Los Angeles makes up for its lack of terraces and biergartens with an abundance of Instagram-worthy rooftop bars and restaurants. From playful poolside vibes to fine dining, rooftops across the city have a colorful variety of options for every mood. These are the stops we hold in the highest regard — literally.
Spire 73, InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
Forbes Travel Guide Recommended InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown’s Spire 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, ideal for a date night or impressing out-of-town guests. Wear layers, though. At 1,100 feet, Spire 73 can get chilly, but ample fire pits help offset the winds and create a romantic mood. While the dinner menu features elegant options such as filet mignon and seared sea bass, most come for sundowners and sky-high selfies.
Élephante opened in 2018 and remains a Santa Monica who’s-who hot spot. A quick elevator ride whisks you to the top of the Laemmle Theater to the stylish open-air restaurant. Guests come for the Mediterranean comfort food — pizza, silky-smooth whipped eggplant and grilled octopus salad — and linger for the ocean views, classic cocktails and stellar Italian-inspired wine list. Reservations are highly recommended, especially at the magic hour as the sun dips below the Pacific.
The Rooftop by JG, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Hotel rooftops usually come with fruity drinks, fries and flimsy vibes. However, the Five-Star Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills’ The Rooftop by JG rolls out the red carpet for formal, but not fussy, fine dining. The 360-degree vistas of Beverly Hills from the hotel’s 12th floor dazzle — request a table on the restaurant’s perimeter for the best views.
The playful menu also impresses. Highlights include the lobster burger, crispy salmon sushi, truffle cheeseburger and fresh pasta with Bolognese ragu. If you want serious wine paired with the former, you’re in luck. Choose from an encyclopedic wine menu (the same as the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Espelette) that includes rare pours by the glass and a sommelier to help you navigate.
Agua Viva, Conrad Los Angeles
This downtown Conrad’s sexy, chic rooftop feels like a visit to St. Tropez. Walk the corridor lined with floor-to-ceiling greenery to find Agua Viva, an open-air restaurant with natural wood furniture, rattan fixtures and cityscape views.
Rest assured, you’ll eat well here with celebrated Spanish chef José Andrés in charge of the show. The menu varies with elevated Mediterranean (carrot hummus), Spanish (crab croquetas) and American favorites (ribeye burger). Newer menu items include eggplant toast and whole grilled seabream. For weekend brunch, Agua Viva’s torrejas (Spanish-style French toast topped with whipped cream) is worth every indulgent bite. The signature cocktail, the Saints G&T, stays true to its Spanish influences made with St. George Gin, St-Germain, Chareau aloe vera liqueur, ginger and tonic water.
The BAR at Merois, Pendry West Hollywood
Perched atop Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Pendry West Hollywood with breathtaking looks onto the Hollywood Hills along Sunset Boulevard, The BAR at Merois is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Legendary celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck crafted THE BAR’s craveable lobster spring rolls, crispy rice crab salad and bluefin tuna. The thoughtfully curated craft cocktail menu regularly changes, but the bartenders will happily resurrect old favorites.
The BAR at Merois feels like a cozy outdoor living room with a roaring fireplace, elegant marble tables and art-deco-inspired furniture. The menu at Merois, the adjacent signature restaurant, reads like a catalog of Puck’s greatest hits from his 40-plus-year restaurant reign in L.A. The floor-to-ceiling windows and maître d’ Bryon Lazaroff-Puck’s remarkable hospitality only add to the evening’s magic.
Cara Cara, Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel
This downtown rooftop may be small, but the scene and menu at this relative newcomer are mighty. The rooftop has glittery views of the Fashion District as the sun reflects the light off the nearby high-rises. Star chef Suzanne Goin and sommelier Caroline Styne created Cara Cara’s menu (as well as the one at Caldo Verde, the all-day, ground-floor eatery). Although the duo has opened many restaurants and runs the Hollywood Bowl’s culinary program, this marks its hotel debut.
Don’t miss Goin’s famous lemon chicken, which appears on both menus. And given Cara Cara’s Latin-meets-Cali vibe, it is no surprise that the cocktail menu pays homage to agave spirits like the chili-and-cilantro-infused tequila used in the standout One Night in Tulum.
Stay tuned for our 2024 Star Awards announcement on February 7, 2024.
