The best rooftop bars in Miami you need to try now
Welcome to the best rooftop bars in Miami, where the drinks are just as good as the views
March 2019: Miami’s rooftop bar options continue to grow, which brings three newcomers to the list. The baby rooftops of vista and No. 3 Social were just too fun not to include despite their tininess in comparison to their peers. And Astra, a true rooftop bar in Wynwood, breaks the top three thanks to great views and an impressive space.
Finding rooftop bars in Miami has not always been an easy task. We’re not a skyscraper city like New York and many of the rooftop spaces we have are reserved for hotel guests. Thankfully, that has changed. The Brickell and Downtown explosion has given us some tall drinking options and even relatively small neighborhoods like Wynwood and Buena Vista are throwing their hat into the rooftop ring. We ain’t complaining, especially because many of these bars aren’t content with just good views. They’re bringing great cocktails, food and ambiance to the party too, which has landed at least one in our ultimate list of the best bars in Miami. These places are a great way to see Miami from a different perspective. Time your visit with a Miami sunset and prepare to be wowed.
Amazing rooftop bars in Miami
Sugar
What is it? A Brickell hotspot that can have a line out the door on weekend nights and Friday happy hour. Brave that line and you’ll be rewarded with 360-views of the city (40 floors up!), pricey (but tasty) cocktails and a swank crowd. Snag a reservation for a guaranteed table, especially if you think you may want to have some food.
Why go? Because you don’t want an average night out. Whether you’re celebrating or just want to feel fancy, Sugar is a one-of-a-kind experience in Miami.
watr on the 1 Rooftop at 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach
What is it? Watr owns its stunning view of the ocean with a Polynesian-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar decked in reclaimed wood. The soundtrack is more akin to breaking waves than the usual club bangers you hear in these parts. There’s just something about the laidback vibe of this place that makes us feel like we’re in a spa with frosé on tap—and that ain’t a bad thing.
Why go? If nothing else, to walk through the best-smelling lobby in the southeastern United States.
Astra
What is it? Inspired by the lively lounges of Mykonos, Astra brings a rooftop bar to a still-developing chunk of Wynwood. The place is pretty huge at 10,000-square-feet and offers proper tables for dinner or more casual seating options for sipping and relaxing. Expect Greek, both on the seafood-heavy menu and behind the bar with mastika and ouzo.
Why go? There are no tall buildings blocking the view, so you can really see all the way to the Downtown skyline.
Area 31
What is it? A photo op befitting of an “I live where you vacation” caption. Area 31’s 16th-floor lounge may not technically be on the roof, but its view of Downtown is hard to beat. Expect young professionals and business types from Brickell.
Why go? Friday happy hour ($7 drinks and $8 bites) runs from 5pm till 11pm, so you’ll definitely make it—even with traffic.
No. 3 Social
What is it? The sister lounge of Wynwood’s excellent restaurant Three. It’s only on the second floor, so don’t expect skyscraper views. But the cocktails are great and taste even better when the breeze comes rushing over the outdoor patio.
Why go? Every Sunday they have a very yummy brunch party with a DJ and dim sum.
Juvia
What is it? A popular Lincoln Road spot that offers sweeping views of South Beach. Sadly, the views aren’t the only thing that’s sky high—just wait for the bill. But, hey, you’re on vacation, right?
Why go? The $65 prix-fix brunch menu is actually a killer deal for Lincoln Road—especially considering the bottomless mimosas.
vista
What is it? A very tiny rooftop lounge—but a rooftop lounge nonetheless! Vista lives in the charming Upper Buena Vista retail complex and serves some really tasty food that leans towards rustic Italian cuisine. If you can snag a table on the rooftop deck, you absolutely should.
Why go? They’re one of the few places in Miami who do proper Raclette fries (and the waiters will wait patiently while you get your phone out).
Gale South Beach
What is it? A little guy who packs a big punch. At just four stories above Collins Avenue, the rooftop offers surprisingly awesome views of Lincoln Road and surrounding areas. If you’re looking to stay awhile, the adjoining restaurant serves food to help you weather a night of cocktails.
Why go? There’s a pretty sick happy hour downstairs at the Regent Cocktail Club with $5 beer and cocktails Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 10pm.
WET Deck
What is it? This rooftop club, pool and lounge—formerly known as Fifty Ultra Lounge—has one of the best and highest views in the city. It’s gorgeous on a clear night. Occasionally, you’ll find live music and entertainment going on inside as well.
Why go? The hotel’s new restaurant, ADDiKT, makes for a great dinner and drinks combo.
Highbar
What is it? Highbar is centered around an infinity pool and has what you need to transition from day drinking to nighttime revelry: a DJ dropping beats, bottle service and private cabanas. It’s also just a quick walk from the beach.
Why go? The Sunday pool party runs from 9am to 10pm. As for partying until nearly midnight in your bikini? Hey, it happens.
Mike’s at Venetia
What is it? Dive bar meets rooftop bar—which is just as strange and wonderful as it sounds. Find this place hiding in a nondescript residential building that overlooks Biscayne Bay. Don’t question it—or the random location or the Irish menu packed with pub essentials. Just grab some wings and a pitcher of beer, and watch the Dolphins with your peeps.
Why go? Rooftop bars can be pretentious. This place is aggressively not.
Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita
What is it? A former firehouse-turned-restaurant and lounge that’s quite the popular date spot in Brickell. Escape the masses you’ll find at street level and head to the second-floor rooftop for half-priced drinks and appetizers offered daily from 4–8pm. It’s decidedly less noisy with a clear view of the action down South Miami Avenue.
Why go? Every entree comes with a complimentary appetizer, so you won’t leave hungry.
Bloom Skybar
What is it? A bar formerly known as the Pawnbroker. And while the latest version of this rooftop bar has definitely lost some of that Pawnbroker magic, it’s still got some sweet Downtown views and a prime location in one of Miami nightlife’s fastest-growing areas.
Why go? Because the hotel beneath this rooftop bar is a slice of Miami history and the building has been around since 1925.
Need help with dinner plans?
Check out the 25 best restaurants in Miami
You won’t find better places to eat in this city