LAGuide
14 LA Rooftop Bars & Restaurants Open For Outdoor Dining
Unless you count that time last fall when you had to scare a raccoon away from your chimney, you probably haven’t spent much time on rooftops lately. So pull up a (likely very brightly colored) chair and order a spritz. Here are 14 rooftop bars and restaurants that have reopened for outdoor dining across LA.
To find out which restaurants have reopened for outdoor dining in your area, be sure to check out our guide to LA Restaurants That Have Reopened For Outdoor Dining, which is broken down by neighborhood. If you’re looking for a patio you haven’t seen before, check out LA Restaurants With New Outdoor Dining Options.
The Spots
photo credit: Margot
We know you’ve been wondering where you can go tonight to drink gin and tonics while watching trains go by. OK, maybe that’s just us, but Margot is still a great place to hang out. This Culver City rooftop spot at Platform is at eye-level with the elevated Culver Metro station, and is back open for dinner and brunch. The Mediterranean food is pretty good, the cocktails are excellent, and plus… those trains. Reserve here.
Pilot is the rooftop restaurant at Downtown LA’s Hoxton Hotel. They’ve got an open-air dining room that’s opens at noon with a snacks menu that features dishes likechicory salad, fried artichoke hearts, and baked ziti. On Friday and Saturdays, they’re open until 11pm. Reserve here.
This spot is Permanently Closed.
The Ace Hotel in DTLA has one of biggest rooftops in the city - and they’re back open with an all-day menu including tacos, charcuterie, and other small plates. There’s also a pool up there, though it’s unclear if anyone will be taking a dip anytime soon. Reservation only.
If you’re looking for a place in Weho with excellent views, rooftop spot Harriet’s has reopened on the Sunset Strip. The food and cocktails are decent, but what you’re really doing there is checking out what kind of view you’d have from a $3 million house in the Hills. Call for reservations - (424) 281-1860.
If you’re the kind of person that (even prior to the pandemic) only ventured to rooftops if you were guaranteed ample personal space, this is the spot for you. The Pop-Up at Hotel Wilshire has fantastic views and solid bar food, but most importantly, is one of the few rooftops in town that everybody kind of forgets about. Open weekdays from 3-8pm, weekends 11am-8pm. Walk-ins only.
Hollywood’s Mama Shelter is one of the most fun rooftops in the city - they’ve got great cocktails, a solid wine list, and a surprisingly bearable rooftop brunch crowd. Keep in mind that capacity is limited, and they don’t take reservations. Open everyday from 11:30am until midnight.
photo credit: Alicia Cho
There aren’t a lot of rooftops on the Westside where we like to spend our time, but High Lounge is the exception to that rule. This spot above the Hotel Erwin has lots of private places to sit with your partner or a small group - especially now with distancing rules in effect - and standard bar fare like pizza slices, quesadillas, and burgers. Also (and we almost hate to mention this), they’ve got weekend bottomless mimosas from 12-3pm. Do what you will with that information. Reservations here.
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Perch in Downtown LA has two separate patios on the 15th and 16th floors of a building overlooking Pershing Square, where you can sit amidst fire pits, stare out over the city, and eat dinner from their French-leaning menu. They’re open for dinner seven days a week and weekend brunch from 11:30am-3:30pm. Reservations can be made here.
Broken Shaker in Downtown LA has everything you want in a rooftop: Great views, a pool to stare at, and some really excellent cocktails. The food menu is a bit all over the place, but if you get the crispy, twice-fried chicken wings, you won’t be disappointed. Plus, what you’re really there for are the tiki-themed drinks, especially the Sunsetland - guava, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, with your choice of booze. Reservations highly encouraged
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This Westside spot is one of the most popular around. Right by the Promenade in Santa Monica, Elephante draws a serious crowd of aspiring TikTok celebrities. But it’s also got one of the best views in Santa Monica, plus, one big secret: The pizzas here are seriously good. Reservations here.
Weho spot Catch is open, if you’re looking to hang out both on a rooftop and underneath a giant tree. They’ve got their normal menu, which means sushi rolls and filet mignon skewers, along with lots of vegan options. Reservations available on their website.
Eataly’s rooftop bar and restaurant Terra is open for Italian patio dining on top of the Westfield Century City. They’re serving a huge menu that has some pretty excellent handmade pastas and wood-grilled Italian classics, like branzino, char-grilled oyster mushrooms, and prime beef with parmesan. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations required.
The Rooftop By JG is back open at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Focus on the cocktails - we like the ginger margarita - which are ideal for drinking next to a pool and pretending the world isn’t on fire. Open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as brunch on the weekends. Reservations encouraged.
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Popular Weho spot EP & LP is open again with a new menu featuring Southeast Asian-inspired selection of small plates that are all $8-$15, like salt-and-pepper calamari, lobster quesadilla, and tuna tartare crostini. Please keep in mind that there is currently no bar service and everyone must be seated at a table while on the patio. They aren’t currently accepting reservations, so be prepared to wait in line outside for awhile.
