30 rooftop bars worth the night across Italy, editor-ranked. All Italy guides.
George Restaurant at Grand Hotel Parker's ★ 4.8 · Naples
Chiaia · Corso Vittorio Emanuele 135, 80121 Napoli
George Restaurant crowns the Grand Hotel Parker's on Corso Vittorio Emanuele with a roof-garden dining room and bar terrace, where chef Domenico Candela runs a two Michelin-starred Campania kitchen alongside a sunset cocktail programme overlooking the Gulf of Naples.
Tip: Dinner service Tuesday to Saturday from 19:45; ask for a terrace table at 19:00 for the strongest light on Vesuvius. Closed early January and late August.
Ceresio 7 ★ 4.7 · Milan
Isola · Via Ceresio 7, 20154 Milano
Ceresio 7 opened in September 2013 on the penthouse of the former Enel headquarters in Isola, designed by Dimore Studio for Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2, with two outdoor pools, twin terraces and 360-degree sightlines across the Bosco Verticale and Unicredit Tower.
Tip: Cocktails run around 22 euros and pool access is dining-guest only; book the terrace at sunset for the strongest light on the skyline. M5 Monumentale is the closest metro.
Aroma at Palazzo Manfredi ★ 4.7 · Rome
Monti · Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma
Aroma occupies the top floor of Palazzo Manfredi with a 28-seat dining room and a covered terrace pointed directly at the Colosseum, where chef Giuseppe Di Iorio runs a Michelin-starred kitchen alongside a 600-label cellar weighted toward champagne.
Tip: The Colosseum view is the entire point; reserve a terrace table at sunset for the strongest light on the arches. A short aperitivo at the bar without dinner is sometimes possible.
Skyline Rooftop Bar ★ 4.7 · Venice
Giudecca · Giudecca 810, 30133 Venezia
Skyline crowns the Hilton Molino Stucky on Giudecca, a former flour mill turned hotel that hosts the city's highest rooftop bar, with a signature cocktail list built around the in house Stucky 1975 Venice Gardens gin and a panorama that runs across the lagoon to St Mark's.
Tip: The hotel runs a free shuttle boat from San Marco Giardinetti; book a sunset slot for the strongest light on the dome of the Salute. Cocktails sit around twenty five euros.
701 Rooftop Bar ★ 4.6 · Florence
Centro Storico · Vicolo dell'Oro 5, 50123 Firenze
701 Rooftop opened in summer 2024 on the seventh floor of the Lungarno Collection's Gallery Hotel Art a step from Ponte Vecchio, with two panoramic terraces pointing at Brunelleschi's Duomo, Giotto's Tower and Palazzo Vecchio and an interior by architect Michele Bonan in warm boiserie and English-club lines.
Tip: Cocktails sit around 22 euros and the bar opens for sunset only, Tuesday to Saturday. Book a terrace table well ahead for the Duomo sightline; the room is small and reserves out fast.
Terrazza Gallia ★ 4.6 · Milan
Porta Nuova · Piazza Duca d'Aosta 9, 20124 Milano
Terrazza Gallia sits seven floors above Piazza Duca d'Aosta on top of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia opposite Stazione Centrale, with chef Vincenzo Lebano cooking under consultancy from the Cerea brothers of Da Vittorio and a wraparound bar terrace open from noon to late.
Tip: The bar runs through the dinner service so cocktails without dining are possible at the terrace counter; the view picks up the Pirelli tower and the Porta Nuova skyline.
Hassler Bar ★ 4.6 · Rome
Centro Storico · Piazza Trinita dei Monti 6, 00187 Roma
The Hassler's bar sits at the top of the Spanish Steps with a terrace that looks straight down Via Sistina and across the rooftops of the centre, a piano-lounge classic that has been the canonical aperitivo balcony at Trinita dei Monti for decades.
Tip: Book the small outdoor terrace at sunset rather than the inside lounge; the seats are limited and the Spanish Steps view is the reason to come. Smart dress, no shorts in the evening.
La Terrazza at Hotel Eden ★ 4.6 · Rome
Ludovisi · Via Ludovisi 49, 00187 Roma
La Terrazza crowns the Dorchester Collection's Hotel Eden with a Michelin-starred dining room and a wraparound bar terrace pointed across Villa Medici, the Spanish Steps and St Peter's, with a cocktail programme that runs alongside chef Salvatore Bianco's Mediterranean kitchen.
Tip: Drinks at the bar terrace are sometimes available without a dining reservation if you arrive at 18:00, but the dinner crowd takes over after 19:30. Cocktails sit around 23 euros.
The Court at Palazzo Manfredi ★ 4.6 · Rome
Monti · Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma
The Court sits on the ground-level terrace of Palazzo Manfredi directly above the Ludus Magnus excavations, where bar manager Matteo Zed runs a cocktail programme inspired by Rome's fountains with the Colosseum filling the sightline beyond the rail.
Tip: Cocktails here are 27 euros but include a Prosecco welcome and a long passed-bite list, so it works as a one-drink Colosseum sit. Book a terrace seat well ahead.
Sesto on Arno ★ 4.5 · Florence
Santa Maria Novella · Piazza Ognissanti 3, 50123 Firenze
Sesto on Arno sits on the sixth floor of the Westin Excelsior on Piazza Ognissanti, with a glass-walled dining room, two open-air terraces split between bar and restaurant, and a sightline that picks up the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno hills across the Arno.
Tip: Bar service runs during dinner hours; book the bar terrace if you only want a drink. The west-facing terrace is the seat for sunset; cocktails sit around 22 euros.
Picteau Cocktail Bar ★ 4.5 · Florence
Oltrarno · Borgo San Jacopo 14, 50125 Firenze
Picteau anchors the Hotel Lungarno lobby on Borgo San Jacopo with a salotto-style room hung with Picasso and Cocteau pieces and a terrace pointed straight at Ponte Vecchio, where bartenders Marco Colonnelli and Vincenzo Civita run a cocktail programme paired with the Borgo San Jacopo kitchen.
Tip: The riverside terrace is the seat in summer; the indoor lounge with the Picasso fireplace works year-round. Cocktails run around 22 euros.
Riserva Rooftop ★ 4.5 · Naples
Mergellina · Via Alessandro Manzoni 308, 80123 Napoli
Riserva Rooftop opened in 2019 on Via Alessandro Manzoni high on the Posillipo hill, with an elevated Italian dining room, a Sky Lounge Martini terrace added in 2023 and a cocktail programme paired with a panorama across the Bay of Naples to Vesuvius.
Tip: Sunset on the Sky Lounge is the picture; book the terrace for 19:30 or later. The hill is a taxi ride from the centre; service runs late only on weekends.
Settimo Roman Cuisine and Terrace ★ 4.5 · Rome
Centro Storico · Via Lombardia 47, 00187 Roma
Settimo sits on the seventh floor of the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese with a wraparound terrace that takes in the Seven Hills and St Peter's dome, with chef Giuseppe D'Alessio running a modern Roman menu alongside a bar that opens for sunset cocktails.
Tip: Bar service runs through the dinner hours; if you only want a drink, ask for the lounge terrace rather than a dining table. The Villa Borghese gardens are a short walk after.
Cielo Terrace at Hotel de la Ville ★ 4.5 · Rome
Centro Storico · Via Sistina 69, 00187 Roma
Cielo runs across two floors on top of the Rocco Forte Hotel de la Ville at the head of the Spanish Steps, with the sixth-floor bar handling cocktails, DJ sets and light bites under red-and-white striped umbrellas and the seventh-floor restaurant taking dinner service.
Tip: Sunset DJ sets on the sixth floor are the reason locals queue; arrive 18:00 if you want a table on the terrace edge. Cocktails run around 25 euros so this is a one-drink stop for most.
Sagra Rooftop Restaurant ★ 4.5 · Venice
Giudecca · Isola delle Rose, Laguna di San Marco, 30133 Venezia
Sagra crowns the fourth floor of the JW Marriott Venice on Isola delle Rose with a 360 degree panorama over the lagoon, an open kitchen running modern Italian and a bar terrace that opens for sunset cocktails before the dinner service takes over.
Tip: The hotel runs a free shuttle from San Marco; arrive 18:30 for an aperitivo seat on the terrace edge before the dining tables claim the rail. Closed through the winter months.
Terrazza Mattuiani ★ 4.4 · Bologna
Piazza Maggiore · Via De' Mattuiani 1/2, 40124 Bologna
Terrazza Mattuiani opens for the warm months on the fifth floor of Hotel Touring Bologna with a cocktail bar, loungers and an in-deck jacuzzi, looking across the rooftops toward San Petronio and the Two Towers a few streets north.
Tip: Reservations are required; the jacuzzi slot runs 30 minutes per booking. Open May through September only, hours can shift if the weather closes the deck.
Empireo at Plaza Hotel Lucchesi ★ 4.4 · Florence
Santa Croce · Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia 38, 50122 Firenze
Empireo has run on the rooftop of the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi since 2014, with a pool deck, an American bar and a wraparound terrace that takes in the Duomo, Santa Croce and the Arno bend, paired with the Segno kitchen for an early-evening dinner service through the warm months.
Tip: Non-guests need a reservation after 19:30; the pool is hotel-guest only. The view across to Santa Croce works best at sunset with a Negroni in hand.
Radio Rooftop at ME Milan Il Duca ★ 4.4 · Milan
Porta Nuova · Piazza della Repubblica 13, 20124 Milano
Radio Rooftop sits on the tenth floor of the ME Milan Il Duca hotel above Piazza della Repubblica, with a wraparound terrace, daily DJ sets and a cocktail programme that runs alongside the Aldo Rossi-designed lobby below.
Tip: A dedicated lift on Via Marco Polo bypasses the hotel reception; book the outdoor terrace for the skyline sightline rather than the indoor lounge.
Miranapoli ★ 4.4 · Naples
Mergellina · Via Francesco Petrarca 62, 80123 Napoli
Miranapoli has anchored Via Francesco Petrarca on the Posillipo hill since 1958, with a long elevated terrace pointed across the Gulf of Naples and a service that runs from morning coffee through aperitivo and into a late-night cocktail crowd.
Tip: The terrace catches both Vesuvius and the city below; bus 140 from Mergellina drops you close. Aperitivo around 19:00 is the cheapest way to get the view.
Sky Lounge at Grand Hotel Vesuvio ★ 4.4 · Naples
Chiaia · Via Partenope 45, 80121 Napoli
The Sky Lounge sits on top of the Grand Hotel Vesuvio on Via Partenope, with a wraparound terrace pointed across Castel dell'Ovo and the Bay of Naples and a cocktail programme that runs from late-afternoon aperitivo through after-dinner drinks.
Tip: The terrace catches the strongest light at sunset; arrive by 18:30 to get a rail-side table. Smart-casual dress code, cocktails around twenty euros.
La Terrazza Bar at H10 Palazzo Canova ★ 4.4 · Venice
San Polo · Riva del Vin 744, 30125 Venezia
La Terrazza sits on the top floor of the H10 Palazzo Canova a few steps from the Rialto Bridge, with a covered indoor bar and an open terrace section that opens straight onto the Grand Canal traffic between the Pescheria and the Rialto.
Tip: The covered indoor section runs year round; the open terrace is the seat in warm months. A spritz or negroni runs around fifteen euros for the view of the Grand Canal turn at Rialto.
Algiubagio ★ 4.4 · Venice
Cannaregio · Fondamenta Nuove 5039, 30121 Venezia
Algiubagio runs a centuries old bar at Fondamenta Nuove 5039 in Cannaregio, with a wide lagoon facing terrace inaugurated in 2009, chef Daniele Zennaro on a seasonal menu and a sunset view straight across to Murano and the cemetery island.
Tip: The terrace is the seat in summer; the inside room takes over from November to March. Sit for a sunset spritz at 19:00 to catch the light on San Michele before the dinner crowd lands.
Roof Garden at Hotel Metropolitan ★ 4.3 · Bologna
Piazza Maggiore · Via dell'Orso 6, 40121 Bologna
The Roof Garden sits on the fifth floor of Hotel Metropolitan a couple of streets from Via dell'Indipendenza, with loungers, dining tables and a sightline that runs from San Luca on the hill to the Bologna rooftops.
Tip: Aperitivo runs from 17:00 and the kitchen sends a short bites list at the bar. Closed October to February so plan for the warm months.
Divina Terrazza at Grand Hotel Cavour ★ 4.3 · Florence
Centro Storico · Via del Proconsolo 3, 50122 Firenze
Divina Terrazza crowns the Grand Hotel Cavour on Via del Proconsolo with a covered sixth-floor terrace that frames the Bargello, the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, running year-round with heat lamps in winter and vaporizers in summer alongside an American bar programme.
Tip: Reservations are essential since the deck is small; cocktails sit around 18 to 20 euros. The covered terrace works in the cooler months when other Florence rooftops shut.
Terrazza Mirador ★ 4.3 · Rome
Gianicolo · Via del Gianicolo 3, 00165 Roma
Terrazza Mirador opens for the warm months on the grounds of Villa Agrippina at the foot of the Gianicolo, with palm-shaded loungers, a Balearic-inflected cocktail list and a Japanese-leaning fusion menu run by Kobe-trained chef Koji Nakai.
Tip: Open from May through September only; reservations after 19:00 are essential on weekends. The view picks up Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican walls from the upper terrace.
I Portici Rooftop Terrace ★ 4.2 · Bologna
Piazza Maggiore · Via dell'Indipendenza 69, 40121 Bologna
I Portici tucks its rooftop deck above a 19th-century palazzo on Via dell'Indipendenza, with a cocktail bar that looks across the green of Parco della Montagnola toward the hills and a separate Michelin-listed dining room two floors below.
Tip: Cocktails from 18:00 with a short bar menu; the room downstairs takes the dinner crowd so the rooftop stays drink-only. Reserve through the hotel for a terrace seat.
Terrazza Aperol ★ 4.2 · Milan
Centro Storico · Piazza del Duomo, 20121 Milano
Terrazza Aperol crowns Il Mercato del Duomo on the corner of Piazza del Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with a second-floor terrace pointed at the cathedral facade and a kitchen that pairs aperitivo plates with the canonical Aperol Spritz.
Tip: Walk-in tables on the terrace go to the patient queue on weekend evenings; reserve via the site to lock in a Duomo-facing seat at sunset.
The NIQ Bar at De Bonart ★ 4.2 · Naples
Chiaia · Corso Vittorio Emanuele 133, 80121 Napoli
The NIQ Bar runs the rooftop of the De Bonart Naples Hotel on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a few doors from Grand Hotel Parker's, with a smaller terrace, a Mediterranean kitchen and a cocktail programme aimed at sunset over the Gulf of Naples.
Tip: Smaller than the Parker's terrace next door, so reservations are essential at sunset. Aperitivo from 18:00 is the cheapest way in.
Aemilia Hotel Rooftop ★ 4.1 · Bologna
Mazzini · Via Zaccherini Alvisi 16, 40138 Bologna
The Aemilia Hotel rooftop runs from the seventh floor of the Savhotel on Via Zaccherini Alvisi, a wide terrace with a lounge corner and a panorama that takes in San Luca, the Two Towers and the eastern university quarter beyond Porta San Vitale.
Tip: The hotel sits a 10 minute walk east of the centre; the terrace is quieter than the central hotels and the cocktail list runs cheaper. Sunset over San Luca is the time slot.
Vesuvio Roof Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.0 · Naples
Forcella · Piazza Garibaldi 9, 80142 Napoli
Vesuvio Roof crowns UNAHOTELS Napoli on Piazza Garibaldi with a wraparound terrace pointed across the city to Vesuvius, with a Neapolitan and Mediterranean kitchen alongside a sunset bar programme that fills as the trains rumble in below.
Tip: Aperitivo from 18:30; the hotel sits next to Napoli Centrale so it works as a stop before a late train. The terrace is the seat to get for the Vesuvius sightline.