Summer might be ending, but that doesn’t mean the nice weather is. These next few weeks are prime time for basking outdoors—something made even better with a view.
These great Bay Area rooftops all set up to enjoy this lovely climate for a while longer before the “super El Niño” is unleashed this fall.
Charmaine's (Courtesy of @charmainesrooftop)
San Francisco
Over in the Mission Bay neighborhood is Luma Hotel San Francisco, a modern, 300-room hotel with an unbeatable location near Oracle Park and the Chase Center. Up on the rooftop is Cavaña, an atmospheric bar and restaurant with a wraparound outdoor terrace for taking in the epic views. The interior, which has a variety of seating spread around the central bar, is lush with plants and tilework. Order a paloma on draft or a pisco punch to go with your queso fundido and ceviche with hoja santa oil, and listen to the cheers from the game below. // 100 Channel St., 17th Floor (Mission Bay), cavanasf.com
In the heart of the city is one of our iconic Union Square claims to fame, now known as Starlite, a distilled, symbolic name for this sparkling gem of an enclosed rooftop bar on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand (formerly Harry Denton’s Starlite Room). With a storied past, the recently refreshed space has kept the magic but spiffed things up a bit with jewel tones, Art Deco touches, and a sophisticated food and beverage revamp by some of the city’s finest. You’ll see many people ordering the Porn Star Martini, but other standouts on the cocktail menu from Trick Dog's Scott Baird include classics like the gimlet made with Åhus Akvavit and the dessert-worthy Spumoni Negroni Parfait. Try any of the snacks created by Michelin Award-winning chef Johnny Spero. Nightly vinyl DJ sets (curated by Nina Tarr) make this the spot to be. // 450 Powell St., 21st Floor (Union Square), starlitesf.com
Not quite as high up is Charmaine's, a standout rooftop space found repeatedly on “best of” lists for hitting the mark on glamorous appeal. Atop the ninth floor of the hip Proper Hotel, Charmaine’s feels like an escape. The decor is full of mixed materials, textures, and patterns, with lots of glass to let the views in and an open-air terrace set with multiple firepits. The menu skews comforting (including great crispy fries). Try their refreshing take on a Pimm’s Cup, appropriately called a “Proper Cup.” // 1100 Market St. (Civic Center), htproperhotel.com
Cubita in the Mission(Courtesy of @cubitasf)
And don’t forget Cubita, the Mission’s rooftop mainstay where Cuban flavors blend with colorful cocktails and a festive vibe. This is the place to be at happy hour on warm weekday nights, when classic drinks like mojitos and daiquiris are just $8 a pop, served alongside a handful of priced-right snacks like tostones and mojo-marinated chicken wings. // 2516 Mission St. (Mission), cubitasf.com
Silicon Valley
It might not be the first place that pops into your mind for a vacation, but a visit to Santana Row in San Jose can take you away from your regular day-to-day. On the top of Hotel Valencia, the Spanish themed property smack dab on the Row, Cielo sits on the seventh floor. This is a true rooftop, not just an outdoor balcony space, and is a respite from your shopping spree down below. It is sunny and open, with a small bar at the end and heaters and twinkly lights that turn on come sundown. Pots of colorful bougainvillea and the custard yellow building make it all feel a bit like being in Spain, with views of palm trees and the Santa Cruz Mountains beyond. A small menu features a popular lychee martini, and you can get pitchers of sangria or margaritas for added group fun. Formerly open only seasonally, Cielo’s winter menu and cozy holiday experience full of mulled wine will be back by popular demand this year. // 355 Santana Row (San Jose), hotelvalencia-santanarow.com
Across Stevens Creek Boulevard, on the third floor of Westfield Valley Fair, you’ll find a second option: Terra. Part of the Eataly complex, the rooftop resto-bar serves up Italian eats from the wood-fired grill, seasonal cocktails, and brunch. // 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. (San Jose), eataly.com
President's Terrace in Palo Alto(Courtesy of @presidentsterrace)
Farther north, in tony Palo Alto, is President’s Terrace at the top of the Graduate Hotel downtown, a Spanish Colonial Revival-style space with a bar shaded by a vine-hung pergola and festive red-and-white-striped umbrellas. Playful cocktails like the Afterglow (limoncello, Patrón Silver, strawberry, lemon, and prosecco) riff on the sunset-worthy views and are accompanied by a menu of Mediterranean-influenced bites like marinated olives and sardine tapenade. // 488 University Ave. (Palo Alto), presidentsterrace.com
Wine Country
Part of chef Charlie Palmer’s yummy empire is Sky & Vine, which opened in 2018 on the rooftop space above the Archer Hotel in downtown Napa. It’s on the sixth floor, with special views of the valley and vineyards beyond, especially on Sundays when DJ Gray sets the scene for a leisurely brunch. Order a Sumac Sparkler or Stone Fruit Spritz to go with your West Coast Benedict with crab. // 1230 First St., 6th Fl. (Napa), archerhotel.com
Another Palmer spot, and one of his newest projects, is Appellation Healdsburg, the immersive culinary-meets-hospitality concept created with business partner Christopher Hunsberger. The rooftop bar, Andy's Beeline, is in a beautiful, vaulted space with a wall featuring a tidal wave of cascading bottles. Drink a classic rhum agricole daiquiri or the unique What’s Up, Doc? with carrot eau-de-vie. All drinks, including the outstanding wine list, go great with upscale chips and dip and vineyard views. // 101 Dovetail Ln. (Healdsburg), beelinerooftop.com
Roof 106 in Healdsburg(Courtesy of The Matheson)
On the Healdsburg town square is another great rooftop, above Dustin Valette’s The Matheson. Roof 106 is a go-to spot for locals, visitors, parties… pretty much any occasion is better up here. Varied seating and great vantage points combine well with a menu highlighting the wood-fired Mugnaini oven. Stop by for lunch and order the Skyline Snack & Sip, which comes with a double smashburger or fried chicken sandwich, fries, and a margarita or draft beer. It’s an ideal perch for watching folks down in the square below. // 106 Matheson St. (Healdsburg), thematheson.com/roof-106
