Editorial
Dublin drinks at street level. Planning rules and the weather keep the rooftop count low, so an honest list is short rather than padded. This guide covers the two rooms we could verify as real, currently-open rooftop bars in June 2026. Eight names from older lists turned out to be ground-floor terraces, duplicates or venues we could not confirm, so they are gone rather than sending you to a closed or wrong door.
Sophie's tops The Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street, a glasshouse rooftop with a retractable roof that finally lets Dublin drink with a view in any weather. The bar runs cocktails built on house-made cordials, and the New York-Italian kitchen keeps the room moving from brunch to late. It pulls a dressed-up city crowd. Book a window table at golden hour, order a cocktail, and watch the skyline turn over.
The Rooftop Bar at Anantara The Marker looks over Grand Canal Square, a near 360-degree sweep that takes in the Dublin Mountains, the canal and the Irish Sea. Award-winning bartenders run classics, Marker staples and seasonal builds, and the terrace opens from 5pm across the April-to-September season. Come on a clear evening, claim a seat at the rail, and let the docklands light do the work.
The Alex Hotel on Fenian Street keeps a mirror-backed bar of Irish craft beer and spirits, plus a Secret Garden terrace near Grafton Street. The house cocktail, the Alex, mixes gin with basil, mint and elderflower. Open daily.
Dublin keeps its best drinking at street level, in the snugs and back rooms of its pubs, so the rooftop scene stays small and seasonal. Sophie's at The Dean carries the year-round crown thanks to its glasshouse roof, while The Marker only opens its terrace from spring into autumn. Both peak between 6 and 9pm in summer, so arrive early on a dry evening for a seat with the view.
For the wider picture, see our top 10 bars in Dublin guide and the Edinburgh rooftop ranking for the nearest comparison. Both sit alongside this piece within the global rooftop pillar.
Which is the best rooftop bar in Dublin? Sophie's at The Dean on Harcourt Street is the most-recommended Dublin rooftop, a glasshouse with a retractable roof that works in any weather. The Rooftop at Anantara The Marker runs it close for the docklands view.
Does Dublin have many rooftop bars? No. Planning rules and the weather keep the scene small. Sophie's at The Dean and the seasonal rooftop at The Marker are the two we could verify as real, currently-open rooftop bars in June 2026.
When is The Marker rooftop bar open? The Rooftop Bar at Anantara The Marker runs as a seasonal terrace from April to September, usually opening around 5pm. Outside those months the hotel's indoor bar takes over.
Why are only two bars listed? We removed eight names that were ground-floor terraces, duplicates or venues we could not confirm as open rooftop bars. Sophie's and The Marker are the two we verified in June 2026.