Philadelphia is known as the country’s first World Heritage City and the birthplace of the United States, where its founders met, debated, and formed a new country. Here we will talk about the things you can do in Philly and of course the best Philly Rooftop Bars.
Two of the city’s most important attractions include the Independence Hall (where the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed) and the Liberty Bell (a symbol of the abolitionist movement).
Visitors are primarily interested in this region’s history in the quaint, like the alleyways of Old City and Society Hill, at the city’s history museums, the Valley Forge National Historical Park, the farmers market, and Fairmount park.
The city of Philadelphia is often called a Mural City because of the more than 3000 colorful graffiti, which make the city vivid, lively, and fascinating to people interested in art.
Philadelphia is famous for the Philly soft pretzels and the Philly Cheesesteak. In addition, you can visit many street food eateries and restaurants and enjoy classic American cuisine.
Now, let’s talk about the nightlife in Philly. With various clubs, legendary bars, and late-night dining spots, people say this city is perfect for a party.
So we are here to guide you into one of the best Philly rooftop bars where you can combine a portion of good food, drinks, and one of the city’s best views!
Table of Contents
7 Best Philly Rooftop Bars
Assembly Rooftop Lounge
1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States // +12157834171
Assembly features a fancy hotel bar with classic and signature cocktails, breathtaking city views, and outdoor seating with fire pits. This is the perfect place if you are in the mood for a chill night out with drinks and a small bite or a romantic date night with a glass of champagne.
The decoration, the ambiance, the music: everything was perfect, but what amused me the most was the overlook of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
One of their most ordered cocktails is the rose gold Margarita with reposado, dry curaçao, rose petals, lime, agave, and orange blossom. So I decided to give it a try, and oh my God, I was amazed! So refreshing and flavorful; I could definitely say it is made from fresh ingredients and love.
Their other signature cocktails are the Yogurt Punch with yogurt-infused clarified gin, Campari, and lemon, the First Chail Elixis, which is based on bourbon, the Mashing Pumpkins, made with sour mash, and a few more. Besides that, all the classic cocktails are available on the menu if you are not an experimental type.
On the food menu, there is an excellent charcuterie board with homemade alpine sausages, cured meat, pickled cabbage, dijon, salted crackers, and some cheeses. I strongly recommend it to pair with your drink. You will find this Philadelphia rooftop bar has all the elements for a fun night out.
Attico Rooftop
219 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States // +12675365725
Like most of the Philly rooftop bars, Attico is also located in one of the best hotels in Philly. This trendy rooftop lounge spot serves creative cocktails and small plates until late hours. In addition, this bar offers magnificent views of the heart of the city of Philadelphia.
The ambiance is chic with many lights, the staff is very friendly, and everyone is helpful. They give great suggestions and answer questions. Although this is not a budget brunch place, as the prices are higher than other places in the area, the view, atmosphere, food, and drink make it worth it.
Their eggs were some of the best restaurant eggs I’ve ever had; perfect texture and the ideal amount of seasoning. They paired well with the thick-cut toast and the roast pork. I didn’t try other choices of their food, but I believe it is good too.
I ordered the Day Drinker cocktail with bourbon, Vermouth, Chamomile, lemon, and Cardamon to accompany my brunch. It was so refreshing, and I understood why they named it like that.
However, if you are with a bigger group of friends, I recommend the cocktail called “Bubble Me.” It is one whole bottle of Sparkling Brut paired with three house syrups for flavor, Blood Orange-Pineapple, Peach, and Strawberry with Edible Flowers. One of Philly’s finest rooftop bars!
Stratus
433 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States // +12159252889
Located on the 10th floor at the Monaco Hotel, with grass-green walls and comfy leather couches, Stratus provides curated cocktails, chef-crafted small plates, and pleasant music and entertainment which are perfect as you start your night, end your night or make tonight last all night.
I found out about this Philly rooftop bar on the internet and decided to check it out based on the reviews and their website, which provides a 360-degree 3D tour of the whole bar, which is definitely better than just photos. However, when I went inside, it was even better than what I saw online.
Sadly, the view is blocked by the grass fences, and you can’t see a lot of the city if you are sitting, but if you stand up, you can take a few good shots. The staff is really attentive and makes you feel classy, and the drinks are incredible. Unfortunately, I can not say the same for the food because I didn’t try it, but I sure will next time.
I tried the Tell-Tale Heart cocktail with beet-infused Bahnez mescal, thyme agave, Licor 43, and lime. It was flavorful but pretty strong. After, we transferred on bubbles, and they presented it with fireworks and served it with fruit plates. I can definitely imagine my next birthday here!
Vango Lounge and Skybar
116 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States // +12155681020
This Philadelphia rooftop bar features DJ music, drinks, Asian-style dining on two levels, and a rooftop deck with city skyline views. The decor and the ambiance are beautiful. They pride themselves on excellent service and hookah, which came out in less than 10-15 mins.
I ordered the Filet Mignon, which was delicious and filling. It came with delicate mushrooms and asparagus, with a nice side of mashed potatoes.
The potatoes were some of the best and most buttery I’ve ever had. The Filet Mignon was juicy and pink on the inside, with a delicious soy-based glaze.
On the other side, the Kobe Beef maki was also tasty, but on the small side and not worth the price.
The drinks we ordered were strong (especially the mango mojito) and fruity; I can say that the alcohol was high quality. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this Philly rooftop bar, and the view is great for taking pictures.
El Techo
1830 Ludlow St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
Situated above Condesa, El Techo is a fantastic experience for small plates and cocktails. While certainly pricey, this place will not disappoint you. At this Philly rooftop lounge, you will get traditional Mexican food with the best Margaritas in the city.
El Techo is a great addition to the Philly rooftop bar scene and definitely a hidden gem. The views are lovely, and the whole bar/dining area was open to the elements. If the weather is nice, I will go through the pain of making weekend brunch reservations here.
I highly recommend the steak taco. The steak was flavorful and tender, and also try their homemade guacamole with chips. The Cóctel de Mariscos with shrimp and octopus paired with tomato, avocado, sweet peppers, and salsa Valentina is also a good choice.
Besides this, there are other tasty options on their menu, such as quesadillas, salads, rib-eye, and all sorts of tacos. Simply, a real flavorful Mexican taste!
For drinks, of course, we chose the classic Margaritas. I couldn’t resist trying most of them, and my favorite is the strawberry Margarita. The “Ocho” cocktail with rosemary-infused Banhez mezcal, pineapple, lime, amaro, and club soda is a really magically refreshing summer experience.
This place is not very crowded, but they often host private events, so make sure you make a reservation before visiting this Philly rooftop bar.
The Continental Mid-town
1801 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States // +12155671800
If you are looking for all sorts of martinis and tapas-style dishes for sharing, this is the right rooftop bar in Philadelphia for you. The atmosphere is chill, and the ambiance is chic and colorful and, at the same time, modern and futuristic.
Among all rooftop bars in Philly, this one definitely has the most extensive food menu. They have an excellent brunch menu, a menu for lunch and dinner, and even a tasting menu with more courses!
The drink and food menus were very interesting, as there were so many unique flavor combinations and fusions. A strong Asian fusion, but some other fusions are available too. Since these are small plates meant to be shared, I ordered a little bit of everything.
I tried the Thai coconut chicken soup, chilled sesame noodles, crispy calamari salad, salmon, and eggplant skewers. The steak skewers were tender and tasty, and the salmon was perfect and not overcooked.
Honestly, I was afraid of how the Thai coconut chicken soup would taste, but now I am sorry I was skeptical about trying something new.
To finish my meal, I ordered the Ice Cream and Sorbet, and the Coconut Tapioca Pudding, which was equally as good as the rest of their dishes.
Last but not least comes the drinks. There is plenty of choice of wine, beverages, cocktails, and soft drinks, and I, of course, went with the cocktails first.
The “Snowfall Martini” with Stoli vanilla, white chocolate liqueur, and cream was out of this world, and the “Prosseco Punch” with peach, honey, and sage was the perfect ending to my beautiful evening!
Sunset Social
129 S. 30th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States // +12158678067
This is a popular rooftop spot in Philly among the students, as it is located at the University of Pennsylvania.
From chicken tenders to hot dogs and house-made veggie burgers, they have something for everyone. They also have a snack stand and beverages, and I highly recommend the frozen mango margarita!
The atmosphere is very chill. I even saw people with their own blankets there watching a movie on a projector. At first, you may be skeptical of the simplicity, but this place has one of the best views in Philly, and it will cost you almost nothing!
Best Philly Rooftop Bars: Wrap-Up
As we mentioned, Philadelphia is one of the most popular cities for young people. From chill and comfortable places to classy rooftop bars, there is something for everyone!
The locals are friendly, and you will never feel like a stranger in this city. Read our guide for the best Philly rooftop bars, but don’t be afraid to ask some of the locals there for an opinion because no one can advise you better than them.
We enjoyed all of the listed Philly rooftop bars with pleasure, and we recommend you try the same. Make your stay in Philly unforgettable!
Check out our other delicious guides in Philadelphia:
Visiting other destinations in Pennsylvania? Check out our other guide:
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever