You can grab a drink or find a happy hour spot just about anywhere, but for some bars, the cocktail list plays second fiddle to the views. From rooftop bars to beachside shacks, every region of the country is packed with bars, saloons, and pubs that gift their patrons with panoramic views.
Washington, D.C.
Hedy's Rooftop is perched atop the trendy and sophisticated Hotel Zena on Thomas Circle in the nation's capital. There's also a rooftop pool, should you feel so inclined. The views of D.C. are among the best, and renowned lead barkeep Justin Golash ensures the craft cocktails are poured just right.
Denver
Soaring 27 floors above the Mile High City is the elegant and refined Peaks Lounge, which sits atop the Hyatt Regency. The ingredients found in the Colorado cocktails are organic and locally sourced — garnishes and all — but you'll want to come for the panoramic views of downtown and the majestic Rocky Mountains beyond. With 4.4 out of five stars on Google, some reviewers call the views the best in the city.
Seattle
Locals are familiar with The Nest, a locally famous rooftop bar located above the Thompson Seattle hotel. The views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliot Bay are fantastic, and the cozy bar soothes patrons with lush greenery and glowing fire. While the drinks can be pricey, you get views comparable with the Space Needle without the entry fee.
Nashville, Tennessee
A new arrival to Nashville's hip Lower Broad district, The Valentine is an upscale saloon that shakes things up with a Prohibition theme. It's four floors deep, but the gem of the massive operation is the sprawling rooftop patio. With the exception of playing host to some of the hottest acts in Music City, there's nothing quite like it in Nashville.
New York City
New York is a vertical city, and there's no shortage of rooftop bars dotting the skyscrapers in Manhattan's skyline. Among the finest and most popular of them all is 230 Fifth. It claims the status of largest outdoor rooftop garden and fully-enclosed penthouse lounge in the city. According to many of the more than 6,000 reviewers who give the lounge a 4.3-star rating on Google, the happy hour is as amazing as the sunset views.
Goleta, California
Everything about the Beachside Bar Cafe is, well, beachy. The boat drinks, the seafood-dominated happy-hour fare, and the ambiance all exist in homage to the Pacific Ocean. But the single beachiest draw of them all is the mighty Pacific itself. Virtually every seat in the house comes with stunning Pacific Ocean views that could compete with any in SoCal.
Jacksonville, Florida
River & Post is swanky and upscale — the perfect place to impress a client or a date. The 450-seat restaurant is already known for its refined cuisine, but what sets it apart is the Rooftop Lounge, which stays open until 2 a.m. From there, take in the Jacksonville skyline and waterfront.
New Orleans
Hot Tin offers six signature cocktails and nine authentic classics on one of the finest drink menus in the Big Easy. Whether you're sipping an old fashioned or guzzling a Mexican firing squad, enjoy drinking in 270-degree pristine views of downtown New Orleans and the Mississippi River.
Asheville, North Carolina
Top of the Monk takes its cocktails seriously — and it's got the homemade bitters, syrups and infusions to prove it. You're welcome to watch the mixologists work their magic — you won't see any mixers being squirted out of soda guns — or just feast your eyes on the endless mountain views from the rooftop patio.
Atlanta
The iconic Polaris — is the famous, rotating, blue dome that crowns the historic Regency Hyatt. Ride the same glass elevators that lifted Jim Morrison 22 stories up in the sky, then order a classic cocktail and some shared plates. Rest assured that there are no finer views of the Atlanta skyline.
Miami
Forty floors above the bustling sidewalks of Miami is Sugar, the tropical rooftop bar that tops East, the hotel at Brickell City Centre. It's fun and laid back, but not so casual that guests can shuffle in wearing tank tops or sandals. DJs spin tunes inside the sleek, Asian-inspired venue, which offers skyline views.
Las Vegas
From DJ Pauly D. of "Jersey Shore" fame to star rapper 2 Chainz, Drai's Beachclub draws national acts that allow the dayclub to compete with any venue in Vegas' rising dayclub scene. There's nothing quite like Drai's in all of Vegas, thanks to the club's 25,000-square-foot, multi-level rooftop lounge and its dazzling Strip views.
Oxford, Mississippi
The fourth-floor terrace lounge at the Graduate Hotel is a combination of old-world quaint and modern chic. At The Coop, enjoy unrivaled views of the college town's famous Square — not to mention the craft cocktails and live piano music that go with them.
Athens, Georgia
At the Allgood Lounge climb through two-levels of full-service awesomeness before you get to the third, a vaunted tiki room and rooftop patio. The drinks are good — particularly the build-your-own bloody Mary bar buffet — but the views are even better.
Austin, Texas
Known as the "adult wonderland," HandleBar is funky, serious about its bar drinks, and all about the mustache. The facial hair motif might seem arbitrary, but much about the hip, trendy bar is pretty random — there's even a phone booth. What isn't random are the cheap, strong drinks, the pleasant vibe, and the stunning views.
Philadelphia
At the top of Hotel Monaco, the Stratus Rooftop Lounge is a ritzy, upscale joint known for elegant ambiance and gourmet bites and drinks — all of which are enjoyed 11 stories above the most historic block in the City of Brotherly Love. Philly is a world-renowned restaurant city that is bursting with bars with a view. Stratus just might be the best.
Fell's Point, Maryland
It's easy to miss Woody's in its perch above Fell's Point Creamery. But for those with a keen eye, a unique experience awaits. The cantina, taqueria, and tequileria dishes up some of the best tacos — and views — in the Baltimore region. Eat and drink while you gaze across the Harbor.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a beer town, so it stands to reason that one of its best bars with a view is Biergarten, a rooftop hangout that, as the name implies, is inspired by German beer house culture. An after-work hotspot for area professionals, Biergarten offers up soaring views right along with the German beers, German grub and German games.
Scottsdale, Arizona
The old world meets the new at Casablanca in Scottsdale, where classic cocktails and Southwestern fare collide with modern food, drink, and atmosphere. The rooftop lounge booms with live music from Scottsdale's best local acts. The vibe is warm, customer service is renowned, and the views, particularly at dusk, are spectacular.
Minneapolis
Minneapolis and St. Cloud boast some of the best scenery in America, and the region is home to many rooftop bars with stellar views. Almost all of them are seasonal except for one year-round rooftop bar that's fully enclosed in glass and heated when it needs to be. The Rooftop at Union offers stunning views of the city skyline no matter the weather outside.
Chicago
When it comes to postcard panoramics of the Windy City, it doesn't get much better than the roof of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. That's where you'll find Cindy's Rooftop. Enjoy an unobstructed vantage point to gaze over the lake, Millennial Park, and the famous city skyline.
Indianapolis
Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge is among the only true rooftop bars in Indy. The vibe is as chill as the drinks, the building is historic, and the views of downtown, Virginia Avenue, and Fountain Square are unrivaled.
Dallas
Dallas has an underrated skyline, and few venues offer a better vantage point to enjoy it than The Gallery Lounge at the top of the city's Canvas Hotel. The food is clean and healthy, the vibe and ambiance are retro-hip, and there's a fire pit and an infinity pool to make the experience just a little more cozy.
Honolulu
The flavors of Mexico come to Waikiki thanks to the unique twist on traditional Mexican fare served up at Búho Cantina y Cocina. The views, however, are uniquely Hawaiian. Sipping drinks in the open-air patio, relax, and enjoy the cross-cultural mash-up.
Cleveland
Fried Brussels sprouts, pig's head, and lamb burgers are just a few of the creative dishes served at the The Greenhouse Tavern — and the cocktail list is equally bold. The real draw is the rooftop patio, where the stunning lake views are hard to beat.
Boston
Vast city views paint the background at Rooftop@Revere on the top of Boston's Revere Hotel. The sleek and stylish open-air lounge is sprawling, with plenty of space between tables. Condos partially obscure the view in one direction, but the good side is so good that Rooftop@Revere qualifies as one of the country's best rooftop lounges.
St. Louis
Among the stunning sights to take in from Three Sixty are the Gateway Arch and direct views into Busch Stadium, both of which are next-door neighbors. The aptly-named bar has 360-degree views that are the finest in the city, and they go well beyond just the stadium and the Arch.
San Diego
The Rooftop by STK is actually two venues in one. By day it's a laid-back lounge where locals sip signature cocktails. By night, the velvet rope crowd transforms it into a bustling hotspot with bottle service, private dining, and VIP lounges. Any time of day or night, the views are outstanding.
Anchorage, Alaska
Take in views of the wilderness surrounding Anchorage from 49th State Brewing Company, which has the feel of an Yukon cabin with local cuisine like yak burgers and bison chili. The beer selection is expansive and the drinks are affordable — and the postcard views of the Alaska Range and Cook Inlet are remarkable.
Los Angeles
L.A. is a city packed with choice rooftop bars. Among the very finest is Perch, one of the first original rooftop bars in the downtown area. Today, 16 stories above the bustling city below, enjoy French small plates, handcrafted classic cocktails, and some of the most angelic views in the City of Angels.
