Best Rooftop Bars on the Eastern Seaboard

If you’re looking for rooftop bars along the eastern coast of the US, we have six worthy waterside picks in Opal destinations, from Bar Harbor, Maine, down to Key West, Florida.

While you’ll find cool rooftop bars in every major city across the US, there’s something special about sitting and sipping from an elevated perch set right near the ocean. Maybe it’s the salt-infused air, the way a view of a colorful sunset can’t be beat when splashed across the sea, or that East Coasters simply know how to design a rooftop bar that is inviting – with cool cocktails to boot. Regardless, we’ve compiled this curated list of beautiful rooftop bars, from a brand-new outlet in Delray Beach, Florida, to a historic water-skiing-themed spot overlooking the Atlantic on the New Hampshire Seacoast.

ELEVATE SKYE BAR & LOUNGE | DELRAY BEACH, FL

Skyward Sophistication That Never Gets Stale

If there was an award for best-designed bar, Elevate Skye Bar & Lounge (which sits atop Drift Kitchen & Bar at Opal Grand Resort & Spa) would take home the trophy. Not just for its stylistic details – like the sleek marble-topped bar with Spanish tile accents, plush seating in fun patterns, and whimsical “glowing” planters – but for its thoughtfully crafted layout featuring multiple seating zones. That means an evening out at this new Delray Beach bar always feels new and novel depending on where you sit: the covered bar, beneath one of the two turrets with couches, a central turf area topped with an awning that automatically opens if there’s wind, the four-top dining tables, couches with firepits, and more. With amazing vantages of Atlantic Ave and the ocean, it’s the only place in Delray Beach where you’ll find this al-fresco view. It’s certainly not a bad place to sip on handcrafted cocktails over a menu of inventive shareable plates like ceviche made with a splash of coconut milk and Roman-style flatbread.

• Where to Stay in Delray Beach: The Atlantic Suites on The Ave | Delray Sands Resort | Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa

BAR HARBOR BEERWORKS | BAR HARBOR, ME

Beloved Local Brews Overlooking Quaint Main Street Maine

It may only be based on the second-story level, but the rooftop patio that tops the main indoor dining area at Bar Harbor Beerworks certainly offers a lovely vantage of all the action on Main Street, Bar Harbor. In fact, it’s the perfect place to kick back with a few Pine Tree state suds – from beloved breweries like Bissel Brothers, Lone Pine Brewing Company, and Sunday River Brewery – while people watching as folks hop from popular Bar Harbor boutique to boutique.

However, if yearning for a truly panoramic perspective of this ruggedly beautiful region, you’ll find it at the rooftop pool at West Street Hotel. Accessible only to West Street guests and perched five stories high, this adults-only infinity-edge pool offers a one-of-a-kind view of all of Mount Desert Island’s greatest hits: downtown Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay and its evergreen-spiked domed islands, and the peaks of Acadia National Park. And while there may not be a formal full-blown bar up there, there is food and beverage service, so you can enjoy light bites and creative cocktails while soaking up the sun on the furnished poolside deck.

• Where to Stay in Bar Harbor: West Street Hotel | Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

DRIFT KITCHEN & BAR | SARASOTA, FL

180-Degree Views of the Beach to the City

Located on the top floor (the eighth floor) of Lido Beach Resort’s Palm Tower, Drift Kitchen & Bar may not be an open-air rooftop bar. But, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that span the entire side of the restaurant, offering expansive 180-degree views of the beach below and the Lido Key coastline extending to the north, it’s certainly pretty close. In addition, you also get exclusive views of the glittering city skyline of mainland Sarasota when you book one of Drift’s two private dining spaces, set on the eastern side of the restaurant.

Looking for a rooftop bar experience in downtown Sarasota? Housed in the old Sarasota Times Newspaper building, Sage SRQ features a swanky fourth-floor rooftop site with a covered bar, open-air seating area, firepit, and, of course, epic 360-degree views of this culturally-rich city packed with theaters, art galleries, museums, and more.

• Where to Stay in Sarasota:  Lido Beach Resort | The Resort at Longboat Key Club | Zota Beach Resort

BAR TIKI | CLEARWATER BEACH, FL

A Tiki Treat Set on Clearwater Marina

Love yourself a good tiki bar? Then you’ll light up when you see what awaits you at Bar Tiki, located on the third floor of Marina Market & Food Hall. Because not only will you find a fun Polynesian-inspired vibe in the drinks, the covered tiki bar, planters packed with jungle-like greenery, colorful murals and Moai statues, but it comes presented beside an amazing al-fresco view of Clearwater Marina and the skyline at sunset. Once you manage to pull your focus away from the atmosphere, dig into a menu of light bites (we suggest the towering Kah-Lah Nachos with luau pork) and authentic tiki cocktails, including your classic painkillers, pina coladas, and zombies. Or opt for fan favorites like the Tiki Twist and Mai Tai.

• Where to Stay in Clearwater: Sandpearl Resort | Opal Sands Resort

SKI CLUB BAR & ROOF DECK | KITTERY, ME

A Window into Water-Ski History on the Piscataqua

Just over the border from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and set on a cove within the Seacoast’s famed Piscataqua River, Bistro 1828 is beloved for its warm and cozy vibe featuring thick wooden beams, antique paintings, and an open kitchen. However, you’ll find a particularly special nook upstairs, on the third floor, in what’s known as the “Ski Club Bar.” With vintage photos of water-skiing teams, old water skis as wall decor, and antique glass buoys that double as pendant lighting, the whole bar is a tribute to the local water ski club that was popular here in the 1950s and ’60s. Offering both indoor dining and outdoor on the adjacent deck (open seasonally), the bright and airy venue is also home to one of the best views on the Seacoast with vantages extending to Wood Island and Fort Foster.

• Where to Stay in Portsmouth: Wentworth by the Sea

SUNSET DECK | KEY WEST, FL

A Sunset Vantage that Can’t Be Beat

There’s a reason they refer to this perch as the “Sunset Deck.” Located on the rooftop of Opal Key Resort & Marina’s signature restaurant – it provides you with an amazing birds-eye view of Key West’s acclaimed sunset and all the nightly festivities that occur along the historic waterfront of Mallory Square below. Inspired by Key West’s colorful “conch home” architecture, the bar is entirely built of wood, set on posts, and topped with a tin roof, while the surrounding bar stools and chairs come in a rainbow of pastel colors. As for the menu, hand-crafted tropic libations match the vibe, while dishes are undoubtedly seafood-focused with creative options like garlic shrimp flatbread, lobster quesadillas, Key West yellowtail snapper, and lemon garlic mahi.

• Where to Stay in Key West: The Capitana Key West | The Laureate Key West | Opal Key Resort & Marina | Sunset Key Cottages