Our Readers’ Favorite Hotel Rooftops in the World

Last week on TripAdvisor, Wendy wrote about the benefits of choosing hotels with amazing rooftops: the crowd-free views, the beautiful breakfast setting, the convenience of late-night sightseeing when jet lag wakes you up at three in the morning. That blog post covered the reasons why she loves a hotel rooftop, but we wanted to hear from real travelers about the where. So we put the question out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: What is your favorite hotel rooftop in the world? The answers and photos below are likely to inspire you to plan a trip right now.

The rooftop pool and club at the Standard Downtown LA is a place to see and be seen.

The Standard Downtown LA is a cool rooftop spot for evening drinks, according to Facebook fan Elaine Travels—and we think it’s not just because of the view. The design-focused hotel tricked out its aerie with a red AstroTurf deck, outdoor fireplace, heated pool, sleek couches and loungers, and waterbed pods.

Reader Elizabeth Vail traveled to Lhasa a few years ago and fell in love with the view from the roof of the Shambhala Palace Hotel.

Instagrammer @hopeyouloveit hashtagged her way through praise for Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Vertigo and Moon Bar—and, looking at this photo, we can see why.

Jody Bear, founder of Bear & Bear Travel, left us a comment on Facebook: “Not only is First Hotel in Rome a cool, trendy hotel in a great location, but their rooftop/lounge is the place to be—think Nikki beach in the sky!”

The rooftop restaurant at the Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel overlooks the Old City.

Susan Weissberg, a travel agent who specializes in Israel, loves the rooftop restaurant at the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem.

The Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento (a Relais & Chateaux property) has beautiful views from the pool, as well as from suites with their own private rooftop terraces.

Cookbook author Robyn Webb nominated the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet. She says “Looking at the lighted mosques from there, especially at night, is magical. On a balmy Turkish summer evening you feel like a sultan sitting on top of your grand palace!” Robyn also had a great experience at the Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento (a Relais & Chateaux property). There, she stayed in a suite with its own private rooftop terrace—with Mt. Vesuvius in her direct view.

Instagrammer @laurie_gery is a fan of another Relais & Chateaux spot, La Villa des Orangers in Marrakech. The rooftop pool area there boasts gardens, solariums, and a view of the Atlas mountains.

The Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at Rosewood San Miguel de Allende offers views of the town’s spires and bell towers.

The Rosewood San Miguel de Allende’s Luna Rooftop Tapas Baris lodged firmly in the memory of both Hope Smith (a Mexico travel specialist with Born to Travel) and George Alexandrou (of Alexandrou Travel Design). As George posted on Instagram, “Great view and ambiance. Plus the cocktails help.”

We know Becky Veith from her experience planning Caribbean vacations, but she answered our Facebook question with a spot in Italy. “A small three-star hotel in Rome called Albergo Del Senato,” she suggested. “It has fabulous views of the Pantheon and its Piazza Della Rotonda.”

Marriott’s Grand Chateau Las Vegas has a rooftop pool escape from the busy nightlife below.

Reader Charlie Powell is a fan of Marriott’s Grand Chateau in Las Vegas, where the resort’s rooftop pool is a break from the desert heat.

The Soho House brand made our readers’ list twice: Katie Frederick, a honeymoon planner with a trip-envy-inspiring Instagram feed, is a fan of the Soho House New York’s rooftop pool. Another of our Instagram fans, Caroline Lempert, nominated Soho Beach House Miami.

Travelers to Sydney can get a view of Rushcutters Bay from the rooftop pool area at Vibe Hotel Ruschutters.

The Vibe Hotel Rushcutters, in Sydney, is a favorite of Instagram fan @the_matthew_cull. The rooftop pool here overlooks Rushcutters Bay.

The two-level Sarab Rooftop Lounge at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is a favorite Dubai hangout for @iscanebru. Guests can take in a view of the Arabian Desert while sipping cocktails and smoking shisha pipes.

What’s your favorite hotel rooftop?