While Berlin isn’t blessed with dramatic mountain views, looking out at the lights of the cityscape on a warm evening (with a cocktail in hand) is really just as splendid. That’s where our guide to the city’s most spectacular rooftop bars comes in. So where are you going to sit with a cool drink and relax on top of the world?
Hotel de Rome
This is one to treat yourself, although you don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the roof terrace of the luxurious Hotel de Rome. The roof offers plenty of space, you can sit on comfortable sofas and order champagne, cocktails and other drinks from the bar. There is a variety of food and beverage options – from sumptuous seafood platters and Japanese bento boxes to poke bowls, salads, sandwiches and desserts.
- Hotel de Rome, Behrenstr. 37, Mitte, details.
Bar Clara
High above the super sophisticated Fotografiska Gallery, Bar Clara is serving up some seriously incredible drinks. Their menu is the perfect mix of classic cocktails and bold new concoctions developed by their dedicated staff.
- Bar Clara, AM TACHELES, Oranienburger Str. 56, Mitte, details.
Klunkerkranich
Klunkerkranich (pronounced “klunk-er-kra-nick“) took over the rooftop level of the Neukölln Arcade carpark in 2013 and developed what they call a “cultural roof garden”. In addition to the low key Biergarten, there are two large bars with an indoor area and a dance floor. The small restaurant kitchen gets its ingredients in part from the raised garden beds scattered amongst the seating.
When the DJs aren’t playing, Klunkerkranich is also home for cultural events of all kinds: Readings, poetry slams, concerts and even markets take place on Neukölln’s most beautiful rooftop. The only drawback: if you want to watch the sunset here with a cool drink, every hipster and his dog has had the same idea already, so expect a queue.
- Klunkerkranich, Karl-Marx-Str. 66, Neukölln, details.
Amano Hotel Bar & Apartment Bar
Berlin sunsets are best admired from the terrace of the Amano Hotel near Rosenthaler Platz. With a cool drink in hand, the Fernsehturm seems almost within reach from here. The comfortable lounge furniture and the unusual cocktail menu are also great reasons to visit. If the rooftop bar on Auguststraße is already fully booked, don’t worry – there is also the wonderful roof terrace of the Apartment Bar at the sister hotel Amano Grand Central at Hauptbahnhof.
Hotel Zoe
This list wouldn’t be complete without the gorgeous Hotel Zoe at Hackescher Markt. During the summer months, the Zoe Rooftop Bar is not only for those who love a good view, it’s also a watering hole for those who appreciate gin and tonic variations. With a great drink in hand, we’re ready to sunbake and watch the hustle and bustle of Hackescher Markt from high above.
- Hotel Zoe, Große Präsidentenstr. 6-7, Mitte, details.
Deck 5 Rooftop Beach Bar
Berlin by the sea? Not quite – but in Prenzlauer Berg you can at least put your feet in the sand. The sandy beds transform the roof of the Schönhauser Allee Arkaden into the closest thing you’ll get to a beach bar in the centre of Berlin. Weekly-changing cocktail specials sweeten the visit and the soul food menu has you covered.
- Deck 5, Schönhauser Allee 79, Prenzlauer Berg, details.
Rooftop One
Even without an overnight stay in the hotel, you can sip a cool drink or two on the roof terrace. The views of the sunset over Tiergarten, the Gedächtniskirche and the Siegessäule are breathtaking. The bar specialises in gin, offering more than 50 different varieties and the right tonic water to go with each.
- Rooftop One Bar Berlin-Upper West, Kantstr. 163-165, Charlottenburg, details.
Monkey Bar
The best of all rooftop bars in Berlin? Maybe not, but definitely one of the most famous in the city. On the tenth floor of the Hotel on Ku’damm, you can watch the monkeys playing in their enclosure at the Zoologischer Garten while relaxing with a cool drink in hand. Middle Eastern-inspired snacks come from the kitchen of Neni next door. Think hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, and caramelized Basque cheesecake. The drinks menu features classics as well as international creations from sister bars in Paris and London.
- Monkey Bar, 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, Budapester Str. 40, Charlottenburg, details.
Bar 260
With its incredibly unique cocktail list, 260 Grad Bar on Uber Platz has more than earned its place on our list. From here you can watch beautiful sunsets, right on the Spree. Expect tea cocktails (served in teapots no less!), plus southeast Asian snacks and sushi variations. This area is start-up central, so after-work parties have established themselves on Thursdays and Fridays: Funk, soul, and house from a variety of DJs kick off the weekend here.
- Bar 260, Uber Platz 2, Friedrichshain, details.
Soho House Berlin
No list of rooftop bars in Berlin would be complete without the roof terrace of the private club Soho House. If a visit there does come up – and such opportunities do come up from time to time – you shouldn’t turn down the chance. It can be difficult to get in, but still, the drinks are meticulously mixed and taste twice as good when you are surrounded by such spleandour and exclusivity
- Soho House Torstr. 1, Prenzlauer Berg, online
Grace Rooftop Bar
The chic Grace Rooftop Bar at the Hotel Zoo is the place to go for hip West Berliners, newcomers and travelers. The bar’s focus: classic drinks from the 1920s and 1950s, prepared with in-house infusions and high-quality spirits. The rooftop bar has a lounge and a bar area, and the all-around glazing protects against the elements. Added to this is the unique, unobstructed panorama, making the whole experience very memorable.
- Grace Bar and Restaurant, Hotel Zoo, Kurfürstendamm 25, Charlottenburg, details.
Monbijou Hotel
The rooftop bar of the Monbijou Hotel is located in the heart of Berlin and offers a unique view. With the Fernsehturm in the background, you can enjoy the sun and sip cool cocktails. The 360-degree panoramic view features the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island. You can also overlook the Scheunenviertel and Hackescher Markt from here.
- Mobijou Hotel Monbijouplatz 1, Mitte, details.
Loft 14
On the 14th floor of the Vienna House Andel’s Berlin is the creatively named Loft 14, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Berlin. All of Berlin meets here: tourists from all over the world sit next to business heavy-hitters, hip grandmas and grandpas from Lichtenberg and start-up founders from Friedrichshain. The place has a real James Bond feeling. Special drinks are served from the fourteen-meter-long bar while you relax on a comfortable bar stool. Cozy seating areas and sofas make the pleasant weekend or after-work feeling perfect. Here, Berlin is at your feet.
- Loft 14 Landsberger Allee 106, Lichtenberg, details.
