Editorial
LA's rooftop scene is shaped by the city's geography, so almost every elevated bar holds the Hollywood Hills or the Pacific in view. The six below cover Downtown, Hollywood, the Westside and Beverly Hills. Several hotel rooftops here have changed names recently, so we list each under its current one.
Perch crowns a 1920s Downtown tower across two open-air levels on the 15th and 16th floors, with the LA skyline laid out in every direction. The French-leaning kitchen and fireplaces give it a Parisian rooftop feel rare in the city. Order a craft cocktail and aim for the sunset hour, when the towers light up. Reserve ahead on weekends. Best for a romantic night with the full Downtown view.
White Rabbit Sky Lounge is the ivy-draped poolside rooftop that succeeded the long-running Skybar, now at The Valorian on Sunset Boulevard. The open-air pavilion still pulls a stylish West Hollywood crowd for sunset over the Strip. It opens Wednesday through Sunday, running to 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. Order a signature cocktail and arrive before dark for a daybed. Best for a Sunset Strip scene with a view.
The L.P. rooftop runs above 603 North La Cienega in West Hollywood, one of the largest roof decks in the city. Greenery, fire pits and a clear line to the Hollywood Hills set the scene, and the summer Melrose Rooftop Theatre screens films under the stars. The deck stays open daily into the early hours, with no bookings taken. Order a frozen cocktail at sunset. Best for a big, social rooftop night.
Kassi opened on the top floor of Hotel Erwin in 2025, the airy Greek and Eastern Mediterranean rooftop that replaced High Rooftop Lounge above Venice Beach. The deck looks straight down the boardwalk to the Pacific, best caught as the sun drops into the water. It runs daily, to midnight on Thursday through Saturday. Order mezze and an ouzo cocktail. Best for a beachside sunset away from Downtown.
Videre is the rooftop restaurant and bar atop the Kimpton Hotel Wilshire in Mid-Wilshire, the current name for what was The Roof on Wilshire. The deck frames the Hollywood Sign and the Westside towers, and weekday Work Drinks bring handcrafted cocktails after five. It keeps a calmer crowd than the Hollywood party rooftops. Order a seasonal cocktail near sunset. Best for an unhurried drink with a wide LA view.
Gemma is the California Pan-Asian rooftop at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, the destination that took over The Rooftop by JG. The indoor-outdoor lounge looks across Beverly Hills to the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Sign. Tiki-leaning cocktails and weekend brunch anchor the menu. Order a rum drink at golden hour and settle into the terrace. Best for a polished Beverly Hills evening.
Perch in Downtown is the iconic skyline option, and Kassi in Venice is the beachside counter to it. Most LA rooftops peak between 6 and 9 PM at sunset, then thin out unless a DJ takes over. Several big-hotel rooftops have rebranded in the past two years, so we list each under the name it operates by now.
Which rooftop has the best view? Perch looks across the Downtown skyline, while Kassi and Videre trade the towers for the Pacific and the Hollywood Sign.
When should you go? Aim for the 6 to 9 PM sunset window. E.P. & L.P. takes no bookings, so arrive early on weekends.
Which are good for a date? Perch leans Parisian, Gemma pairs a quiet rooftop with tiki cocktails, and Videre keeps a calmer crowd.
Are they open to the public? Yes. All six welcome non-hotel guests, though weekend nights at the Hollywood rooftops may need a reservation.