As winter (slowly) melts away, we are ready to drink in both the warm weather and some sexy cocktails. It’s rooftop bar season! Here is a roundup of some of our favorite rooftop bars around the world.
It seems that the Viceroy New York is ready as well with today's debut of The Roof - a lounge and outdoor terrace perched atop the new luxury hotel. The Roof is a supplement to Kingside, the street-level bar and restaurant. From its 29th-story looking point, guests can take in views of Central Park while nibbling on small plates (think burgers, charcuterie boards and grilled cheese). There will be a menu of small-batch spirits, regionally brewed craft beers, global wine offerings and sexy cocktails. Nice touch: The terrace will be open year-round and outfitted with heat lamps and wool blankets so that it can be enjoyed in the chilly months.
Also in Manhattan, 30 stories above the hustle and bustle is a penthouse bar that has VIPs drinking in style. The 3,000-square-foot bar at the Kimberly Hotel has three separate indoor/outdoor atmospheres, a retractable glass ceiling and walls, and views of the Chrysler Building. Cocktails, small plates and weekend brunch is what this bar is all about.
It was a cool night in Puebla, Mexico. From the rooftop we could see fireworks exploding over the church of San Francisco. Music pulsed while the young, chic international set sipped cocktails and looked out over the clear glass-enclosed, above ground infinity pool. This is how we met Groupo Habita hotels, by way of la purificadora. Also from Grupo Habita, Downtown in Mexico City is a 17th-century palace transformed into a modern, minimalist-chic hotel. The hotel has just 17 rooms surrounding an interior courtyard. Up on the roof guests will find pool and two bars, with views over the city's rooftops. It's a scenester's heaven at night, when DJs spin for the sexy elite.
Travelers to Italy, take heed. There’s a new rooftop bar in Rome that affords sky-high views over the Eternal City. The Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto debuted the Sky Bar & Grill in August, and it’ll be serving up cocktails and barbecue (grilled meat and seafood) until October and re-open next summer. The hotel itself—comprised of two adjoining 19th-century buildings—occupies a city-central piece of real estate on Via Veneto; the Royal Suite has magnificent views from its terrace, as does the rooftop garden, overlooking the Roman walls of Porta Pinciana and Villa Borghese gardens. The Sky Bar is open daily from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., depending on the weather.
There's a new reason to head to India, where the first Ritz-Carlton in the country has opened in Bangalore. The city’s highest rooftop bar and sky lounge, Bang, has panoramic views of Bangalore...as well as cocktails and Jaali-inspired dishes. Guests can relax over afternoon tea or cocktails in the Lobby Lounge, and The Ritz-Carlton Bar reportedly has the widest selection of cocktails and fine wines in the city.
Following the grand openings of the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires' new Elena Restaurant and Pony Line Bar earlier last year, the hotel has opened its latest eatery, "Nuestro Secreto" ("our secret") in a rooftop garden between the hotel's modern tower and historic La Mansión. The new glass lined, indoor-outdoor venue is good for open-fire barbecues (known as asados), and serves a selection of national wines, flavored lemonades, cocktails and more. For food, the menu includes salads, meats, grilled fish and seafood. Coolest touch: The menu is printed on newsprint, evoking the Argentine tradition of reading the Sunday newspaper before using it to light the fire. Nuestro Secreto can be booked for private events, with room for up to 40 inside a greenhouse-like extension, plus a space for 44 people between three semi-private rooms located at the terrace.
Coming soon:
Set to launch in June, ME Ibiza, in addition to top sea views, will sport a rooftop lounge. This will include a cocktail bar, restaurant and DJ overlooking the bay in Santa Eulalia. Tip: Ask for one of the 21 ME+ suites, especially the ones with private Jacuzzis and swimming pools.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World is gearing up to open its first property in Tel Aviv: In King Albert Square, The Norman will be a combination of two historic apartment buildings from the 1920s. We hear the union will blend in with the surrounding Bauhaus architectural structures...and (cooler yet) that there will be a contemporary art collection within the hotel. What makes this hotel notable? Beyond its SLH affiliation, it's one of the smaller luxury hotels to open in the city in recent memory: It only has 50 rooms and suites, including two penthouses with huge terraces. It will have two restaurants (including one for al fresco dining in a garden and a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views over the city), and en-suite private dining is available. (Tip: Try the pomegranate martini.)
25Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin is the first Berlin property from hotel group 25Hours. Located in a 10-story high-rise, the hotel is part of a complex of 1950s-era historic buildings including the Zoopalast cinema in the Bikinihaus, a post-war architectural icon. One of the cornerstones of the project is the hotel's rooftop bar and restaurant. With a wide-open design and 360-degree views, the space offers views across the city.