Best Rooftop Bars in Los Angeles

Spectacular 360-degree views of the DTLA skyline from the 15th floor. Art deco design meets open-air terraces. The Pisco Punch is the signature move and pairs perfectly with the charcuterie board. Best Thursday through Saturday when the DJ starts at 9pm. Reservations essential on weekends.

The Hollywood sign looms in the distance from this playful terrace bar above Mama Shelter. Casual enough for after-work drinks, lively enough to stay until midnight. The frozen rosé slushies have become something of a neighbourhood institution. Great for a casual Thursday or buzzing weekend escape.

Perched above the EP restaurant on La Cienega, LP is the outdoor rooftop bar where WeHo comes to see and be seen. Electronic music pulses through the night, cocktails are strong, and the crowd looks like it walked off a magazine shoot. Dress code is smart casual.

The pool, the waterbeds, the sweeping DTLA views. The Standard's rooftop remains one of the most reliably fun places in Los Angeles. The bar shows up on every best-of list for good reason. The DJs are excellent and the energy never lags from Thursday through Saturday.

Atop the 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Harriet's is the city's most Instagrammed bar for good reason. The Sunset Strip stretches out below, the cocktails are immaculate, and the design is genuinely beautiful. Book well ahead on weekends. Our editors love the paloma and the sightlines.

The highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere at 73 floors up in the InterContinental. Not for those with vertigo. For everyone else, it is an experience unlike any other in Los Angeles. The view alone is worth the premium pricing. Reserve weeks in advance.

The more relaxed alternative to the flashier DTLA rooftops. A good natural wine list, board games on the tables, and a crowd that prefers conversation to posturing. Walk-ins welcome. Our editors recommend this spot for quieter Tuesday and Wednesday nights when the mood is contemplative.

The French brasserie sensibility of the ground floor Zinque extends up to this airy terrace. Sunset over the Pacific is the main event and a chilled glass of Bandol rosé is the correct accompaniment. The oysters are excellent. Go early to catch the light.

The rooftop bar above the Kimpton Everly Hotel commands a clear sightline to the Hollywood Hills. Low-key during the week, properly buzzing from Friday onwards. The cocktails are thoughtful and not overly sweet. Our editors love the view and the chill vibe.

The rooftop outpost of the celebrated Broken Shaker brand delivers the same inventive cocktail programme in an outdoor Los Angeles setting. The mezcal selection alone is worth the Uber ride. The bartenders are true craftspeople and remember your drink preferences.

The pool and bar at the Ace are practically synonymous with DTLA cool. Day drinking by the pool transitions seamlessly into evening cocktails as the sun sinks behind the skyline. The crowd is creative and the energy is always good.

Technically a restaurant, but the terrace bar at sunset with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background makes it one of the most scenic drinks spots in greater Los Angeles. The mai tai is legitimately one of the city's best. Come early to catch the views.