Dare to dream at the world’s best rooftop bars
Mahjong Roof Garden at Mandarin Oriental
La Terrazza rooftop bar, Florence
Cala Masciol at Borgo Egnazia during sunset
7th Floor Bar at Hotel Hassler
Watching the sun set over a stunning vista with a glass of something in hand… does anything beat it? We think not. so with the world finally opening up to travel and adventure, why not head to one of these spectacular rooftop bars where ‘golden hour’ really is like nothing else…
La Terrazza at Hotel Continentale, Florence
When it comes to impressive vistas, it’s hard to top the dome-filled skyline of Florence burning bright under the setting sun. La Terrazza – the rooftop bar of Hotel Continentale – offers just that. Overlooking the Arno river and channelling the glamour of the fifties, La Terrazza oozes style, while heated benches and an open fire means it’s perfect for enjoying a cocktail or two all year round. Well, the Negroni was invented in Florence after all - wouldn’t it be rude not to?
Terrazza Vittoria at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento
Combining clifftop views with the Amalfi coastline, Terrazza Vittoria offers a sunset experience that dreams are made of. Sitting atop the 187-year-old Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria – itself perched on a site where Emperor Augustus is said to have had a villa – this rooftop bar is romantic, atmospheric and steeped in history. So sit back and sample some of Chef’s Neapolitan specialities while gazing out over the Bay of Naples. Bellissimo.
Cala Masciola at Borgo Egnazia, Puglia
If you want your cocktail hour accompanied by a specially curated soundtrack then head to Cala Masciola, a beach club on the rocky Apulian coast. Watch the sea change colour as the sun slowly sets, while sampling delights from the on-site restaurant. Seafood lovers in particular will be fans of the fishmonger’s counter, specialising in local cuisine such as ‘crudo’, an Apulian tradition.
Mahjong Roof Garden at Mandarin Oriental, Munich
This new venue is a hidden gem of al fresco dining, offering a menu of summer-inspired Asian and Latin American dishes alongside a myriad of wines and cocktails. The champagne bar and lounge area, alongside the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool, is curated by renowned design house, Roche Bobois. Stunning views showcase everything from the twin domes of Munich Cathedral to the undulating alpine horizon, .
Eden Bar at Hotel Eden Roc, Ascona, Switzerland
Just as the area of Ascona combines the balmy climes and buzzing piazzas of the Mediterranean with Switzerland’s cool allure, so Hotel Eden Roc’s rooftop bar offers breathtaking views of Lake Maggiore alongside a private beach and palm-fringed swimming pools. And if you need to refuel after an action-packed day on the water, enjoy an array of stunning Italo-Swiss cuisine around lakeside fire pits.
7th Floor Bar at Hotel Hassler, Rome
If enjoying an aperitivo while watching the sun set over Rome’s Piazza di Spagna sounds appealing (which, of course, it does) then head to 7th Floor Bar at Hotel Hassler. The only hotel at the top of the Spanish Steps it boasts unparalleled views, as well as being perfectly located for the city’s most popular sites: the Pantheon, the Colosseum, Villa Borghese and Piazza del Popolo. Service is also renowned as the best in Rome, just one reason why the hotel’s iconic guest book includes Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana and the Kennedy Family.