7 Hotel Rooftop Hot Spots Worth Travelling For

Vivian Vassos | June 12th, 2018

The Thompson Hotel rooftop pool, Toronto

From Athens and the Aegean to the Colorado River to the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas, here are our favourite hotel rooftop hot spots worth making the trip for.

What is it about a rooftop with a view? The Acropolis. The Grand Canyon. Mount Everest. The view from the top of these iconic spots is spectacular, to say the least. From Athens and the Aegean to the Colorado River to the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas, there’s not a bad angle in sight.

Of course, you may not be scaling Mount Everest any time soon, but the idea of being at the top of your world is appealing, nevertheless. So how does one feel like they’re on top without having to climb all the way to the peak of the world?

A hotel, that’s how.

Like the proverbial room with a view, there’s something about having a birds’ eye vista of the scene, the cityscape, the valley below. You feel the heat from the city, the vibe from the village or the catch the breeze from the ocean but, at the same time, the experience seems somehow elevated. And what your eyes might see: Greeting the sun rising over a mountain top or across deep blue sea while at breakfast is a serene way to start a day, while at night, the bright lights of the big city dazzle.

And, with summer soon upon us, what better way to celebrate the sunshine-y days with a sojourn to a hotel or restaurant that gives us a panorama of life in our destination? Even in places you may not think of – say, China’s Forbidden City, or deep in the heart of London – there are terraces that take you above it all.

We’re craving the sun, the light and a little bit of refreshment to go along with it. With everything from solariums to swimming pools on top of the world, there’s a perch for just about everyone.

Scroll through to see 7 of our favourite hotel rooftop hot spots worth travelling for.

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1. Hotel Claris, Barcelona: LaTerraza del Claris, 7 floors above the tony neighbourhood of Passeig de Gràcia. www.slh.com

Rooftop Lounge

 

2.The Thompson, Toronto: On the 16th floor, the rooftop lounge features a 40-foot infinity pool.

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3. The Betsy, Miami: The rooftop solarium, with views of the Atlantic Ocean. www.slh.com

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4.Banyan Tree, Bangkok: Vertigo and Moon Bar, 61 floors above the city.

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5.Hotel Bernini, Rome: La Terrazza Bristol, set in the city’s highest rooftop garden restaurant. www.slh.com

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6.ME London: Radio Rooftop Bar, on the 10th floor of the hotel.

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7. Hotel Emperor, Tian’anmen Square, Beijing: Shang Bar and Swimming Pool, overlooking the Zhengyang Gate and the Forbidden City.