Rooftop spaces offer views that make for unforgettable backdrops to events—whether they are located in New York City, South Beach, or the Las Vegas Strip. Here are some of the newest rooftop bars, restaurants, and pool decks to consider when planning events this summer.
Last week Sky Suites at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas unveiled Sky Pool, a secluded pool area with luxury amenities. The space offers a private guest entrance and complimentary refreshments such as smoothie shots. It has eight cabanas as well as lounge chairs, double chaise lounge chairs, and daybeds. The space is available for private events.
Guests can take in city and lake views at Streeterville Social, the rooftop bar at the new Loews Chicago Hotel scheduled to open on June 26. The expansive space—billed as the city’s largest outdoor rooftop terrace—has two bar areas, a lawn lined with seasonal florals and greenery, space for outdoor games such as pétanque and oversize Jenga, and cabanas. Its lounge seating includes whimsical birdcage chairs. Buyouts of the entire terrace and bistro space accommodate 550 guests; by itself the terrace holds 375 guests.
Virgin Hotel Chicago offers views of downtown at Cerise, its rooftop bar. The stylish space features modern, eclectic design such as honeycomb-pattern wood floors in shades of blue inside. Befitting its name, red lighting washes over the space at night. On the menu are craft cocktails and Japanese izakaya-style bites. The space, which holds 100 inside and 100 outside, is available for private events. The hotel is the first property from the new hotel brand and opened in January.
Opening in late May, the 150-room AC Hotel Miami Beach will have a rooftop pool with ocean views. Designed by Miami-based Kobi Karp Architecture, the seven-story hotel from Marriott International is located in the booming mid-beach neighborhood and has a European sensibility. The property will also have an outdoor “lifestyle lounge” with games such as ping-pong, horseshoes, tether ball, and croquet as well as the ability to screen movies. For more traditional meeting space, the hotel has a 270-square-foot room that seats 20 guests for small meetings. The property also offers the tapas restaurant AC Lounge and a breakfast spot AC Kitchen.
From Penthouse808 at Ravel Hotel in Long Island City in New York, guests have panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the 59th Street Queensboro Bridge. The 8,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant and lounge has indoor and outdoor seating and holds 450 for receptions or seats 175 banquet-style. Groups can also reserve a cabana. The hotel is finishing a $10 million expansion that will add a new tower with rooms and event space. It will have a ballroom, outdoor meeting space, and two pools, one of which will convert to an ice-skating rink during the winter.
Planning an event abroad? High Note SkyBar at the music-theme Aria Hotel Budapest in Hungary opened March 15 with close-up views of the neighboring St. Stephen’s Basilica. The rooftop terrace is open year-round at the boutique hotel and seats 70. It can also be arranged in a traditional meeting setup. The space includes two V.I.P. terraces reached via glass spiral staircase that offer 360-degree views of the city.
Formerly known as the Panorama Lounge, the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre in Toronto was renovated and rebranded as the One Eighty in March. The venue features a 3,000-square-foot interior with a showcase bar, a built-in DJ booth, and high ceilings, as well as 1,500 square feet of outdoor space with downtown views. The entire venue holds 250 for cocktails or seats 80 for dinner.
Mad46 Rooftop Lounge, the indoor-outdoor space atop the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, debuted a renovation this spring. The 19th-floor venue refreshed the carpeting, paint, chandeliers, and other decor to the interior space as well as expanded the bathrooms. There is new furniture, new countertops at the bar, and new landscaping. The Midtown spot has a private elevator and holds 200 people. It’s open to the general public April through October but year-round for private events.
Offering views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and Freedom Tower, Up on 20 Rooftop Bar at Hyatt Herald Square in New York is open for its first season. The space features a bar with seating underneath a pergola as well as tables and lounge seating. Clear panels along the perimeter maximize the urban ambiance.
Rooftop events can take place year-round at Capa, the rooftop restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. The venue, which opened in October, notably offers views of all four Walt Disney World Resort parks from its terrace. The space seats 31 people at plush furnishings that create a residential feel. Inside, the Spanish steak house seats 122 and has two private dining rooms that each seat 35.
The Beach at Dream Downtown in New York underwent a light refresh of the space. The hotel's pool deck—which has an actual sand beach—spans 4,800 square feet. New this season is a raised wooden cabana deck with two private cabanas. The space has a DJ booth, a full-service bar and kitchen, and 50 lounge chairs. It holds 300 guests for receptions.
