Best rooftop bars in the world

TREEHOUSE, DUBAI

You’ll get front-row seats to the world’s tallest building at this Dubai spot. It’s right in the middle of Business Bay, so the Burj Khalifa is centre of attention. In the day, its steel exterior glistens in the sun, right in front of the outdoor terrace. After dark, you can watch the tower light up with lasers and LEDs.

The envy-inducing views aren’t the only thing the bar offers. You can sip inventive cocktails – starting at around £14 – which is relatively cheap by Dubai standards. Plus, Tuesday is Ladies’ Night, so women get two free drinks.

MUST-TRY TIPPLE: The Kiss from a Rose cocktail, which blends rose-infused gin and celery bitters with avocado and pear liqueur. Find out more about the best hotels in Dubai.

SA PUNTA PATCHWORK ROOFTOP BAR, IBIZA

This rooftop restaurant and bar might be on the White Isle, but its colour scheme is anything but pale. Kaleidoscopic cushions are paired with lanterns and pop art. And the food is just as colourful. It bills itself as the first Lebanese restaurant in Ibiza, so you can expect platters of falafel, tabbouleh, hummus and pita.

Make sure to time your visit before sunset, when things get even more vibrant. You can watch the tangerine-orange sun sink behind the mountains, with Talamanca Bay and Ibiza Old Town in the distance. The panoramic views might be priceless, but you can expect to pay around 14 euros – or £12 – for a cocktail.

MUST-TRY TIPPLE: Order a Pepper Mule and your cocktail comes on the back of a red mule figurine. It’s a powerful mix of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, with ginger, pepper and cucumber.

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CRU CHAMPAGNE BAR, BANGKOK

The 360-degree views are uninterrupted from this 59th floor bar. It’s parked on the top floor of the Centara Grand’s circular tower, in Bangkok, and accessed via a private lift. You’ll recognise its iconic illuminated arch in various postcards of Bangkok by night – it even changes colour as the evening goes on.

This open-air bar doesn’t just look the part. It’s partnered with G.H. Mumm Champagne to offer a seriously swanky bubbly-inspired menu. A Bangkok bellini – made with fizz, vanilla syrup, mango purée and ginger – will set you back around £11 a glass.

MUST-TRY TIPPLE: For Insta-worthy cocktails, try the Swallow’s Nest – a vodka and Cointreau blend that’s served in a cage, or the Shop Till You Drop, which comes in a mini-supermarket trolley.

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A.R.T AT ARLO SOHO, NEW YORK

Edison lightbulbs, graffiti-style artwork and lounge furniture set the scene at this trendy Big Apple bar. This urban oasis plates up New York icons, like the Empire State Building and the Hudson River, on the horizon. Meanwhile, the menu features everything from craft beer for around £6 to signature cocktails for £14.

Alternatively, Arlo SoHo’s sister hotel Arlo NoMad offers another rooftop experience. You can brave the glass floor, which looks down to street level. Plus, it’s regularly themed – during the winter months, for instance, cosy igloos pop up with sheepskin blankets and fire pits.

MUST-TRY TIPPLE: Partial to an Aperol Spritz? Give the St Germain Spritz a whirl – it replaces the Aperol with an elderflower liqueur.

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