There’s no better way to spend dusk with friends and loved ones than sipping cocktails and watching spectacular sunsets. But what’s even greater is being able to enjoy this setting on top of a skyscraper or a cliff with sweeping views of the ocean right below you.
As more of Asia’s cities are getting taller and taller, and exclusive resorts becoming grander and grander, swanky rooftop bars are becoming the very places to see and be seen.
Here, we list down the top 10 rooftop bars in Asia favored by travelers not just in the region, but the world over:
1. Ozone, Hong Kong
Source: Ozone, Hong Kong
Dubbed as the highest bar in the world, Ozone is located on the 118th floor of the ICC Tower, which is the tallest building in Hong Kong. Renowned for its inventive cocktails, delicious Asian tapas, and unmatched views of the city, its futuristic aesthetic completes an almost out-of-this-world experience.
2. Skybar at Ce La Vi, Singapore
Source: Skybar at Cé La Vi, Singapore
Found on top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Skybar is the place to be for some of the best nightlife in Singapore.
With 360 degree views of the city-state and an impressive collection of classic and signature drinks, this al fresco area of the Ce La Vi restaurant is perfect for some pre-dinner cocktails, as well as post-dinner lounging and dancing with eclectic beats courtesy of its nightly DJ sets.
3. New York Bar, Tokyo
Source: New York Bar, Tokyo
Famous for being one of the settings of the movie, Lost in Translation, the New York Bar in Tokyo is located on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo. With regular live music, it’s renowned for jazz bands and having the largest selection of American wines in all of Japan.
On bright days, Mount Fujiyama can be viewed from its floor to ceiling windows and be drinking cognac while seated on their ebony chairs will give you sense this is the place where James Bond would frequent if he lived in Tokyo.
4. Sky Bar at Lebua, Bangkok
Source: Sky Bar at Lebua, Bangkok
Another famous bar for being in a Hollywood movie, the Sky Bar at Lebua was one of the locations for the popular film, “The Hangover II.” Widely dubbed as Bangkok’s best rooftop bar, it is also considered to be the world’s highest open-air bar – at 820 feet above the ground.
Transparent walls, innovative cocktails, and being steps away from the award-winning resto of Sirocco, it’s the best place in the Thailand capital for some pre and post-dinner cocktails.
5. Baba Nest at Sri Panwa, Phuket
Source: Baba Nest at Sri Panwa, Phuket
With a lounge deck embraced by an infinity edge pool, and located on an exclusive oceanfront resort, Baba Nest is the absolute setting for spectacular sunset cocktails, with epic views of the Andaman Sea and of Phuket’s peninsula.
Although you don’t have to stay at Sri Panwa to enjoy Baba Nest, it is required that you do make a reservation to be able to enjoy one of Asia’s most beautiful sky bars.
6. Vertigo and Moon Bar at Banyan Tree, Bangkok
Source: Vertigo and Moon Bar at Banyan Tree, Bangkok
Vertigo & Moon rooftop bar is a mix of a bar and grill restaurant and dubbed as one of Asia’s first. Premium steaks and seafood are complemented by hand-picked wines, while premium drinks and original cocktails are also on offer. With 360-degree cityscape views of Bangkok, it’s one of the best places in the city to enjoy unprecedented views while sipping drinks with friends and loved ones.
7. Air Bar at the Intercontinental, Koh Samui
Source: Air Bar at the Intercontinental, Koh Samui
The Air Bar is perched on a cliff in Talim Ngam with undeniably beautiful views of the Gulf of Thailand. Offering signature cocktails and an impressive tapas collection, it’s perfect for romantic nightcaps and desserts, and of course, sunset cocktails.
8. UNIQUE Rooftop Bar at Rimba, Bali
Source: UNIQUE Rooftop Bar at Rimba, Bali
A chic pool club by day, the UNIQUE Rooftop Bar turns into a hip sunset bar by dusk. Its epic views include ocean, treetop, and forest views, and its location in the Uluwatu Hills in Bali make for a truly one-of-a-kind bar experience.
9. 1-Altitude, Singapore
Source: 1-Altitude, Singapore
Located at 1 Raffles Place, 1 Altitude consists of the top 2 floors of the famous building, and features only thin, shoulder length glass panels to stop guests from falling off. With a bar and tapas area on the lower floor, and an al fresco bar and club on the top, it’s undoubtedly one of the best places in Singapore for sunset drinks, live music, and dancing the night away.
10. Chill Sky Bar, Ho Chi Minh
Source: Chill Sky Bar, Ho Chi Minh
A destination in itself, the Chill Sky Bar in Ho Chi Minh is patronized by some of the city’s best dressed and lively crowd. With a space of 10,000 square meters, this club and lounge bar set the standard for rooftop bars in the country, and its innovative drinks concocted by world-class mixologists make it one of the best places in Asia to enjoy cocktails and unwind.
