The Best Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Philadelphia

Modern luxury is what it’s all about at Assembly Rooftop Lounge at The Logan, Philadelphia’s Hotel. Far beyond your average hotel bar, Assembly is situated nine floors above street level, is open year-round, and offers plenty of seating nests and firepits. As if picturesque views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway aren’t enough, craft cocktails and wines (glass of bubbly, anyone?) charcuterie, flatbreads and more add to the sophisticated rooftop’s appeal.

Perched on the 16th floor above the Cambria Hotel on Broad Street, Attico offers a menu of fresh Mediterranean bites and Center City views from dozens of feet over the street. The stylish year-round outdoor balcony is the perfect spot for epic brunch parties, post-show plates, and happy-hour eats like $2 oysters, $3 shrimp cocktail and $8 baked ham and cheese toast or chicken parmesan nuggets.

Armed with a creative menu of sushi and other pan-Asian dishes, premium sake, Asian beer and more, Azie brings the bold flavors of Asia to this Philly suburb. During the warmer months, the restaurant takes its global flavors outdoors with two open-air dining areas. While the downstairs patio is awesome, the restaurant’s upstairs roof deck sets the tone with twinkling lights and a lovely view of downtown Media.

Each spring, summer and fall, the rooftop of South Philadelphia’s former Bok High School turns into a spacious bar with stellar skyline views. The seasonal watering hole serves a variety of drinks (including a mostly local can list) alongside bites from monthly chefs-in-residence like the mission-driven bake shop and cafe Darnel’s Cakes, Argentinian cafe Jezabel’s and Venezuelan restaurant Puyero. Even better? No reservations are required, so drop in whenever you’d like to feel the wind in your hair and a cold drink in your hand.

Just off Rittenhouse Square, Stephen Starr’s classic eclectic restaurant features a retro rooftop lounge — the spot’s pièce de résistance. With its 1960s vibe (think comfy sofas and firepits), the rooftop is partially enclosed so that it’s serviceable year-round. The lush deck area is uber-popular during warmer months, particularly with the Saturday and Sunday brunch crowd. The restaurant recently revamped its cocktail menu, and what better way to taste your way through the new collection of martinis and more than from under a clear blue sky or stars?

Chester County brewery East Branch Brewing Co. is one of those neighborhood spots you hit up for laidback craft beer and bar fare. On warm days (double check their straight-to-the-point Instagram account), the brewery’s rooftop is open for diners and drinkers. While there aren’t skyscrapers to gaze upon, there are great sunsets to watch. The menu includes banh mi, burgers, three-cheese brisket mac and cheese, and, of course, beer and cocktails.

Queso fundido, tacos, frozen cocktails, oh my! Add in the smattering of downtown skyscrapers peering overhead and you’ve got yourself the whole package at El Techo. Condesa’s taqueria spans the 11th floor and brings all of the tropical Miami vibes to you. Best of all, it offers rooftop dining all year long (and in all types of weather) thanks to a retractable glass roof. The Center City rooftop is first come, first served Mondays through Saturdays, but resys are available — and a smart move — for the restaurant’s Sunday brunch.

Detroit-style pizza, award-winning burgers and frozen cocktails on a roof? Yes, please. In the warmer months, Emmy Squared offers plenty of outdoor terrace seating at its spot in Queen Village, where diners can take their pick of seasonal cocktails by the pitcher (hmm … pitchers on a patio, don’t think we could name a better pair), beer, wine and, of course, pizza. Seating is walk-in only.

Inspired by Hong Kong’s electric atmosphere and culture, Chinatown’s Far East Descendant specializes in Cantonese fare, with a menu of small plates, claypot rice, Montao sandwiches, family-style meals and interesting cocktails. We suggest sampling all of it up on the restaurant’s cozy rooftop, a year-round oasis tucked between buildings and removed from the bustle down below.

Bok Bar’s more formal counterpart, Irwin’s — named one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2022 by Bon Appétit — serves Sicilian cuisine from chef Michael Vincent Ferreri paired with natural wines. If you ask us, that fresh, award-winning menu is best enjoyed with a breeze on the restaurant’s eighth-floor rooftop terrace. The outside space — open May through September — isn’t available to walk-ins, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.

The rooftop terrace at this restaurant offers stunning views of the Schuylkill River. Perfect for a date night, the spot’s riverside sunsets are just as romantic as its starlit evenings next to one of the outdoor fireplaces. Top Chef and James Beard Award finalist Nicholas Elmi helms the kitchen here. The menu frequently changes (giving you and your date a reason to return again and again), but you can always count on Lark for delicious Mediterranean-inspired, seafood-forward cuisine, hand-made pastas, elevated cocktails and hand-picked wines.

Billed as the city’s largest restaurant, Liberty Point has enough space to seat 1,400 people across three indoor-outdoor levels. The Delaware River waterfront-located establishment boasts multiple elevated outdoor deck areas for dining, dancing, live music and exciting DJs — perfect for views of the river while vibing and sipping.

Taco ’bout a view. The fiesta goes outdoors at Más Mexicali Cantina in West Chester. The expansive rooftop can fit 150 people eager to catch a glimpse of downtown West Chester from above over a pitcher of margaritas. The only thing topping the view is the restaurant’s extensive menu of Mexican cuisine, featuring over a dozen varieties of tacos, as well as plenty of options for fajitas, burritos, enchiladas and más.

With a huge rooftop patio giving off major shore vibes — but in Delco — Off The Rail is a spring and summer staple for those looking for warm-weather vibing and imbibing. Live bands and musicians set the scene on select evenings. For more chill nights, there’s plenty of seating, lawn games, beer, wine, cocktails and pub fare to go around. Sports fans can catch all the action alfresco on an impressively large projector.

On the second floor of the Hyatt Centric Center City, hotel guests and visitors can find the New American spot Patchwork. In addition to the menu, which focuses on locally sourced ingredients, the restaurant has a tight list of hand-crafted cocktails, global wines and local beers — all available to be enjoyed on the patio. Smack dab in the middle of Center City high rises, you’ll feel teeny tiny — in the best way — among all the brick, glass and steel.

Positano Coast’s Italian eats taste even better from the elevated seating on the spot’s second-floor balcony. While overlooking a historic Old City street — and admiring the restaurant’s stylish decor and design reminiscent of the Mediterranean — diners can enjoy tasty snacks such as seafood salad and burrata paired with fine wines or signature cocktails from the bar.

With its impressive beer list and laid-back vibes, Rams Pint House and Rooftop Lounge is a top pick in Perkasie. After work and on weekends, guests find fresh air at the spot’s rooftop lounge, where burgers, beers and frozen cocktails await. Seats on the roof are first come, first served, and keep in mind, this Bucks County pub is ages 21-and-over only.

On warmer nights, patrons of Old City’s Revolution House take advantage of the spot’s roof deck, offering a prime view of Christ Church’s steeple. (Christ Church is where Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and many other colonial notables worshipped.) The restaurant’s full menu of comfort food and creative cocktails are all available from the higher perch.

Tucked away from the bustle of 2nd Street in Northern Liberties is Standard Tap’s always-inviting, always-laidback second-floor porch. The neighborhood mainstay serves up delicious gastropub fare — burgers, mussels, chicken pot pie and more — and a thoughtful supply of craft beer that pairs perfectly with the breezy balcony.

The trendy Stratus Rooftop Lounge sits on the 11th story of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia. A curated cocktail menu pairs perfectly with light bites and shareable snacks, and the rooftop’s rotation of DJs makes it the perfect place to spend your weekend evenings. Adding to the ambiance: leather seating, low lighting and a “green wall” that serves as an Instagram-friendly backdrop.

High atop West Philly’s Cira Center, Sunset Social offers drama and relaxation in equal measure. The fast-casual menu includes a selection of bowls, burgers and fries, plus beer, wine, frozen and bottled cocktails that patrons can enjoy along with the epic view. Throughout the season, the high-altitude locale offers a ton of fun events, including a weekly outdoor movie night on Wednesdays and Friday night block parties. Stay tuned to Sunset Social’s website and social media as events are weather-dependent.

Drinks, hookah and rooftop views: There’s little else you need at Center City’s Vango Lounge and Skybar. This hip restaurant and hookah bar keeps its third-story deck open all year for Asian-inspired eats, good drinks and high style. The DJs at Vangos don’t stop spinning dance, EDM and hip-hop hits until two in the morning, making it a great place to begin or end a fun night out.

As if its 14,000-square-foot interior wasn’t enough, Victory Brewing Company taproom on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway boasts a rooftop patio with panoramic views of the Parkway. The place keeps the good times rolling and flowing with 25 different Victory beers on tap, plus brews and ciders from sister brands Southern Tier Brewing Company, Sixpoint Brewing Company and Bold Rock Hard Cider. In addition to all the beers you could ever imagine, guests can fill up on brisket meatballs, kebab naan, chicken pot pie and more.

We know what you’re thinking: “Does a boat have a roof?” And you wouldn’t be wrong. But the Moshulu’s deck-top seating provides a delectable menu of modern American cuisine, a respectable happy hour drink listing, and breathtaking waterfront views of Penn’s Landing and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to boot. What do you expect from a rooftop restaurant or bar besides outdoor food and drinks with an elevated view, right?