Complete guide

Rooftop Bars San Francisco

2024 update

Country United States

Currency US Dollar

Best time to visit March - Nov

Rooftop grade 7/10

Courtesy of KAIYŌ Rooftop

San Francisco Rooftop Guide

By:Rikard Fredricson

Updated:September 2, 2023

SF rooftop map

While San Francisco do look beautiful from above, the city is not packed with open-air and elevated rooftop bars. Much beacuse the summertime cool winds and fog make outdoor experiences a bit...uncertain. But there are some really amazing San Francisco rooftop bars well worth checking out.

So bring a jacket and hope for a sunny day, as this guide will lead you to the best venues, packed with all info you need about each rooftop bar SF: business hours, dress code, pics, loaction and much more. So, which is the best rooftop bar SF? Just scroll down and find the San Francisco rooftop bar best suited for you.

The list

14 best rooftop bars in San Francisco

Rooftop bar SF Shelby’s Rooftop in San Francisco — 1

Shelby’s Rooftop

$$$$ | 12th floor | Yerba Buena

Highlights

Modern

Stunning views

Weekend DJs

Found in the heart of SoMa, the Canopy by Hilton offers a modern and elevated SF rooftop experience, with the stylish Shelby’s Rooftop. Floating 12 floors above the buzzing streets, the beautiful rooftop blends dining tables with comfy lounge sofas, as well as interior and outside seating, so **the stunning SF views are available year round**. Indulge in global small plates and a drink selection that ranges from crafted Shelby's signature cocktails to timeless classics, perfect for both after works or vibrant weekends.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF KAIYŌ Rooftop in San Francisco — 2

KAIYŌ Rooftop

$$$$ | 12th floor | SoMa

Highlights

Elegant

Panoramic views

Nikkei experience

Perched on the 12th floor of Hyatt Place, KAIYŌ Rooftop is a tropical oasis in the sky, really raising the bar for the San Francisco rooftop scene. Elegant and airy, the rooftop comes surrounded with **amazing panoramic views** over the skyline and San Francisco Bay. Serving a Nikkei experience, here you can indulge in both food and drinks that explore the Japanese culinary influence within Peruvian culture. The perfect spot for elevated and unique SF evenings.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF 620 Jones in San Francisco — 3

620 Jones

$$$ | 2nd floor | Union Square

Highlights

Signature cocktails

Sunday brunch

Garden-like

Located on 620 Jones Street, just a few blocks from Unioun Square, Jones is both indoor and outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant, with a spacious second floor terrace. **Lush and garden-like** in setting and with lots of cozy furnishing, the Jones rooftop bar serves a wide range of crafted signature and Jones cocktails along with a nice selection of wines and Latin-Mediterranean-style dinner and fresh oven-baked pizza's. Relaxing and nice lounge vibes, turning more vibrant on weekend evenings with live music.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Rooftop 25 in San Francisco — 4

Rooftop 25

$$$$ | 3rd floor | SoMa

Highlights

Playful menu

Spacious & relaxed

Amazing sunset

A **spacious and casual rooftop bar**, located on top of the 25 Lusk restaurant in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco. Equipped with communal tables, glass windscreens and a canopy of heat lamps, Rooftop 25 is pleasant both during the warm and sunny days and the more chilly Bay Area nights. The rooftop bar offers a playful menu, including frozen and specialty cocktails as well as hand crafted pizzas, burgers and prezel-hot dogs from the oakwood fired oven.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF El Techo de Lolinda in San Francisco — 5

El Techo de Lolinda

$$ | 5th floor | Mission District

Highlights

Great atmosphere

Open 364 days

Latin American cuisine

Located on top of the Lolinda Steakhouse in the heart of the Mission district, El Techo is a **relaxed rooftop bar with latin vibes** and stunning 360-degree views of San Francisco. Here you can enjoy Latin American street food along with delicious cocktails 364 days of the year and rooftop brunch every weekend. Open-air, but equipped with retractacle roof and heaters for those chilly nights, El Techo de Lolinda has a fun and vibrant in atmosphere and is a great spot for some relaxing drinks with friends.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Dirty Habit in San Francisco — 6

Dirty Habit

$$$ | 5th floor | SoMa

Highlights

Stylish & intimate

Heated patio

Innovative craft cocktails

On the 5th floor of Hotel Zelos San Francisco, located in the trending SoMa neighborhood, you find a **stylish and intimate hideaway** called Dirty Habit. Inviting you to explore San Francisco´s wild side, the rooftop comes with both a dramatic noir-inspired dining room, as well as a fully heated outdoor patio. With a bar-centric concept, the rooftop menu includes a creative and innovative selection of craft cocktails, as well as rare spirits, a fine selection of wines and gourmet lite bites.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Charmaine's Rooftop Bar & Lounge in San Francisco — 7

Charmaine's Rooftop Bar & Lounge

$$$$ | 9th floor | Mid-Market

Highlights

Panoramic views

Weekend brunch

Fire-pits

Branded as a venue where 'the energetic chic of a European terrace meets laid-back vibes of California cool', Charmaine's Rooftop Bar & Lounge is found perched on top of San Francisco Proper Hotel, in the heart of Market Street. The rooftop comes with both a quirky and colorful indoor lounge and a spacious outdoor terrace, surrounded with **amazing views over the San Francicso skyline**. Gather around the fire-pits and indulge in unique signature cocktails, as well as elevated bar snacks and bites.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Rooftop at VIA in San Francisco — 8

Rooftop at VIA

$$$$ | 12th floor | South Beach

Highlights

Exclusive

360-views

Chic & luxurious

The Hotel Via rooftop bar is one of the best in San Francisco, and also **one of the most exclusive**. Only available to those staying at the hotel, or by hosting a private event, which means reserving one of the luxurious cabanas for six people and upwards. When entrance is sorted, the stylish and chic terrace will great you with fantastic 360-degree views over the San Francisco skyline, including the close by Oracle Park, and let you indulge in hand-crafted cocktails, champagne and tasty tapas.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Good Good Culture Club in San Francisco — 9

Good Good Culture Club

$$$ | 2nd floor | Mission

Highlights

Creative

Colorful

Rooftop garden

Opened early 2022, Good Good Culture Club is a casual, colorful and vibrant restaurant & bar, serving **a creative selection of food and drinks**. Set over two floors in the Mission District, including a lush rooftop garden, GGCC offers a vibrant mix of Southeast Asian flavors and Californian influences, and you are highly likely to expereince new combinations. Perfect to share with friends and family, and preferably combined with some of the creative and tropical cocktails.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Fiorella Sunset in San Francisco — 10

Fiorella Sunset

$$$ | 2nd floor | Inner Sunset

Highlights

Italian

Charming

Weekend brunch

Fiorella is a **neighborhood Italian eatery** that can be found at three locations around SF, including on 9th Ave in Inner Sunset. A special and fantastic feature of the Fiorella Sunset: it comes with a somewhat secret rooftop deck. Charming in decoration, with plants, string lights, heaters and black-and-white striped retractable awnings, the rooftop might not offer any real views to brag about. But that is easy to get over when there is great Italian food and tasty cocktails on the table.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF Sens Restaurant in San Francisco — 11

Sens Restaurant

$$$$ | 2nd floor | Financial District

Highlights

Mediterranean

Great views

Bistro

Located on the Promenade Level of the Embarcadero Center, Sens Restaurant is a vibrant bistro offering both **Mediterranean flavours and great views**. Overlooking Embarcadero Street, the Ferry Building and the bay, here you are invited to a culinary adventure through the sun-drenched Mediterranean. Small plates and entrees are complemented with speacialty cocktails and an impressive selection of wines and spirits, and the weekday happy houris perfect for an after work with views.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF B Restaurant & Bar in San Francisco — 12

B Restaurant & Bar

$$$ | 2nd floor | Yerba Buena Gardens

Highlights

Countryside vibes

Lush terrace

Contemporary

Set on top of the Moscone Center and Gardens, the B Restaurant & Bar brings **a large slice of countryside vibes** right to the heart of San Francisco. The lush terrace is equipped with both fountains and flowers, and while not sky-high, it still offers offers great views over Yerba Buena Gardens and the downtown skyline. Settle down at one of the large tables with a group of friends and enjoy seasonal house cocktails, pitchers of beer and sangria, along with tasty and fresh comfort food.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF The Cheesecake Factory in San Francisco — 13

The Cheesecake Factory

$$$ | 8th floor | Union Square

Highlights

Cheesecake bar

Skyline views

Weekend brunch

The Cheesecake Factory can be found all across the US, but the one located at Union Square is special, as it is not only a **heaven for cheescake-lovers**, but also one of the best rooftop bars San Francisco has to offer. Situated on the 8th floor of the department store Macy's, the views you get over the city's skyscrapers and Union Square are amazing. Apart from 40 different varieties of cheesecake to choose from, there is also food ranging from pasta and steaks to weekend brunch and a drink list with specialty cocktails and a good selection of beer and wine.

Everything you need to know

Rooftop bar SF 343 Sansome Rooftop Deck in San Francisco — 14

343 Sansome Rooftop Deck

BYO | 15th floor | Financial District

Highlights

BYO

Garden like

Not really a rooftop bar, but **a public terrace** where you can bring your own food and drinks and enjoy under the San Francisco sun. Located in the middle of the financial district, the 343 Sansome terrace offers a nice view among the city's skyscrapers and main business district. Rooftop garden in feel, with nice flowers and trees, the 15th floor terrace is open to all and a great spot for a lunch with a view.

Everything you need to know

Rikard Fredricson

Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.

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City info

Rooftop bar San Francisco

Rooftop-grade: 7/10

Prime season: March-Nov

Residents: 8,4 millions

Climate: subtropical mediterranean

Which are the best rooftops in San Francisco? This complete guide will help you find the best rooftop bars in San Francisco. The climate in San Francisco is subtropical mediterranean, which means mild and dry summers and rainy winters. The temperature varies between 10-25 degrees celsius. This means that the best rooftop bars in San Francisco are open during the warmer months.

The best rooftop bars in SF are often luxurious and with spectacular views and cozy interior.

Unfortunately there aren't that many sky lounges in San Francisco, but those you can find are quite cool. Everything from rooftop bars with amazing view over San Francisco to small cozy terraces where you can eat nice food.

Keep that in mind when searching for SF rooftop bars. If you are looking for the best rooftop bar San Francisco has to offer closest to your location, just check out our map over the best rooftops in SF.

About San Francisco

San Francisco is America's second most densely populated city. The city is situated on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city is most famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, the former prison Alcatraz, the characteristic trams and the fog over all the city's hills. San Francisco is also very famous for its candor and openness, and it is considered by many to be the gay and hippie capital of the world.

Rooftop Bars San Francisco

San Francisco Rooftop Guide