5 Best Rooftop Venues in Southern California
Summer is when these rooms earn their rent. Long sunsets, warm nights, and views that run from the ocean to the mountains. These five cover the range: the tallest, the most scenic, the best pool scene, the coastal pick, and the one for a serious dinner. Reserve ahead for July weekends and aim for the hour before sunset.
Spire 73, Downtown LA
On the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, Spire 73 is the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. The view is the entire point: a 360-degree sweep of the basin with fire pits running along the edge. Cocktails are strong and priced for the altitude, so come for one or two and the photos, not a full night of drinking. Smart casual. Get there early to claim a spot near the rail.
Cara Cara, Downtown LA
Atop the Downtown LA Proper Hotel, Cara Cara delivers the best food of any rooftop on this list, which makes sense given Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne run the kitchen. The multi-level deck wraps the building with unobstructed city views, intimate nooks, and fire pits. Order the market-driven cocktails and actually eat here, because the Californian small plates hold up against the setting. Reserve for sunset and stay through dinner.
The Roof at EDITION, West Hollywood
This is the pool-and-scene pick. The Roof sits atop the West Hollywood EDITION with a rooftop pool, a trendy crowd, and DJs most nights. Latin and tropical-leaning cocktails, a deep mezcal and tequila list, and people-watching that rarely quits. Dress code is smart casual, and the crowd skews young and well put together. Stay at the hotel and you can use the pool, which changes the whole day.
Élephante, Santa Monica
For a coastal version of the rooftop night, Élephante looks out over the water in Santa Monica with a Mediterranean menu and a buzzing room. The light coming off the ocean at sunset does most of the work, and the wood-fired pizzas and crudo give you a reason to linger past one drink. It books up fast on summer weekends, so plan a week or two out for a prime sunset table.
Merois, West Hollywood
Wolfgang Puck runs Merois on the rooftop of the Pendry West Hollywood, and it is the one to choose when the rooftop is the dinner, not the warm-up. The open-air bar sits next to the dining room, with views over downtown and Sunset Boulevard. The food is Southeast Asian and French in influence and seriously executed. Do not skip the torched Basque-style cheesecake. Dress up a little, and book the patio.
How to choose: want the highest view, Spire 73. Want the best meal, Cara Cara or Merois. Want a pool and a scene, The Roof. Want the ocean, Élephante. All five reward an early arrival and a reservation.