Best Rooftop Bars in Berlin

The most talked-about rooftop in Berlin sits on top of the Neukölln Arcaden shopping centre. 360-degree views over south Berlin, cheap Club Mate and local beer, a relaxed door policy. It closes when it rains, opens when the sun returns. No reservations, no pretension, no escape. Order: Local Kreuzberg beer and a seat facing west for sunset

Three floors including a famous rooftop terrace above Alexanderplatz. One of the most photographed views in Berlin nightlife, overlooking the TV tower to the east and the city's sprawl to the west. Gets very busy after midnight on weekends. Expect lines, expect energy. Order: Cocktails crafted by bartenders who remember Berlin's club scene

On the 17th floor of a residential building with unobstructed views over the Kreuzberg skyline. The cocktails are above average, the service is attentive, the sunset is spectacular. Reservations strongly recommended on weekends. The space feels like it's floating above the city. Order: A signature cocktail and secure a reservation first

Five floors above the Schönhauser Allee Arcaden, open most of the year unless weather turns severe. Views of the TV tower to the west and the Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood sprawling below. Broad drinks menu, decent food, large seating capacity. Order: A beer and a place at the railing

On the 10th floor of the 25hours Hotel at Zoo station. Views over the Berlin Zoo and Tiergarten park stretching into the distance. The drinks list is inventive, the service is professional. Get there before 7pm if you want a table facing the sunset. Order: Cocktails with ingredients that would not exist five years ago

Atop the Nyx Hotel on Weinmeisterstrasse, with views over the Hackescher Markt neighbourhood. The terrace is small and intimate. Opens at 5pm. The crowd is split between hotel guests and nearby residents who know it exists. Order: A well-made drink and the anonymity of a hotel rooftop

Part of the Weekend Club complex but with a separate rooftop entrance. More accessible than the main club for drinks before things get serious. The view is identical to Weekend Club's but the atmosphere is 2-3 hours earlier in the evening. Order: Drinks before midnight

Community space by day, bar by night. Views over the Simon-Dach-Kiez neighbourhood. Attracts a mixed crowd of locals, students, and artists. The vibe is deliberately low-key. The temperature drops fast once the sun disappears. Order: Beer and conversation

Planted rooftop space above a former factory, open May through September. Great natural wines. Feels like a secret garden at 15 metres above the street. Reservations recommended on weekends. The plants are real, the light is golden, the quiet is golden. Order: Natural wine and time to notice the greenery

Small terrace above one of the city's best cocktail bars. Only 30 seats, no room for expansion, no room for disappointment. The cocktails are serious. The service is careful. The crowd knows what they are doing. Order: What the bartender recommends without deviation

New addition to the south Berlin scene above the Moxy Tempelhof hotel. Views toward the old airport and across the vast Tempelhof Field. The rooftop offers a perspective on Berlin few visitors encounter—the flat infinity of the former runway. Order: Aperol Spritz and watch the light change over empty runways

Not technically a rooftop but a floating deck on the Spree with views of the Oberbaum Bridge. One of the city's best outdoor bars in summer. The water reflects the light. The bridge is perfectly framed. The cheap beer tastes like freedom. Order: Local beer and a place at the railing