Come for the view and the atmosphere at Charmaine’s.
With cool winds, constant fog and temperatures that rarely rise above 21 degrees, San Francisco is admittedly not the perfect city for rooftop bars. But that hasn’t stopped clever restaurant owners and hoteliers from opening these picturesque bars. Their dedication is finally bearing fruit, as rooftop bars have grow to be all the fad within the City by the Bay this summer.
Here are the six best places to experience the atmosphere and consider for yourself.
Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Real hotel in San FranciscoCharmaine’s is town’s most stylish rooftop bar. Designer Kelly Wearstler imagined the space as inhabited by a bohemian great-aunt who spent much of her life globetrotting. That explains why the light-filled bar exudes a collected cool, with inviting couches, roaring fire pits, colourful prints and glamorous accents.
The food and drinks are equally tempting. The Proper Cup is a refreshing tackle the Pimm’s Cup with Tanqueray and absinthe, while the Super French Martini is one other twist on a classic with fino sherry. Pair the drinks with pretzel buns and smoked pimento cheese dip, crudités and broad bean hummus, or grilled Japanese chicken meatballs.
Charmaine’s also hosts energetic special events: Sunday brunch includes a paella and rosé party, the last Sunday of the month features completely satisfied hour jam sessions by Motel Club DJs, and a handful of exclusive parties to have fun SF Pride.
Transportation to a rooftop party in Rio.
With Latin beats, lush decor and tantalizing aromas, Cavaña will transport you to a celebration in Rio as soon as you’re taking the elevator to the seventeenth floor of the Hotel Luma in Mission Bay. The bar is an ode to Central and South America and there isn’t a other place prefer it in San Francisco.
Sip on progressive cocktails just like the Naked & Famous, a mix of mezcal, strawberry aperitif, Yucatan coconut liqueur and yellow chartreuse served with lime, or persist with the classics like a wonderfully made margarita or caipirinha.
As for food, we love the chicken tinga tostadas and the quesabirria tacos. Music is an enormous a part of the Cavaña experience. Not only is there a live DJ every night, however the team also hosts Salsero Sundays every weekend with live salsa music from Edgardo Cambón & LaTido.
The sultry bar scene at Hotel Zelos.
A protracted-standing favorite spot for a glass of rosé on a warm day, this sultry bar on the fifth floor of the Hotel Zelos has a covered patio so that you haven’t got to fret about cold gusts of wind. The team is introducing a brand new completely satisfied hour menu in June and bar-goers can look ahead to updated versions of the signature Old Fashioned drinks, hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal drinks.
There is something for everybody on the menu: meat connoisseurs will love the grilled lamb ribs and pork belly Chicharroneswhile vegetarians will enjoy the newborn beet salad with strawberries and roasted cauliflower with almonds chopped (a sauce) and avocado cream.
During the summer, Dirty Habit participates in “Union Square in Bloom,” an initiative that celebrates the neighborhood’s historic past as a flower district with floral-inspired menus.
The Japanese-Peruvian cuisine of the hotspot.
This rooftop hotspot serves Japanese-Peruvian cuisine in a vibrant and energetic environment with rarely seen CityscapesWith live DJs, black lights and neon murals and signs, it has the atmosphere of a nightclub, but with an intensive menu of Nikkei dishes. There are typical Japanese dishes like edamame and sushi rolls, and more interesting dishes like grilled baby back ribs, charcoal-grilled octopus and Wagyu steaks.
The cocktails invite you to travel from Tokyo to Lima. The Story of Jade offers a fresh, floral, fragrant mix of London Dry Gin, Junmai Sake, cardamom, wasabi, turmeric, cucumber, lemon and ginger ale. If you like something a bit simpler, the frothy, elegant Pisco Sour or the daring Espresso Martini with toasted brown sugar topping are only the thing.
The refuge on the thirteenth floor of the Line Hotel.
On the thirteenth floor of the Line HotelDiscover a glass-covered solarium with a wonderful black and white marble bar. The chic space features an out of doors area with warming fire pits, cozy blankets and enormous potted plants. The cocktail menu highlights unique flavors. The Szechuan of a Kind, for instance, blends tequila, green Szechuan, plum kernel, mint, almond and citrus. And the Panda-Monium is made with rum, pandan, pineapple amaro and winter melon.
The culinary offering includes raw food snacks akin to spicy tuna with chili chips and bonito mayo, shrimp rolls with coconut and herbs and spicy Korean chicken.
The breathtaking view from Starlite.
The most enjoyable recent opening at Union Square to this point is Starlite. The twenty first floor of the Beacon Grand has been home to a bar since 1928, and in February Starlite was reborn with a brand new, Art Deco-inspired look and an opulent, upscale atmosphere. It’s indoors, so come here when it’s cold, but you may still find stunning views of town.
SF mixology legend Scott Baird is behind the sensational cocktails, which include Pisco Punch, Silver Fizz and Dirty 90s Martini (Grey Goose vodka with cold-pressed olive oil, house-salted vermouth and an olive full of Saint Agur blue cheese for a special twist).
These drinks complement chef Johnny Spero’s savory snacks well, which include baked oysters with brown butter, grilled cheese on toasted brioche with honey mustard, and meatloaf sandwiches with smoked ketchup.
On weekends, Starlite hosts Sunday Sessions, an experience that features a champagne float, sunset toast, and a DJ who starts playing at 4:30pm.
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