From sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean to sunset over Biscayne Bay and the Everglades, the landscape of Greater Miami & Miami Beach is dotted with islands, criss-crossed by waterways and bedazzled by stunning skylines. One of the best ways to take in Miami’s awe-inspiring views is by sipping an expertly mixed cocktail and enjoying delicious food at a rooftop bar and restaurant. Read on for some of our favorites, then make it your mission to explore Miami – in an elevated fashion, of course.

Area 31

For a quintessential Miami rooftop bar experience, head to Area 31 on the 16th floor of the Kimpton EPIC Hotel at the mouth of the Miami River in Downtown Miami. From the rooftop pool terrace that seems to jut into Biscayne Bay, the skyline views are stunning. Area 31 offers a sophisticated atmosphere for poolside rosé, happy hour cocktails or an al fresco dinner.

Rosa Sky Rooftop

Set at a bend in the Miami River, 22 stories high atop Brickell’s dual-branded AC & Element Miami Brickell hotels, Rosa Sky Rooftop is an indoor-outdoor lounge awash in pink light and offering dazzling views of the Downtown Miami skyline. The signature Rosa Sky cocktail, made with strawberry and lemongrass vodka and garnished with an ice cube molded into the shape of a rose, is a good place to start your exploration of the creative cocktail menu. They also serve tapas-style small plates, many of which present a playful twist on classics, such as the Cuban “cigars” made with ham, pork, cheese, pickle relish and mustard aioli fried up inside a crispy shell, à la traditional Cuban sandwich.

Sugar

An oasis crowning the 40th floor of the EAST, Miami Hotel at Brickell City Centre, Sugar is a sophisticated urban retreat with a Balinese flair, thanks in large part to its intricately hand-carved wooden bar, tiki-style lounges and lush landscaping. It’s also the highest rooftop bar in all of Miami, offering sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the glittering Downtown Miami skyline. Expect an after-work crowd as well as late-night revelers vying for entry behind the velvet ropes on weekends. For a buzzy, high-volume venue, the sophisticated cocktail program is up to the challenge. You’ll also find a menu of pan-Asian bites, from steamed prawn dumplings to brisket bao buns.

Bellini

Part of the storied Cipriani hospitality empire, Mr. C hotels are an endeavor by the family’s fourth generation, brothers Ignazio and Maggio. Held aloft on concrete pylons and sporting porthole-inspired windows, the Coconut Grove hotel’s nautical design extends to the interiors, where you’ll feel like you’re aboard a sleek yacht, thanks to a collaboration between local architecture firm Arquitectonica and interior design studio Martin Brudnizki. Perched above the treetops, with views of Biscayne Bay, the hotel is crowned with the rooftop Italian restaurant and bar, Bellini, named after the sparkling aperitif the family is credited with creating, which also makes for the perfect order.

Level 6

With views above Coconut Grove’s tree canopy of sailboats dotting Biscayne Bay, Level 6 is a rooftop Spanish tapas bar and restaurant with plush white-cushioned lounge seating and low-slung tables designed for fully enjoying that view in a buzzy, convivial setting. Their creative cocktail menu includes the Harissa Marissa, a blend of tequila and mezcal with harissa-infused agave syrup and jalapeño. Add to that a few tapas dishes to share, from pan con tomate to Iberico belota, and you’ve got yourself a perfect afternoon in the Grove.

Sipsip

One of Miami’s most storied hotels recently received a refresh in the food and beverage department. Enter through the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden Gaudí-inspired façade, walk through the lush interior courtyard and take the elevator up to the poolside rooftop Sipsip Calypso Rum Bar. You’ll enjoy gorgeous views of Biscayne Bay, signature colorful murals and a sculptural fire pit alongside island-inspired tiki cocktails and stylishly updated furniture. Choose a Goombay Smash or Zombie, paired with conch fritters or smoked fish dip.

Cebada

Set on a rooftop in the heart of Coral Gables, surrounded by palm trees and romantic Mediterranean architecture, Cebada is a cocktail bar and restaurant boasting an impressive raw bar, tapas menu and pasta dishes. With cocktails whose names are as creative as their ingredients (think, Every Belen Guy’s Christmas Vacation, made with gin, cucumber, ginger, honey and lemon), Cebada also has an extensive wine and spirits list. Snack on the bikini sandwich made with jamón Serrano, cheddar cheese, truffle and fig, or polish off a dozen oysters and enjoy the views.

The Rooftop at the Citadel

A 60,000-square-foot space designed as part food hall, part marketplace and part workspace in the Little River area near Little Haiti, The Citadel is housed inside a historic MiMo (Miami Modern architecture) building that dates to the 1950s. Here, you’ll find a dozen culinary concepts, ranging from wood-fired Neapolitan pizza at Ash! Pizza Parlor from the owners of Brickell’s popular Stanzione 87 to modern Caribbean cuisine from Manjay and – for a sweet treat – artisanal ice cream from Frice. Perhaps best of all, this creative gathering place also boasts a rooftop bar that often hosts live music.

Mila's rooftop area — Enjoy MediterrAsian cuisine on MILA Restaurant's rooftop

MILA Restaurant

Perched on a sprawling indoor-outdoor rooftop just off Lincoln Road, MILA Restaurant has become one of South Beach’s go-to spots for a glitzy night out. Whether you’re tucked into a cushy banquette in the dining room or seated at an outdoor cabana-style table for a front row view of the nightly fire dancers, you’ll enjoy this upscale restaurant with a lively bar scene. The menu’s focus, as well as the restaurant’s design, blends Mediterranean and Japanese traditions for a cuisine they’ve dubbed “MediterrAsian.”

The Roof

The Esmé Hotel is a reimagined historic property tucked away in Espanola Way, a charming European village-inspired pedestrian corridor. Perched on The Roof, you’ll find a chic poolside bar and lounge lined with pink-and-white striped, cabana-style lounges and floral-accent pillows for a louche bohemian vibe. The extensive sangria menu includes white, red, sparkling and vermouth varieties, which pair nicely with small plates such as tuna tartare or shrimp aguachile.

Serena

Situated on a colorful, airy rooftop above Washington Avenue, Serena at the Moxy South Beach is an upscale Mexican restaurant. It features mezcal-forward cocktails and thoughtful, creative cuisine by Chef Scott Linquist of Coyo Taco fame. Grab a table or a lounge chair beneath the cast-iron canopy covered with bougainvillea and twinkling lights, and indulge in everything from ceviche to squash blossom quesadillas and birria enchiladas. The expansive, indoor-outdoor wraparound bar is an excellent spot to sample the menu and make new friends.

Watr's outdoor seating area — Watr at the 1 Rooftop is on the 17th floor of the 1 Hotel South Beach

Watr at the 1 Rooftop

Head to Watr at the 1 Rooftop, crowning the 17th floor of 1 Hotel South Beach, for incredible oceanfront views. Whether you’ve booked a poolside cabana by day or plan to mingle with the South Beach scenesters by night, the views stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to South Beach’s Art Deco rooftops all the way to Biscayne Bay are always breathtaking. Live out your “rosé all day” dreams and nibble on creative sushi rolls, like the namesake Watr roll, made with shrimp tempura, crab salad, tuna and avocado.

Astra

Located atop a low-rise warehouse typical of the Wynwood Arts District, Astra’s rooftop opens up to views of the Downtown Miami skyline and boasts a bar, cabana-style lounges and tables where you can enjoy Greek-inflected Mediterranean cuisine. A vertical sky garden adds to the ambiance. Sip an Astra to the Moon vodka cocktail, made with Saint Germain, lychee and butterfly pea syrup, and enjoy a full meal with highlights ranging from raw bar towers to lobster pasta and an over-the-top 36-ounce tomahawk steak.

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