Nothing quite says “living the highlife” like clinking glasses on a city rooftop. Touch the sky this season with a brunch, evenings soirée, or nightcap on the most jaw-dropping rooftops in Houston. [Featured image: @zon23rooftop]
1. The Grove
Planted in the south end of Discovery Green, The Grove is an elegant two-story bar and restaurant to relish in patio weather. Catch their Happy Hour from 1 – 5 pm from Tuesday to Saturday to enjoy half off appetizers (such as their Blue Crab Corn Fritters), raw and chilled items (including Oysters On The Half Shell), beer, specialty cocktails, and house red and white wines.
📍1611 Lamar St.
⏰ 11 am – 3 pm Mondays; 11 am – 3 pm/5 pm – 9 pm Tuesday – Thursday; 11 am – 3 pm/5pm – 10 Fridays; 5 pm – 10 pm Saturdays
2. El Big Bad
Heralded by many as having the best margarita in town, El Big Bad in First Ward gives customers the chance to customize their own ‘ritas with 30 given infusions at a time. While the choices alone might leave your head spinning, just wait until you actually finish one. Happy Hour clocks in from 4 – 7 pm daily.
📍419 Travis St.
⏰ 4 pm – 12 am Sunday – Thursday; 4 pm – 2 am Friday – Saturday
3. Altitude Rooftop & Pool at Marriot Marquis
Marriot Marquis in Downtown Houston is the home base for the Altitude Rooftop & Pool. Setting for the Concerts Under The Stars series, Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river, and a myriad of events throughout the season, the rooftop features a full bar with unparalleled views of the Houston skyline. If you’re not a guest at the hotel, you can book a day pass ($50) that includes access to food and beverages.
📍1777 Walker St.
⏰ 7 am – 10 pm
4. Sunset Rooftop Lounge
Fresh on the scene, Sunset Rooftop Lodge is an East Downtown newcomer that’s hit the ground running. With DJs on deck, Sunset offers an array of bright, tropical cocktails of which to enjoy against the backdrop of the downtown skyline and the festivities of Truck Yard patio bar below.
📍2119 Dallas St. 3rd Floor
⏰ 4 pm – 2 am Monday – Friday; 12 pm – 2 am Saturday – Sunday
5. Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge
Concealed behind an inconspicuous “Attorney at Law” door, this clandestine establishment beckons visitors through a shadowy stairwell into a softly illuminated sanctuary of cocktails. The adept bartenders ensure a perfect match for your preferred drink. And when it comes to their rooftop patio, there are certainly few options better.
📍308 Main St.
⏰ 5 pm – 2 am
6. La Carafe
Housed in one of the oldest buildings in Houston, La Carafe Wine Bar is an intimate, likely haunted, wine dive. Wax-crystallizing candles, chandeliers, and antique relics imbue the space with a darkly romantic atmosphere that’s topped off with a second-story balcony.
📍813 Congress St.
⏰ 2 pm – 2 am
7. Brenner’s on the Bayou
Brenner’s on the Bayou is a rustic yet elegant bar and restaurant that offers one of the most unique views of the Bayou City. Overlooking a pristinely landscaped garden as well as lush natural greenery, Brenner’s provides an idyllic atmosphere in which to enjoy fine dining at its best.
Happy Hour at Brenner’s runs from 4 – 7 pm Monday through Friday that includes $9 cocktails and martinis, $7 wine glasses, and $5 craft beers.
📍1 Birdsall St
⏰ 5 pm – 9 pm Monday – Wednesday; 5 pm – 9:30 pm Thursdays; 5 pm – 10 pm Friday – Saturday; 11 am – 9 pm Sundays
8. Grand Prize
Grand Prize is tucked in the east edge of Montrose north of Museum Park. Driving by, the bar first gives off the vibe of a low-key house party – what with the front porch, music, and the colorful array of lights twinkling in the front window and all.
On sunny days, their second story balcony is a prime place to polish off some tacos or craft beers. On cold, dark, and wet days, Grand Prize is the ultimate hole-in-the-wall to crawl into and stave off the storm.
📍1010 Banks St
⏰ 4 pm – 2 am
9. Harold’s Restaurant, Bar, & Terrace
Located on 19th Street in the Heights, Harold’s offers fine southern cooking with a view. Their menu, which includes brunch, lunch, and dinner, features crave-worthy options such as their Creole Benedict, Crawfish Fondue, Beer Battered Fish, and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie.
📍448 W 19th St
10. Z on 23
Perched on top of the 23rd floor of La Méridien hotel in Downtown, Houston, Z on 23 has some of the most elevated views in the city. The open air rooftop comes bar equipped and is a regular host to special events throughout the year.
📍1121 Walker St.
⏰ 3 pm – 12 am Sunday – Thursday; 3 pm – 2 am Friday – Saturday
11. The Coffee House at West End
The Coffee House at West End is a cozy-three story cafe nestled inside a historic building built in the 1930s. The coffee shop features top-notch joe, a warm interior, and a stunning rooftop with sweeping views of the Houston skyline.
📍802 Shepherd Dr.
⏰ 7 am – 6 pm Monday – Wednesday; 7 am – 5:30 pm Thursday; 7 am – 6 pm Friday; 8 am – 6 pm Saturday; 11:30 am – 6 pm Sunday
12. Patterson Park
Immerse yourself in the nature at the Bayou-inspired Patterson Park rooftop deck and patio. With scenic Bayou and downtown vistas, Patterson Park emulates a treehouse fit with wood accents and lush accents both inside and outside the 4,000-square-foot patio and sports bar in Houston. The venue also features a rotating fleet of food trucks on the grounds.
📍2205 Patterson St.
⏰ 2 pm – 11 pm Monday – Wednesday; 2 pm – 12 am Thursday; 2 pm – 2 am Friday; 11 am – 2 am Saturday; 12 pm – 11 pm Sunday
13. Post Houston
Housed inside the former USPS warehouse, POST is a cutting-edge, multi-purpose, multi-layered facility that’s become a hotspot for foodie destinations, concerts, and cultural experiences. Whether you’re a returning guest or have yet to check out the scenery, be sure to get a glimpse of POST’s five-acre rooftop park and farm.
📍401 Franklin St.
⏰ 11 am – 9 pm Tuesday – Wednesday; 11 am – 10 pm Thursday – Saturday; 11 am – 9 pm Sunday
14. Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen
Enjoy handcrafted, traditional Mexican cuisine, Happy Hours galore, tropical cocktails, and more at Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen. Though there’s several locations around the city, Ambriza’s Katy location features a rooftop lounge that’s open from Friday to Sunday with live music!
📍23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy
⏰ 11 am – 10 pm Monday through Thursday; 11 am – 11 pm Friday; 10 am – 11 pm Saturday; 10 am – 10 pm Sunday
15. PNC Roof Garden
Decorated with Asian jasmine, the PNC rooftop boasts a modern glass and steel skylight within a lush garden setting, providing ample seating. Additionally, it offers sweeping panoramic views, allowing for a complete 360-degree perspective of the Museum District, the neighboring Texas Medical Center, and downtown Houston. Positioned at the base of the slope, PNC presents an amphitheater designed for daily utilization and frequently hosts events, pop-ups, and live performances.
📍5101 Montrose Boulevard
16. Rooftop Cinema Club
Perched on the fifth floor of Whole Foods on Post Oak in Uptown, Rooftop Cinema Club is a two-screen, open-air theater with sweeping views of the Houston skyline.
The venue regularly features a seasonal program, screening everything from cult-classics, to the latest blockbusters, family-friendly movies, quote-a-longs, and more.
📍1700 Post Oak Blvd 5th Level
17. Sophie Cocktail Lounge & Terrace Bar
Inspired by the likes of the French Riviera, Sophie Cocktail Lounge & Terrace is a stunning new addition to Houston’s culinary scene. In addition to sweeping views of Montrose from its open-air rooftop terrace, the two-story venue features a darkly romantic interior idyllic for enjoying a curated French-inspired menu and presentation-based cocktails.
📍910 Westheimer Rd
18. Sol 7
Opened recently in Houston, Sol 7 is a rooftop pool oasis, bar, and restaurant perched atop the Thompson Hotel. The infinity pool-having hangout on the seventh floor features surrounding cabanas, lush decor, and sweeping views above Allen Parkway and Buffalo Bayou Park.
📍1717 Allen Pkwy
19. Burger Bodega
The graffiti-scrawled burger joint on Washington has quickly become a hotspot for burger lovers. Serving the likes of smash burgers, traditional cheeseburgers, and shakes, the Burger Bodega brick-and-mortar also features a second story rooftop to enjoy the passing breeze.
📍4520 Washington Ave.
20. Tejas Brewery
Housed in the facility formerly occupied by Buff Brew, Tejas Brewery is a three-story brewery and taproom that offers stunning views of Downtown, Houston. Patrons can also enjoy a tasty selection of craft beer, cocktails, and Tex-Mex-influenced Gastropub fare.
📍2101 Summer St.