LA Nightlife
Best rooftop bars in LA.
15 views locals actually book.
Sorted by neighborhood and vibe. Sunset, cocktails, dinner, scene. Updated for 2026.
Quick answer
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The best rooftop bars in LA in 2026 are Mama Shelter (Hollywood), Perch (DTLA), Spire 73 (DTLA, tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere), Harriet's at 1 Hotel West Hollywood, and Elephante (Santa Monica). For groups: Highlight Room or Perch. For dates: Mama Shelter or Harriet's. For the view: Spire 73. Use Plus 1 to find rooftop companions who also want to go.
LA sprawls. The best way to see it is from above. Plus 1 launched in LA this October after proven runs in Miami and NYC, and the first question every new member asks is where to go for a drink with a view. These are the 15 rooftops locals actually book, sorted by neighborhood so you can plan a crosstown night that doesn't involve two hours in traffic.
Hollywood
01.Mama Shelter Rooftop
The sleeper hit of Hollywood rooftops. String lights, foosball, approachable prices, and a view that catches the Hollywood Sign on a clear afternoon. Cocktails $14-16. Walk-ins work most nights before 9 PM; book ahead for Friday and Saturday. Best time to go: 6 PM for golden hour, no cover.
02.The Rooftop at The Hollywood Roosevelt
Historic Hollywood with a line of sight to the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. Pool-adjacent, candlelit after dark, cocktails $18-20. Reservations through the hotel or Resy are strongly recommended on weekends. Best time: 7 PM for sunset over the Hollywood Hills.
03.Highlight Room at Dream Hollywood
The full LA scene rooftop: pool, DJ, bottle service, a line out front after 10 PM. Cocktails $20+, dress code enforced. Best approach is a dinner reservation at TAO downstairs or a guest-list for the rooftop before 10 PM. Best time: 9 PM Thursday to Saturday if you want the energy, 7 PM Tuesday or Wednesday if you want the view without the wait.
West Hollywood
04.EP & LP
Two rooftops stacked above a Southeast Asian restaurant on Melrose. EP is the dinner floor, LP is the open-air bar above with the Hollywood Hills view. Cocktails $17-19. Reserve EP for 7:30 PM, drift upstairs to LP after. Best time: Thursday through Saturday for the DJ, Sunday for the quiet.
05.Harriet's at 1 Hotel West Hollywood
The current prestige rooftop in WeHo. Full panorama from DTLA to the Pacific. Organic food program, cocktails $19-22, dress code strict after 7 PM. Reservations required for prime time; book two to three weeks out on Resy. Best time: 6:30 PM for a sunset table, 10 PM if you want the lounge energy.
06.Skybar at Mondrian
The original Sunset Strip rooftop that defined the LA pool-bar aesthetic in the early 2000s. Reopened and refreshed, still a scene. Cocktails $18-20, guest-list or hotel-stay often required on weekends. Best time: Wednesday or Thursday after work, before the weekend door tightens up.
Downtown LA
07.Perch
15 stories up in the historic Pershing Square building. French-chateau theatrics, two levels of outdoor terrace, the postcard DTLA skyline view. Cocktails $18-20. Walk-ups get in on weekdays; book ahead for weekend sunset. Best time: 7 PM in winter for a glowing skyline, 8 PM in summer.
08.Spire 73
73 floors up at the InterContinental DTLA. The tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. Fire pits, 360-degree views, cocktails $22-24. Walk-in friendly most nights, but weather-dependent (closes in high wind). Best time: 7-8 PM any clear night; dress in layers because it gets cold up there even in summer.
09.Cara Cara at The Proper
Rooftop at Hotel Proper DTLA with a Kelly Wearstler-designed terrace and a Mediterranean menu that holds up on its own. The dinner rooftop you book for a big date or small group. Cocktails $19-21. Reservations essential, two weeks out on OpenTable. Best time: 7:30 PM for a sunset table.
10.The Rooftop at The Standard DTLA
Astroturf pool deck, red waterbed pods, DTLA skyline. The rooftop that made DTLA cool before DTLA was cool. Cocktails $17-19, cover after 10 PM on weekends. Walk-in during the day, guest-list at night. Best time: 5-7 PM for drinks before dinner, 10 PM Friday or Saturday if you want the DJ.
11.Upstairs at The Ace
Candlelit, lower-key rooftop above the Ace Hotel in the old United Artists building. The DTLA rooftop you take someone when you want to actually hear them talk. Cocktails $15-17. Walk-ins friendly on weeknights. Best time: 7-9 PM Monday through Thursday.
12.Hotel Figueroa Rooftop
Moroccan-tiled pool deck at Hotel Figueroa, two blocks from Crypto.com Arena. The post-game or pre-concert rooftop. Cocktails $15-17. Walk-in friendly; crowds spike with arena events. Best time: 5 PM for happy hour, or any night without a game in the building.
13.San Laurel at Conrad DTLA
Jose Andres restaurant on the fourth floor of the Conrad at The Grand LA, with an open-air terrace that catches the Disney Hall curves. Spanish menu, cocktails $20+. Reservations essential. Best time: 7 PM for the terrace at golden hour, pre-concert if you're seeing something at Disney Hall across the street.
Westside
14.Elephante
Second-floor coastal-Italian rooftop a block from the Santa Monica Pier. The ocean sunset rooftop. Cocktails $18-20, wood-fired pizza and crudo. Reservations essential for sunset tables; book two weeks out on Resy. Best time: 6:30 PM in summer, 5 PM in winter, for a sunset over the Pacific.
15.Terra at Eataly (Century City)
Open-air rooftop restaurant on top of Eataly at Westfield Century City. Wood-grilled Italian menu, Westside skyline, a quiet surprise for a mall rooftop. Cocktails $16-18. Reservations recommended on weekends. Best time: 7 PM for a dinner table, or earlier for a shopping-break aperitivo.
How to pick your rooftop
- Sunset drinks that end at 9 PM: Mama Shelter, Harriet's, Perch, Elephante.
- Cocktails without the crowd: Upstairs at The Ace, Hotel Figueroa, Terra at Eataly.
- Full night out: Highlight Room, Skybar, The Rooftop at The Standard.
- Special occasion dinner: Cara Cara, San Laurel, EP & LP.
- The view no one else has: Spire 73 at the InterContinental, 73 floors up.
Book two, not one
The best LA rooftop night is two rooftops in a row in the same neighborhood (because this is LA, and crossing town kills momentum). Start at 6 PM at a quieter sunset spot (Mama Shelter in Hollywood, Upstairs at The Ace in DTLA, Harriet's in WeHo), transition at 9 PM to a scene rooftop one block over. The Miami and NYC playbook, LA edition.
Why Plus 1 for LA rooftops
Plus 1 is a plans-first social app. Instead of swiping on profiles, you post or join plans tied to a time and a place. We launched in Miami, grew in NYC, and arrived in LA in October 2026. 32,000+ members, 10K monthly actives, and the single most common plan posted on any given Friday is a rooftop drink.
Rooftops are the easiest plans to say yes to: time-boxed, public, low-stakes, high-reward. If you just moved to LA, if your friends live in Pasadena and you live in WeHo, if you want to see the skyline but not alone, this is the plan the app was built for.
Common questions about LA rooftops
Where is the best rooftop bar in LA?
For skyline views: Spire 73 or Perch in DTLA. For a scene: Harriet's at 1 Hotel West Hollywood or Highlight Room. For dinner with a view: EP & LP or Cara Cara. For sunset over the Pacific: Elephante. Pick the vibe first.
Which LA rooftop is best for a date?
Mama Shelter in Hollywood (string lights, foosball) or Upstairs at The Ace DTLA (candlelit, quiet). For a bigger date: Harriet's for sunset, Cara Cara for dinner. Perch for the postcard view.
Which LA rooftop has the best view?
Spire 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, 73 floors up with 360-degree views. For Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory: The Rooftop at The Hollywood Roosevelt. For the ocean: Elephante.
Are there free or no-cover rooftops in LA?
Most LA rooftops are free to enter with a drink minimum. Highlight Room, Skybar, and Harriet's charge covers or guest-list after 10 PM on weekends. Mama Shelter, Upstairs at The Ace, Hotel Figueroa, and Spire 73 are typically walk-in and no-cover during the week.
What's the dress code at LA rooftops?
Smart-casual at most. Hotel rooftops (Harriet's, Skybar, Highlight Room, Cara Cara, San Laurel) are stricter and may turn you away in beachwear. Mama Shelter and Hotel Figueroa are the most relaxed. When in doubt, dress like you're going to dinner, not the pool.
How do I find someone to go rooftop-hopping with?
Plus 1 is the plans-first social app built for exactly this. Post a rooftop plan with a time and place, and other verified members request to join. Most LA rooftop plans confirm a plus one within hours.
Book your night
Plus 1 is free. Browse hand-picked LA venues or see plans posted by real members.