The best rooftop bar in Los Angeles depends on the night you want.
I have shot events on rooftops across this city for 27 years. Galas, afterparties, brand launches. I know which rooftops deliver and which ones are just a long elevator ride to a cash bar. Here is the honest breakdown, organized the way you should actually choose: occasion first, neighborhood second.
Casual Drinks with Friends
Go where the vibe is social and the menu is easy. You want walk-in friendly, order at the bar, no reservations needed.
Perch at 448 South Hill Street in downtown is the workhorse. A French-inspired rooftop bistro spread across the 15th and 16th floors, with two outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and unobstructed downtown skyline views. It holds a 4.5 star rating across more than 4,200 reviews. Cocktails run around $18, beers around $8 according to the Rooftop Guide. There is a weekday happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm, live music most nights, and DJs on Thursdays and Fridays. It takes both reservations and walk-ins, which is exactly what you want for a casual night. Dress code is upscale casual.
Lost DTLA at 718 South Hill Street is the younger, louder option. A rooftop cocktail and taco lounge with skyline views, live DJs playing R&B and afrobeats, heated lamps and fire pits. Good when the group wants energy, not quiet conversation.
Romantic Date
You want skyline views and a quieter corner. Book ahead. Ask for a table, not bar seating.
Spire 73 sits on the 73rd floor of the InterContinental at 900 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown. It is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, and the 360-degree city views are genuinely unmatched. Hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday 5pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm to midnight. Reservations are not required and there is no minimum spend, so walk-ins are welcome, though booking ahead helps on busy nights. It is on the pricier side, but for an anniversary or a proposal-adjacent evening, the view does half the work for you. Note there is no full dinner menu, just bar snacks like the Spire Burger, chicken wings, and truffle fries, with food served until 10pm.
The Rooftop at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills at 9850 Wilshire Boulevard gives you 360-degree views from the Beverly Hills side, with a very different energy: polished, calm, expensive. The lobster burger with gruyere is the signature order. Open daily, 10 or 11am to 11pm depending on the day. This is the date-night pick when you want Beverly Hills polish rather than downtown drama.
A Major Celebration
Private or semi-private space. Several rooftops in Beverly Hills and Downtown do buyouts and large-party packages. Call the events team, not the host stand.
Spire 73 does private events on the 73rd floor. When you are 73 stories up with the whole city below, you do not need decorations.
Perch handles large parties across its two floors, with lounge and table seating configurations. The fire pits and the skyline make it photogenic without any extra production.
For anything over 20 people, start the conversation with the venue’s events team at least a month out. Rooftop buyouts in this city book fast from May through October.
Neighborhood First, Always
A rooftop in Downtown LA and a rooftop in Beverly Hills are different nights out, and the ranking lists never tell you that.
Downtown is skyline drama. The towers, the lights, the density. Perch, Spire 73, Lost DTLA. This is where you go for the view as the main event. The crowds skew younger and the energy is higher.
Beverly Hills is polished and controlled. The Rooftop at the Waldorf Astoria, with its 360-degree views and Pan-Asian menu. Quieter, more expensive, better for conversations you actually want to hear.
Hollywood is social energy. The rooftops here are about the scene and the crowd. Pick the neighborhood first, then the venue. You will have a better night.
Cocktails Only, or Dinner Too
Some of the best rooftops in the city are drinks-only, and you need to know that before you arrive hungry.
Full dinner available: Perch (French bistro menu, steak frites, full brunch and dinner service), Spire 73 (bar snacks alongside cocktails, food until 10pm), The Rooftop at Waldorf Astoria (full Pan-Asian menu, lobster burger, sushi).
Drinks focused: Several top rooftops are cocktails-first with limited food. Always confirm kitchen hours before you go. A number of rooftops close the food menu an hour or more before the bar.
Best Nights to Go
Thursday through Saturday are peak rooftop nights in Los Angeles. The energy is highest, but so are the crowds and the waits. If you want the buzz, go Friday. If you want the view without the crowd, go Tuesday or Wednesday.
Sunset is the golden hour, literally. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. You get daylight views, the sunset itself, and the city lights coming on, all in one visit.
Perch’s happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm. There is also a late-night happy hour Sunday through Wednesday. Live jazz on Wednesdays from 7 to 10pm, DJs on Thursdays and Fridays.
What to Wear
Upscale casual is the baseline across all of these rooftops. When in doubt, dress one level up from what you think you need. You will never feel overdressed on a Los Angeles rooftop, but underdressed is uncomfortable fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best rooftop bar in Los Angeles for a date?
Spire 73 for downtown drama (73rd floor, reservations not required, 360-degree views) or The Rooftop at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills for polished Beverly Hills calm. Book ahead and ask for a table, not bar seating.
Which LA rooftop bars have a full dinner menu?
Perch (French bistro, full dinner and weekend brunch), Spire 73 (bar snacks, not a full dinner menu), and The Rooftop at Waldorf Astoria (full Pan-Asian menu). Not all rooftops serve full dinner, so confirm kitchen hours before you go.
What is the best rooftop bar neighborhood in Los Angeles?
Downtown for skyline drama and energy, Hollywood for social scenes, Beverly Hills for polished celebrations. Pick the neighborhood first, then the venue.
Do LA rooftop bars require reservations?
Some do, some do not. Spire 73 takes both reservations and walk-ins, with no minimum spend. Perch takes both reservations and walk-ins. For groups over 20 or any celebration, always call the events team in advance.
What is the dress code at Los Angeles rooftop bars?
Upscale casual is the standard. When in doubt, dress one level up.
