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View from Sens Sens Restaurant

14 Top-Notch Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in San Francisco and the East Bay

Get a bird’s eye view of the best rooftop bars and restaurants in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley

by Lauren Saria, Ellen Fort, and Paolo Bicchieri Updated
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by Lauren Saria, Ellen Fort, and Paolo Bicchieri Updated
Sens Restaurant

It’s a tale as old as time: Summer hits San Francisco low and slow, emerging after the freezing cold, foggy August as September and October come around. And there may be no finer place to head than a rooftop bar to ring in the warmth. The San Francisco Chronicle predicts a heatwave in fall 2023, so heading to El Techo for powerful margaritas in the Mission District or to Fiorella’s covered roof in the Inner Sunset to enjoy cool drinks made with a fancy old ice shaver at Bar Noninna makes more sense than ever. These 14 bars and restaurants are all excellent spots to salute the incoming sun.

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Study Hall Rooftop Lounge

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Berkeley welcomed its highest rooftop bar in March 2022 with the debut of Study Hall at the Residence Inn downtown. While you take in the expansive views of the University of California Berkeley campus, peruse an approachable menu with light Asian influences: think a green onion pancake served with Kewpie mayo and a kimchi rice bowl. Ten specialty cocktails include variations on familiar favorites such as the Campus Bird, a jungle bird riff with rum and Campari.

2121 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 982-0114
(510) 982-0114
A blue cocktail in a coupe glass. Study Hall

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High 5ive

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Oakland residents also got a new rooftop perch in the East Bay with the opening of High 5ive atop the Kissel Uptown Oakland hotel. Snacks range from artichoke spinach dip and a meat and cheese plate to a chopped salad and carnitas tacos, with cocktails options such as the spritz-y Delayed Flight, featuring Tito’s vodka, Aperol, grapefruit, and lime.

437 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Oeste — Bar

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This Old Oakland bar and restaurant has the ideal rooftop for snacking on shrimp and grits, fried brussels sprouts, and steak frites. Cocktails, beer, wine, and weekend brunch that starts at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday are all extra reasons to stop by.

722 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 817-4157
(510) 817-4157

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Sens

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If you want to take in the late summer views of the Bay Bridge, with the Ferry Building front and center, there might be no better place than Sens. The rooftop restaurant is available for private events, and, on the other end of things, happy hour is on every day at 3:30 p.m. with eggplant flatbreads and fattoush salad aplenty.

4 Embarcadero Ctr, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 362-0645
(415) 362-0645
View from Sens Sens Restaurant

Jones

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One of the city’s biggest rooftop spaces means plenty of room to gather pals for cocktails and occasional live music. The greenery scattered throughout gives it a lush vibe, though it’s in the midst of the Tenderloin, surrounded by hotels and apartment buildings.

620 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 496-6858
(415) 496-6858
Jones

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Dirty Habit

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On the fifth floor of Hotel Zelos, Dirty Habit is a hidden-away lair secluded by SoMa’s high-rise buildings. It’s dark and luxe indoors, but it opens out onto fire pits and lounge-worthy sofas. Sip from a menu of craft cocktails, which switches up with the seasons, and snack on oysters and shishito peppers, or go all-in on wild halibut or barbecue short ribs.

12 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 348-1555
(415) 348-1555
Rooftop lounge at Dirty Habit Dirty Habit

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Rise Over Run

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The LINE hotel includes both a restaurant, Tenderheart, and a rooftop bar, Rise Over Run. Head up to the top floor to find cocktails from longtime San Francisco bartender Danie Louie and a tight food menu from chef Joe Hou. There’s also a covered solarium, packed with plants, for days when the weather’s not quite right, plus firepits to warm up around outside. Brunch is on as of October 7, 2023, with chilaquiles and chia seed pudding on the menu.

33 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 523-9799
(415) 523-9799
Jean Bai

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Charmaine's Rooftop Bar & Lounge

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Look up and down Market Street’s windy corridor from the glass-enclosed patio of Charmaine’s, perched atop the well-heeled Proper Hotel. It’s got drinks designed by Bon Vivants Hospitality (Trick Dog, Chezchez), snacks by Jason Fox of the late Commonwealth, and high style to match. The best seats are around one of the fire pits, so act fast.

1100 Market Street Entrance at, 45 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 786-3467
(415) 786-3467
Patricia Chang

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Kaiyo Rooftop

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Decked out with swaying palm trees and a lush plant wall, this tropical rooftop bar and restaurant is perched high above the SoMa skyline atop the Hyatt Place hotel. From the team behind Cow Hollow’s Kaiyo, expect a menu of Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei food and drinks including inventive sushi rolls, a variety of ceviches, and tropically-inspired cocktails — tiny umbrellas and all.

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 800-8141
(415) 800-8141
A view west from the rooftop at Kaiyo Rooftop. Photos by Anthony Parks & Emilio Salehi, Equal Parts Media

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Rooftop 25

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Atop SoMa’s 25 Lusk is a lovely rooftop bar serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and other bar snacks. Frozen cocktails, beers, and wines are attractive orders, particularly when the heaters come on to combat Bay Area winter (or notoriously cool summer) weather.

25 Lusk St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 495-5875
(415) 495-5875
Courtesy of Rooftop 25

Cavaña

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There’s probably no better view in all of Mission Bay than from the stylish rooftop bar Cavaña, which opened in January 2023 just a few short blocks away from Oracle Park. It’s the latest from restaurateur John Park (Kaiyo, Kaiyo Rooftop, Novela) and a roster of experienced bar industry pros including Anthony Parks, beverage director Emilio Salehi, and bar manager Miguel Salehi. They’re pulling inspiration from across Latin America including Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico so the cocktails feature flavors like hoja santa, papaya, mole spices, and poblano peppers. On the food menu, expect aguachiles, arepas, and flaky pastel de carne.

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158
(415) 757-1470
(415) 757-1470
Jasmine Dolla (Vivio Visuals)

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Fiorella Sunset

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You’d never know it at first glance, but there’s a slender rooftop patio perched atop Fiorella’s newest outpost in the Sunset. Hung with string lights and armed with heaters, it’s a cozy setting for sharing wood-fired pizzas and fresh pastas.

1240 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 404-6997
(415) 404-6997
The rooftop deck at Fiorella Sunset dressed up with string lights and a retractable awning Hardy Wilson/Fiorella

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Good Good Culture Club

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In early 2022, the former Dear Inga space (which hosted chef Ravi Kapur’s Liholiho Yacht Club throughout the pandemic) flipped into Good Good Culture Club, a team effort from a trio of Liholiho alums: general manager Aimee Arcilla, chef Kevin Keovanpheng, and chef Brett Shaw. The menu splits two ways, savory and sweet, with plates inspired by Arcilla’s Filipina heritage and Shaw’s Laotian upbringing. The roof is easily the best seat in the house with lots of plants and a vibrant color scheme.

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 589-7266
(415) 589-7266
A view of the rooftop deck at Good Good Culture Club. Patricia Chang

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El Techo

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El Techo has long been one of the city’s best options for outdoor drinking, day or night. Head up to the rooftop patio overlooking Mission Street for margaritas, small plates, and an excellent weekday happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There are heaters scattered around the roof and if you want the very best views, belly up to the drinking rail.

2516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970

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Study Hall Rooftop Lounge

2121 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Berkeley welcomed its highest rooftop bar in March 2022 with the debut of Study Hall at the Residence Inn downtown. While you take in the expansive views of the University of California Berkeley campus, peruse an approachable menu with light Asian influences: think a green onion pancake served with Kewpie mayo and a kimchi rice bowl. Ten specialty cocktails include variations on familiar favorites such as the Campus Bird, a jungle bird riff with rum and Campari.

2121 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 982-0114
(510) 982-0114
A blue cocktail in a coupe glass. Study Hall

High 5ive

437 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Oakland residents also got a new rooftop perch in the East Bay with the opening of High 5ive atop the Kissel Uptown Oakland hotel. Snacks range from artichoke spinach dip and a meat and cheese plate to a chopped salad and carnitas tacos, with cocktails options such as the spritz-y Delayed Flight, featuring Tito’s vodka, Aperol, grapefruit, and lime.

437 25th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Oeste — Bar

722 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94607

This Old Oakland bar and restaurant has the ideal rooftop for snacking on shrimp and grits, fried brussels sprouts, and steak frites. Cocktails, beer, wine, and weekend brunch that starts at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday are all extra reasons to stop by.

722 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 817-4157
(510) 817-4157

Sens

4 Embarcadero Ctr, San Francisco, CA 94111

If you want to take in the late summer views of the Bay Bridge, with the Ferry Building front and center, there might be no better place than Sens. The rooftop restaurant is available for private events, and, on the other end of things, happy hour is on every day at 3:30 p.m. with eggplant flatbreads and fattoush salad aplenty.

4 Embarcadero Ctr, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 362-0645
(415) 362-0645
View from Sens Sens Restaurant

Jones

620 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102

One of the city’s biggest rooftop spaces means plenty of room to gather pals for cocktails and occasional live music. The greenery scattered throughout gives it a lush vibe, though it’s in the midst of the Tenderloin, surrounded by hotels and apartment buildings.

620 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 496-6858
(415) 496-6858
Jones

Dirty Habit

12 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

On the fifth floor of Hotel Zelos, Dirty Habit is a hidden-away lair secluded by SoMa’s high-rise buildings. It’s dark and luxe indoors, but it opens out onto fire pits and lounge-worthy sofas. Sip from a menu of craft cocktails, which switches up with the seasons, and snack on oysters and shishito peppers, or go all-in on wild halibut or barbecue short ribs.

12 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 348-1555
(415) 348-1555
Rooftop lounge at Dirty Habit Dirty Habit

Rise Over Run

33 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The LINE hotel includes both a restaurant, Tenderheart, and a rooftop bar, Rise Over Run. Head up to the top floor to find cocktails from longtime San Francisco bartender Danie Louie and a tight food menu from chef Joe Hou. There’s also a covered solarium, packed with plants, for days when the weather’s not quite right, plus firepits to warm up around outside. Brunch is on as of October 7, 2023, with chilaquiles and chia seed pudding on the menu.

33 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 523-9799
(415) 523-9799
Jean Bai

Charmaine's Rooftop Bar & Lounge

1100 Market Street Entrance at, 45 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Look up and down Market Street’s windy corridor from the glass-enclosed patio of Charmaine’s, perched atop the well-heeled Proper Hotel. It’s got drinks designed by Bon Vivants Hospitality (Trick Dog, Chezchez), snacks by Jason Fox of the late Commonwealth, and high style to match. The best seats are around one of the fire pits, so act fast.

1100 Market Street Entrance at, 45 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 786-3467
(415) 786-3467
Patricia Chang

Kaiyo Rooftop

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Decked out with swaying palm trees and a lush plant wall, this tropical rooftop bar and restaurant is perched high above the SoMa skyline atop the Hyatt Place hotel. From the team behind Cow Hollow’s Kaiyo, expect a menu of Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei food and drinks including inventive sushi rolls, a variety of ceviches, and tropically-inspired cocktails — tiny umbrellas and all.

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 800-8141
(415) 800-8141
A view west from the rooftop at Kaiyo Rooftop. Photos by Anthony Parks & Emilio Salehi, Equal Parts Media

Rooftop 25

25 Lusk St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Atop SoMa’s 25 Lusk is a lovely rooftop bar serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and other bar snacks. Frozen cocktails, beers, and wines are attractive orders, particularly when the heaters come on to combat Bay Area winter (or notoriously cool summer) weather.

25 Lusk St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 495-5875
(415) 495-5875
Courtesy of Rooftop 25

Cavaña

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158

There’s probably no better view in all of Mission Bay than from the stylish rooftop bar Cavaña, which opened in January 2023 just a few short blocks away from Oracle Park. It’s the latest from restaurateur John Park (Kaiyo, Kaiyo Rooftop, Novela) and a roster of experienced bar industry pros including Anthony Parks, beverage director Emilio Salehi, and bar manager Miguel Salehi. They’re pulling inspiration from across Latin America including Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico so the cocktails feature flavors like hoja santa, papaya, mole spices, and poblano peppers. On the food menu, expect aguachiles, arepas, and flaky pastel de carne.

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158
(415) 757-1470
(415) 757-1470
Jasmine Dolla (Vivio Visuals)

Fiorella Sunset

1240 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

You’d never know it at first glance, but there’s a slender rooftop patio perched atop Fiorella’s newest outpost in the Sunset. Hung with string lights and armed with heaters, it’s a cozy setting for sharing wood-fired pizzas and fresh pastas.

1240 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 404-6997
(415) 404-6997
The rooftop deck at Fiorella Sunset dressed up with string lights and a retractable awning Hardy Wilson/Fiorella

Good Good Culture Club

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

In early 2022, the former Dear Inga space (which hosted chef Ravi Kapur’s Liholiho Yacht Club throughout the pandemic) flipped into Good Good Culture Club, a team effort from a trio of Liholiho alums: general manager Aimee Arcilla, chef Kevin Keovanpheng, and chef Brett Shaw. The menu splits two ways, savory and sweet, with plates inspired by Arcilla’s Filipina heritage and Shaw’s Laotian upbringing. The roof is easily the best seat in the house with lots of plants and a vibrant color scheme.

3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 589-7266
(415) 589-7266
A view of the rooftop deck at Good Good Culture Club. Patricia Chang

El Techo

2516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

El Techo has long been one of the city’s best options for outdoor drinking, day or night. Head up to the rooftop patio overlooking Mission Street for margaritas, small plates, and an excellent weekday happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There are heaters scattered around the roof and if you want the very best views, belly up to the drinking rail.

2516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970
(415) 550-6970

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