If you’ve ever been somewhere high above ground, you know the feeling that can bring. The streets blur into tiny lines underneath you, trees become spread out like a big green carpet, and the sense of how small we are compared to the world settles on your shoulders.
And maybe that’s exactly why people love rooftops and high viewpoints so much. They give you a break from everything below without you having to go anywhere. With that feeling in mind, here’s a list of some of the most beautiful places high above the ground.
Cartagena, Colombia - La Terraza at Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa
Cartagena is best known for the heat, the bright colours, and the always-busy streets. However, La Terraza provides a respite from the hustle and bustle, with a new and elevated perspective. This is a beautiful terrace sitting at the top of Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa with a stunning view of the city’s rooftops, many church domes, and the coastline below. Thanks to the panoramic pool, it’s a perfect place to cool your head after the cacophony of the streets below.
Its menu blends regional ingredients with international options, offering something for every traveller looking to relax above the city. If Cartagena is on your itinerary, this terrace should be too.
Thanks to countless television shows and films, New York’s skyline is something most of us are familiar with. But ROOF offers a far more immediate perspective, placing the Lower East Side right in front of you. From there, you can choose between indoor window seating or a terrace with completely open views.
This is a place that truly comes alive at night. The light shifts, the city glows, and the atmosphere grows livelier as the evening unfolds. If you’ve ever wanted to experience a night out in New York, this is the place to be.
Rome, Italy - Terrazza Borromini at Eitch Borromini
Now, let’s go back in time. This terrace sits inside a 17th-century palace, close to a bell tower that still rings at noon and the dome of Santa Agnese. Piazza Navona is right below, and there’s a full 360° view from the top, and the whole area looks almost like a painting.
This place is famous for the Mediterranean menu that’s inspired by classic Roman traditions. At a place like this, it’s super easy to spend hours without noticing the time. If you’re in Rome, make some room for this place in your itinerary; you won’t be disappointed.
Palma, Spain - Ç The Rooftop at El Llorenç Parc de la Mar
Ç The Rooftop is on top of El Llorenç Parc de la Mar, an adults-only hotel right by Palma Cathedral. It’s an extremely modern, relaxed space designed for guests who want to have a little more privacy with their rooftop vistas.
The infinity pool is one of the longest in Palma, and after a swim, you can stretch out on a Balinese bed with a refreshing cocktail or a snack. Fresh, summery flavours shape the menu, while the sweeping views of both sea and city encourage you to slow down and take it all in. It’s a spot that brings together refined drinks, easygoing food and one of Palma’s most impressive outlooks.
Auckland, New Zealand - Sky Tower & Orbit 360° Dining
When it comes to Auckland, Sky Tower is the location most people think of when conjuring images of New Zealand’s biggest city. Having been part of the landscape since the late 90s, the tower now stands above a lively mix of restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and two hotels, with SkyCity’s online platform complementing its landmark brick-and-mortar casino.
Rising above it all, we have Orbit 360° Dining, New Zealand’s only revolving restaurant that completes a full rotation every hour and reveals sweeping views across Auckland’s harbour and skyline. Offering three-course menus built around freshly sourced local produce, it is a favourite for those seeking a one-of-a-kind dining experience with a constantly changing backdrop.
Phuket, Thailand - Akoya|Star Lounge at V Villas Phuket
Perched above Ao Yon Bay, Star Lounge feels like a retreat that’s wrapped inside another retreat. Set above the secluded pool villas of V Villas Phuket, it stands among Phuket’s many rooftop haunts, offering a quiet escape with sweeping views.
The lounge serves Thai-style dishes and cocktails, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get there in time for a live musical performance. Tropical and breezy by day, it turns warm and atmospheric at night.
Rock Bar isn’t technically a rooftop, but it offers one of the most striking elevated views in Bali. It’s set atop a natural rock formation above the waterline, a beautiful terrace from which you can see the whole coastline.
Here, the food, cocktails and ocean breeze merge into an experience that’s hard to match. Their signature drink, Rock My World, is a playful mix of tequila, caramel and mangosteen that suits the setting perfectly. And when the sun begins to drop, the whole coastline glows; the sunsets here are renowned for capturing the raw beauty of the island in its purest form.
High viewpoints don’t reshape a city, but they certainly reshape your perspective. Each of these spots offers a clearer, wider look at its surroundings, and that shift alone makes them worth the climb.
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