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With an unparalleled dining scene and renowned weather year-round, Los Angeles is a breeding ground for rooftop restaurants. Here are the very best.
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Website/ 416 W 8th St 90014
You’ve probably seen Broken Shaker’s hot pink umbrellas somewhere on your social media feed, but this rooftop makes for far more than just a pretty Instagram picture. The Freehand Hotel’s pool deck also happens to be a James Beard Award finalist and winner of Tales of the Cocktail’s Best American Hotel Bar award. Angelenos outside of downtown flock here for weekend pop-ups, next-level carne asada fries and cheeky cocktails like the El Tosoro Blaco-based Extreme Thirst and Vibe Check.
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Website/ 1060 S Broadway 90015
From the top of The Hoxton, Downtown LA, guests chow down family-style over chef Stephanie Izard’s vibrant Peruvian dishes while taking in the downtown skyline. Be sure to arrive ahead of your reservation for a drink on the patio where you can relish in the sun and colorful cocktail menu.
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Website/ 700 Wilshire Blvd 90401
Nothing elevates rooftop views like the ocean, which makes dining at Calabra a hard-to-match experience. The Mediterranean-Californian restaurant sprawls across the pool sundeck, mid-level garden terrace and a covered lounge space, ensuring guests an idyllic visit whether unwinding over a long dinner or meeting up for its Al Fresco Apertivo on Wednesdays.
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Website/ 8801 Washington Blvd 90232
Over the last year, Culver City has become one of the buzziest enclaves of Los Angeles and part of that is in thanks to The Shay hotel. In addition to lobby-level Etta, The Shay’s dining options include the rooftop, millennial-pink-doused Canopy Club where you can really escape from city chaos and enjoy California-inspired eats by chef Michael Santoro.
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Website/ 1100 S Broadway 90015
Proper Hotels have the magic touch for developing great rooftop restaurants. In addition to the Santa Monica location’s Calabra is Cara Cara in downtown. Enhanced by the talents of celebrated L.A. duo chef Suzanne Goin and sommelier Caroline Styne, Cara Cara has perhaps the most picturesque angle of the downtown skyline.
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Website/ 812 E 3rd St 90013
Sister restaurant to Terraza Cha Cha Cha in Mexico City, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve been transported out of the country at LA Cha Cha Cha between the space’s abundant greenery and innovative Mexican dishes. The Arts District restaurant is also a standout for its spirited atmosphere and equally spirited cocktail program. Between sips of the tropical Sana Sana Pain Killer or Mezcalita, consider ordering both the mushroom tacos and Steak Pa’Taquear.
Website/ 100 S Grand Ave 90012
One of Los Angeles’ grandest new hotels offers not one but two of L.A.’s finest rooftop restaurants with views of The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall and beyond. Atop the Frank Gehry-designed Conrad Los Angeles, you can savor California-Spanish fare by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés at Agua Viva and San Laurel, which also hosts Sunday brunch.
See also: Where To Enjoy The Best Alfresco Happy Hours In L.A.
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Website/ 603 N La Cienega 90069
There’s a good reason people routinely flock to E.P. & L.P. From one of the city’s most expansive rooftop patios, you get views that span from the rolling Hollywood Hills to the downtown skyline to the ocean— which you might be able to see on a good, non-smoggy day. You also can find one of the best frozés in town here alongside the spirited lineup of signature cocktails, and now that E.P. has transitioned from the main floor to rooftop cohost, it now accepts reservations.
Website/ 1518 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
The Vinyl District establishment‘s indoor restaurant and 71 Studio Bar are well worth the visit, but with views of Hollywood from its rooftop, dining at GMR from the top floor is a must-do for any Angeleno. Whether the sky is washed by a sorbet sunset or twinkling stars, your tastebuds will rejoice over Grandmaster Recorders’ grilled garlic focaccia, pork and veal meatball and by-the-slice pizza. You also can’t beat the weekend happy hour, which features bottomless pizza from noon to 3 p.m.
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Website/1697 Pacific Ave 90291
Hotel Erwin’s roof is the pinnacle of L.A. chic meets SoCal cool. At High Rooftop Lounge, you can munch on California staples like burgers and tacos while rotating your drink of choice from the variety of signature, frozen and hot cocktails. Best of all, you’ll have views of the Pacific one way, the city the other and immaculate vibes courtesy of gorgeous skies and pitch-perfect tunes.
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Website/ 1400 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
There’s always something happening at The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood’s rooftop, but even when there’s not, it's more than worth a visit. The I | O Rooftop Pool & Lounge operates on a mission to embody the glamor and sophistication of Hollywood. Opt for tranquil day drinking by the pool or nighttime revelry full of dancing and cocktails.
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Website/ 6500 Selma Ave 90028
The second summer hits, it can be a two-hour-plus wait to get to the roof of Mama Shelter. It’s understandable why. Mama Shelter is the least intimidating rooftop in the Hollywood, but still maintains the essence of an L.A. It place. Away from clubby surroundings, Mama Shelter offers an air of freedom alongside its lively cocktail menu and hearty lineup of bites like Le Royale Burger and the Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Bao.
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Website/ 448 S Hill St 90013
With 360-degree views of downtown Los Angeles from the top of the Pershing Square Building, Perch LA has succeeded for more than a decade in its mission to make guests feel like they are floating. Perhaps it's the thrill of dining 15 floors up (or 16 floors if you opt for drinks at the terrace bar) at an ornate Paris-like bistro. But perhaps it's that feeling you have after finishing a meal of decadent French dishes like the Little Bunny Frou Frou or Steak Frites.
Website/ 9882 S Santa Monica Blvd 90212
The Peninsula Beverly Hills has cultivated a loyalty among locals thanks in large part to its slate of premier dining options including The Roof Garden. From the rooftop, guests are treated to The Peninsula team’s top-of-the-line culinary talents, all the while being able to embrace L.A.’s world-famous weather. Come ready to enjoy classic California dishes enlivened by global flavors.
Website/ 9850 Wilshire Blvd 90210
The Rooftop at JG crowns the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills with an outstanding dining experience featuring flavorful New American dishes and inventive cocktails. Elegant through its emerald touches, the space feels like a luxe garden from day to night.
Website/ 9876 Wilshire Blvd 90210
The Beverly Hilton is ground zero for the Golden Globes. So between its Hollywood history and the twinkling light draped across the rooftop, dining at Sant’olina can make anyone feel like an A-lister. Even better, diners witness views of The Flats neighborhood in Beverly Hills while feasting over Southern California-inspired Mediterranean cuisine crafted by chefs Michael Teich and Burt Bakman.
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Website/ 900 Wilshire Blvd fl 73 90017
As shown by this extensive list, Los Angeles has an array of great rooftops. But only one takes the title as the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. That title goes to Spire 73, the 73rd-floor rooftop bar at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. To see the unbeatable views alone makes the reservation worth it. But Spire 73 is so much more. From the polished, neutral-toned bar to the flurry of fireplaces, it’s a real treat to enjoy a handcrafted cocktail here.
Next time you’re ready to get outside, be sure to consider one of L.A.’s best rooftop bars and restaurants.
See also: Where To Find L.A.'s Most Refreshing Frozen Cocktails
Photography by: Wonho Frank Lee; Courtesy of Conrad Los Angeles; Courtesy of The Peninsula Beverly Hills; Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills; Courtesy of The H.Wood Group
