There’s a particular pleasure in seeing a city or a landscape from above. Rooftops offer a different perspective on familiar streets — whether that means a cocktail in Soho, a pool overlooking the rooftops of Seville or a table with the Mediterranean stretching out beyond it. From polished hotel bars to leafy terraces and skyline-skimming pools, these are the stays that make the most of their elevation.
1. Broadwick Soho, United Kingdom
At Flute, the rooftop bar at Broadwick Soho, designer Martin Brudnizki has turned the volume up on Soho glamour. Think mirrored ceilings, cork walls, animal-print upholstery and a gloriously over-the-top palm-frond carpet, all wrapped around an onyx-topped bar. Outside, the landscaped terrace overlooks the London skyline from above, with the buzz of Soho unravelling below. The atmosphere here is exuberant without taking itself too seriously: a theatrical setting for cocktails, late-night drinks and the pleasure of the local Soho crowd and guests from all over the world coming together.
2. La Roqqa, Italy
Perched on a hillside overlooking Porto Ercole, La Roqqa is a Sixties-inspired stay on the Tuscan coast. Pops of burnt red and terracotta catch the eye as much as the views from Scirocco Rooftop Bar, which is angled towards the Corsini Botanical Garden and Porto Ercole harbour. Cocktails are themed around Caravaggio’s paintings, and there’s a dedicated section on the menu for Negronis. You’ll also be able to eye the hotel’s Isolotto Beach Club on the sandy shoreline below, which is where you’ll spend most of your sun-drenched days here.
3. The Rebello, Portugal
Strung along the southern banks of the Douro in amongst Porto’s wine warehouses, the loft-style rooms and suites at The Rebello are the epitome of industrial chic. Up on Bello Rooftop, drink in the river views as traditional boats bob past, while tucking into small plate petiscos or health-boosting brunch bowls by day. The wine list draws on Portuguese vineyards from the Atlantic, valleys, and the south for a well-rounded taste of the terroir.
4. WITTMORE HOTEL, Spain
Spend just a few minutes in the WITTMORE HOTEL and you’ll be immersed in a modern member’s club atmosphere. Soaring above Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, there’s a sociable, stylish vibe on the citrus-yellow striped sun deck that serves cocktails poolside to its adults-only guests.
5. Nobu Hotel Marrakech, Morocco
Towering above the Red City’s ‘Golden Triangle’, the rooftop garden at Nobu Hotel Marrakech is designed around a gently curving, all-season pool lined with cabanas, rattan hanging chairs, and shade-offering palms. An assortment of cold Japanese dishes, nigiri and sashimi makes its way from the sushi bar to the sun deck, and DJ sets start to crank up the volume come sunset.
6. 137 Pillars Suites Bangkok, Thailand
Soaring above the streets of Bangkok, the skyline-skimming infinity pool at 137 Pillars Suites is as photogenic as they come. When cocktail hour rolls around, you just need to take a few barefoot steps from your luxurious lounger to the Sky Bar to sink a post-swim sundowner.
7. Sant Francesc Hotel Singular, Mallorca
Soak up panoramic views of Palma’s old town from the 200-metre-squared rooftop terrace, pool bar and solarium at Sant Francesc Hotel Singular, an urban oasis with front row seats to the spectacular Palma Cathedral. We’ve yet to find a better spot for chilled champagne-sipping and all-day pool dipping in Mallorca’s capital.
8. CoolRooms Palacio de Villapanes, Spain
Seeing Seville’s sights (La Giralda bell tower and the Gothic cathedral, to name just two) is included in your stay without even setting foot outside the walls of CoolRooms Palacio de Villapanés, an 18th century Andalusian palace with a jaw-dropping rooftop crowed with cabanas and a cooling plunge pool. Expect baroque architecture, marble columns and tiles, ornate archways, carved doors, and parquet floors — all on the edge of the Barrio de Santa Cruz.
9. Emiliano Rio, Brazil
The rooftop bar and infinity pool are as white-hot and minimalist as the rest of Emiliano Rio — a shuttered stay cleverly designed with a perforated pattern that allows the cooling sea breeze to enter, while bathing you in dappled light. Come face to face with the legendary Copacabana beach, and enjoy views from this Modernist masterpiece extending to the shimmering Atlantic and Sugar Loaf mountain beyond.
10. La Valise Mexico City, Mexico
Concealed behind a nondescript door of a discreet 1920s French-inspired townhouse in the city’s trendy Roma district is La Valise Mexico City, home to eight palatial suites which Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg has infused with his signature Surrealist style. The king-size beds in both the Polaris Suite and Cilene Suite can be rolled out onto private terraces to take in CDMX while still wrapped up in your luxurious bedlinen or soaking in a freestanding alfresco tub.
Latest stories
Alluring Tuscany: where to stay to get the most from the region’s vineyards, ancient towns and wild coast
With its gently rolling hills, slender cypress trees and centuries-old villages, Tuscany is one of the world’s most beloved destinations. But beyond the postcard image lies a region of contrasts, from the vineyards of Chianti and wild coastal stretches to ancient spa towns still steaming with mineral springs. A region
Independent Minds: Joshua Gardner, Broadwick Soho
Walking into Broadwick Soho feels, in a way, like stepping inside the most stylish amusement park in the world. Colour, pattern, lights, chatter – intrigue awaits at the turn of every corner as you make your way around the hotel. A hidden knook with seating appears behind curtains. A lowlit
A pocket city guide to Bangkok
Bangkok is a city of intoxicating contrasts, where ancient temples, electric street life, extraordinary food and quietly hidden neighbourhoods collide. From art spaces and buzzing night markets to characterful hotels and brilliant bars, discover the places that make Thailand’s capital so endlessly compelling.
The new hotels we’re booking in September
Whether you’re planning your upcoming skiing holiday, next year’s Greek island escape or thinking ahead to much-needed winter sun in Mexico, this month’s edit of new hotels has something for everyone.
