Wilshire Blvd. (entrance on 7th Street). The menu is Mediterranean and Californian, with a sundeck, a circular bar and private poolside alcoves you can book. The hotel lists a daily “Proper Hour” from 3 to 5 pm and dinner until 10 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended. You won’t see the pier from here, but you will see plenty of sea.
Kassi (Hotel Erwin, Venice)
Known for: a Greek-island mood a block from the boardwalk. Kassi replaced the High Rooftop Lounge on top of Hotel Erwin at 1697 Pacific Ave. and is run by the team behind Élephante. Time Out calls it Venice’s only rooftop bar. Expect mezze, grilled skewers, light cocktails and a wide-open view of the Pacific at sunset. It’s open to the public and takes both reservations and walk-ins.
Tips for Visiting LA Rooftop Bars
- Time the sunset. In Los Angeles the sun sets around 4:45 pm in early December and just after 8 pm in late June. Arrive 45 minutes early to get a good seat, then stay for the city lights. Coastal rooftops face the sunset directly. Downtown and Sunset Strip decks show it as an orange glow on the towers and hills.
- Reserve when you can. Spire 73, Harriet’s, Gemma and Calabra take bookings online and fill up on weekends. Desert 5 Spot and Florentín are walk-in only, and the bar area at The Penthouse is first-come, first-served.
- Bring a real ID. The legal drinking age in California is 21, and nightlife-style rooftops such as Bar Lis enforce 21+ at events. Carry a passport or driver’s license, even if you’re clearly over 21.
- Dress one notch up. Policies vary from “casual” at The Roof at EDITION to unwritten smart-casual codes at the clubbier rooftops. Avoid athletic wear and flip-flops after dark, and bring a layer: the coast cools fast and high decks like Spire 73 are windy.
- Watch for minimums. Some rooftops set per-person spending minimums or charge for pool seating (Spire 73 and Broken Shaker are two examples), so check before you sit down.
- Skip the car if you’re drinking. Metro rail stops near several rooftops: Pershing Square station for Perch, 7th Street/Metro Center for Spire 73, Broken Shaker and Bar Clara, Hollywood/Vine for Bar Lis and Desert 5 Spot, and the E Line’s Downtown Santa Monica station for Calabra and The Penthouse. Otherwise use a rideshare or a car with a driver. Rooftop valet in DTLA and on the Strip is expensive, and you’ll avoid looking for parking.
Pairing a Sunset Rooftop With an Evening Drive
A rooftop is a good way to end the day you’ve spent seeing the city. One easy plan is to book a late-afternoon private SUV tour with hotel pickup. You’ll see Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood while it’s still light, then get dropped off at a Strip or Hollywood rooftop for golden hour, with no parking to deal with. Or reverse it: have sunset drinks at Dante or Gemma, then let a driver show you the Strip and Downtown once they’re lit up. If you’d rather ride with the top down, our classic car tour in a 1970 Cadillac DeVille convertible ends nicely near a Beverly Hills or Hollywood rooftop. For more evening ideas around the holidays, see our Christmas in Los Angeles guide.
Rooftop Bars in Los Angeles: FAQ
What is the highest rooftop bar in Los Angeles?
Spire 73, on the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown in the Wilshire Grand Center. It’s billed as the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. Expect a per-person spending minimum, and dress for wind.
Which LA rooftop bars have ocean views?
Head to Santa Monica and Venice: The Penthouse on the 18th floor of The Huntley, Calabra at the Santa Monica Proper, and Kassi on top of Hotel Erwin in Venice all look out over the Pacific.
Is Skybar at the Mondrian still open?
The rooftop is, under a new name. In spring 2026 the Mondrian Los Angeles became The Valorian Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Skybar became White Rabbit Sky Lounge, at the same address, 8440 Sunset Blvd.
Do you have to be 21 to go to a rooftop bar in LA?
You must be 21 to drink alcohol in California, and bar-focused rooftops like Bar Lis run their events strictly 21+. Rooftop restaurants such as Gemma or The Penthouse serve full meals, but check each venue’s own policy before bringing anyone under 21.