What better way to enjoy that iconic Seattle skyline than from one of the many glorious rooftop bars in Seattle?
Especially in summer, I could easily spend an entire day hanging out on a rooftop bar and just enjoying the vibe. Seattle is an amazing city and I’m really lucky to have checked out some cool places here.
So, here I’m giving you my roundup of the best rooftop bars in Seattle. Cheers!
7 Best Rooftop Bars in Seattle
1. Fog Room
Soak in amazing views of the Puget Sound as you perch atop the Charter Hotel at the Fog Room in downtown Seattle.
Of course, do it with one of the Fog Room’s deliciously-crafted signature drinks in hand—like the spicy Devils Horns rum cocktail or a refreshing gin and elderflower-based Pharaoh’s Dance.
And why not throw in a side of sweet tea chicken wings with your drink order?
This is a seriously cool, chic lounge bar with indoor and outdoor patio seating options. It can get pretty packed, so I recommend making reservations so that you don’t miss this place!
Location: The Charter Hotel Seattle, 1610 2nd Ave., Seattle
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 5pm – 12am
2. MBar
A bar and restaurant with a view of the Space Needle and Lake Union?
Yes, please!
MBar sits on the 14th story in South Lake Union and—besides great views—offers a tasty Middle Eastern menu complete with bar snacks, mezze classics like hummus and baba ganoush, main dishes, and dessert.
There is plenty of drinks, cocktails, beer, and cider to choose from, plus a robust wine list, so you definitely won’t go thirsty here!
Location: 400 Fairview Avenue, 14th floor, Seattle
Hours: Friday – Saturday 4pm-midnight (last seating at 10pm), Sunday – Thursday, 4pm – 11pm (last seating at 9pm)
3. The Nest
Trendy and iconic Seattle rooftop bar, The Nest, has been a Seattle favorite for many years running. It’s definitely the type of place you’ll want to post on your Insta.
The Nest sits on the 12th floor of the glorious Thompson Hotel near Seattle’s famous Pike Place market and gives visitors unmatched vistas over picturesque Elliott Bay, the mountains, Pike Place, and the downtown skyline.
You’ll find stylish decor in a posh lounge and outdoor terrace with some invitingly comfy sofas and fire pits. It’s such a great place to grab a snack and enjoy a Moscow Mule, Old Fashioned, or any of their hand-crafted cocktails.
The Nest is a popular spot, so your best bet is to make a reservation, which you can quickly do on their website.
Location: Thompson Hotel 110 Stewart St., Seattle
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 5pm – 10pm, Friday – Saturday 3pm – 11pm, Sunday 5pm – 10pm
4. Mountaineering Club
At the Graduate Hotel’s rooftop bar, the Mountaineering Club, they invite you to hike up to the 16th floor where you’ll be greeted with an outdoorsy/adventure theme and some grand 360 views of Seattle.
Their witty menu offers a variety of bites ranging from the camp shrimp tostada and mountain bacon sandwich to the mountaineering club boil with shrimp, corn, sausage, potato, and soaking bread.
Top it all off with s’more for dessert, and it’s a real party!
As for the drink menu, there are lots of choices. Draft and bottled beer, wine, and, of course, some signature cocktails like the Alpiña Colada or the Meany Ski Hut.
They do offer happy hour and Sunday brunch, which I think makes it well worth the trek!
Location: Graduate Hotel 4507 Brooklyn Ave. Seattle
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 4pm – 12am, Sunday 4pm – 10pm (Sunday brunch 10am – 2pm)
5. Rooftop Brewing Company
For a no-frills, friendly, sit-and-drink-a-beer outdoors Seattle bar overlooking the shipyards in North Queen Anne, the Rooftop Brewing Company is your place!
Picnic tables and casual outdoor seating line the outdoor rooftop patio where you can sip on one of the 10 brews they have on tap that they serve from a rotating selection.
Don’t expect a fancy food menu at the Rooftop Brewing Company. In fact, there’s no food menu at all. But what they do offer is a schedule of local food trucks on rotation every day of the week—which isn’t a shabby option!
Location: Seattle Taproom 1220 W. Nickerson St. Seattle
Hours: Monday – Friday 3pm – 10pm, Saturday 1pm – 10pm, Sunday 1pm – 8pm
6. Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails
As implied by the name, this place is all fun and games. Literally, there are fun games to play at Frolik amidst their stylish fire-pit tables, from ping pong to shuffleboard!
You’ll find this playful bar on the 5th floor of the Motif Seattle hotel where you’ll get some awesome open-air city views of downtown from the rooftop terrace. There’s also a modern indoor lounge where it’s nice to hang out too.
You’ll love the variety of their menu where you can find some classic favorites with a twist that include some juicy burgers, truffle fries, carnitas tacos, and wild seafood.
Their cocktails are fun too like the Business Monkey made with toasted coconut-infused bourbon. Personally, I love the sound of a Tiramisu martini!
Frolik has happy hour Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm, so that’s a great opportunity to snag some food and drink deals while you enjoy the view.
Location: Motif Seattle, 1415 5th Avenue Seattle
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 4pm – 10pm, Friday 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 3pm – 11pm (happy hour Tuesday – Thursday 4pm – 6pm)
7. Terra Plata
I love checking out restaurants that are all about farm-to-table with locally-sourced offerings of yummy local dishes, which is what I love about Terra Plata.
Throw in a rooftop garden terrace dining option—that’s heated and covered for chillier days—and I’m super excited!
Their menu changes seasonally but all their dishes sound seriously delish. Oh, and Monday is paella night!
As if that wasn’t enticing enough, they also offer a weekend brunch menu that includes goodies like brioche bread pudding, shrimp and grits, a Terra Plata burger, and churros! Terra Plata is definitely my kind of place.
Location: 1501 Melrose Ave, Seattle
Hours: Monday-Saturday 4pm-10pm, Brunch served Saturday & Sunday 10am-2pm
How’s that for some amazing rooftop bars in Seattle to check out? I hope you’ve found this list helpful—let me know what you think and any new places I should check out the next time I’m in Seattle!
Heading to Seattle? Explore my other Seattle travel guides here.
Seattle Itinerary: Three Days in Seattle For The Perfect Trip
Chihuly Glass and Garden, Seattle
FAQs
The best rooftop bars in Seattle are:
– Fog Room
– The Nest
– MBar
The best time to visit Seattle is in the fall from September to November. The weather will be nice and it will be less crowded.
You should spend 3 to 4 days in Seattle to really explore what the city has to offer.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
