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A bustling rooftop seating area with wooden tables covered by umbrellas. Lights are strung above the tables, and there’s a glimpse of the sky beyond.
Enjoy Vietnamese dishes on a rooftop nestled above the neighborhood at Monsoon’s Capitol Hill location.
Geoffrey Smith

Stunning Seattle Rooftops for Views, Drinks, and Food

The city has plenty of great rooftop bars and restaurants

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Enjoy Vietnamese dishes on a rooftop nestled above the neighborhood at Monsoon’s Capitol Hill location.
| Geoffrey Smith

Summer might be winding down, but there’s still time to enjoy drinking and dining outdoors. In addition to restaurants with great patio areas, there’s plentiful options for rooftop dining as well. Enjoy a cocktail, birria tacos, or the freshest summer seafood catch, while drinking in the views of Puget Sound, Lake Washington, or simply high away from the neighborhood din. From French restaurant Maximilien’s iconic perch above Pike Place Market to MBar’s sleek rooftop at South Lake Union to fire pits and games at Frolik, all of these restaurants and bars offer superb dining experiences.

These rooftop seating areas are popular, so making a reservation beforehand is highly encouraged. Note that some of these spots may close during inclement weather.

As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically from west to east.

Know of a restaurant that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com.

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Rooftop Brewing Company

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As the name suggests, this Queen Anne brewery’s space is made for outdoor imbibing. The rooftop patio is outfitted with picnic tables, ideal for a few rounds with friends over board games (dogs and kids are allowed, too). In cold weather, heaters and blankets are provided. The brewery itself has limited food selections, but food trucks are in regular rotation here.

The Pink Door

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The Pink Door is one of Pike Place Market’s gems, and the rooftop at this Italian restaurant provides a view of the Great Wheel and the Puget Sound. The menu offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Summer offerings include King Salmon and halibut dishes. Making a reservation is the best bet to secure a seat on the rooftop, which closes during inclement weather.

The Nest Rooftop Bar

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This downtown hotel’s rooftop bar, easily accessible from Pike Place Market, overlooks the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains and was taken over by “Chopped” winner chef Kaleena Bliss, who also runs the Conversation Seattle restaurant downstairs, when it reopened after being closed for part of the pandemic. A 3,500-square-foot lounge offers table and bar seating, indoor and outdoor space, and floor-to-ceiling windows to emphasize the view even from inside. Small plates are complemented by classic cocktails, such as sidecars.

Maximilien Restaurant

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Come for the French fare, and stay to enjoy spectacular views at Maximilien’s rooftop seating area. Enjoy attentive service, escargot, seafood platters, steak frites, and other specialties. During winter months, Maximilien brings out its ‘Le Igloo’ experience — clear, dome-shaped pods that shelter small parties on the rooftop.

Tables and chairs are arranged on a rooftop seating area overlooking the Great Wheel. Green umbrellas offer some shade over each table.
French restaurant Maximilien offers spectacular views of the downtown waterfront on its rooftop seating area.
Jim Osgood

Fog Room

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Atop the Charter Hotel, Fog Room brings views of downtown center stage. Guests can scope out the Great Wheel, and peek at the waterfront while sipping a fantastic rotation of terrific cocktails (including a selection of high balls) and choosing from a well-executed food menu featuring charcuterie boards, oysters, lobster rolls, and steak. Fog Room is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, and reservations are required.

Frolik Kitchen and Cocktails

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This bar and restaurant, located on the roof of the Motif hotel downtown, has a comfortable patio with fire pits, lawn games, and ample seating. The food menu includes snacks like charcuterie and nachos, and current entrees include pan seared halibut and burgers. There’s also an extensive craft cocktail list. Frolik’s rooftop curling (on synthetic ice) will return in the fall.

Sporting a rooftop patio with views of Lake Union, the Space Needle — and myriad cranes soaring above the booming SLU neighborhood — Mbar is a truly epic spot to soak up the sun. It’s even more memorable with a robust Levantine menu with dishes like smoked eggplant croquettes, muhammara, falafel, and grilled lamb chops from the same restaurant group that owns Mamnoon, as well as some potent cocktails. A special “sunset series” featuring DJs adds to the vibe from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, now until Labor Day weekend.

Terra Plata

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At this Capitol Hill restaurant from respected chef Tamara Murphy, dishes like paella and roast pig shine alongside a robust list of cocktails, excellent for enjoying outside on the covered and heated roof deck. Diners who choose to hang out there are surrounded by Murphy’s edible garden.

Mercado Luna

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Mercado Luna is a Capitol Hill destination that houses a few different Oaxacan dining experiences, including Patio Cielo, a patio in the sky, above Mercado. The rooftop bar is covered, and heated during colder months, and is currently open Thursday through Saturday. Fill up on birria tacos or burritos, while enjoying Mexican beer and wine selections. Patio Cielo also has a plentiful cocktail and Mezcal menu.

The Mountaineering Club

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This rooftop bar opened in 2019 on top of the Graduate hotel, offering some of the best views of Seattle from any bar or restaurant. The spirits and cocktail list is expansive, with good choices for Bourbon, Irish, Canadian, and Japanese whiskeys as well as brandy, tequila, gin, and rum; there’s also a list of house cocktails. The food menu includes appetizers as well as several sandwiches and entrees like baked lamb ziti, and a boil made with shrimp, corn, potato, and sausage served with bread. The Mountaineering Club also offers brunch on Sundays.

Monsoon Seattle

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The group behind Monsoon has several Vietnamese restaurants throughout Seattle, and the Capitol Hill location has a rooftop seating area that’s not to be missed. Currently open Wednesday through Sunday at 5 p.m., the rooftop is a perfect perch to get away from it all. Some summer selections from the menu include Ahi Tuna fresh rolls and pork belly. Sibling restaurants in South Lake Union and U Village also have outdoor patio seating.

Rooftop Brewing Company

As the name suggests, this Queen Anne brewery’s space is made for outdoor imbibing. The rooftop patio is outfitted with picnic tables, ideal for a few rounds with friends over board games (dogs and kids are allowed, too). In cold weather, heaters and blankets are provided. The brewery itself has limited food selections, but food trucks are in regular rotation here.

The Pink Door

The Pink Door is one of Pike Place Market’s gems, and the rooftop at this Italian restaurant provides a view of the Great Wheel and the Puget Sound. The menu offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Summer offerings include King Salmon and halibut dishes. Making a reservation is the best bet to secure a seat on the rooftop, which closes during inclement weather.

The Nest Rooftop Bar

This downtown hotel’s rooftop bar, easily accessible from Pike Place Market, overlooks the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains and was taken over by “Chopped” winner chef Kaleena Bliss, who also runs the Conversation Seattle restaurant downstairs, when it reopened after being closed for part of the pandemic. A 3,500-square-foot lounge offers table and bar seating, indoor and outdoor space, and floor-to-ceiling windows to emphasize the view even from inside. Small plates are complemented by classic cocktails, such as sidecars.

Maximilien Restaurant

Come for the French fare, and stay to enjoy spectacular views at Maximilien’s rooftop seating area. Enjoy attentive service, escargot, seafood platters, steak frites, and other specialties. During winter months, Maximilien brings out its ‘Le Igloo’ experience — clear, dome-shaped pods that shelter small parties on the rooftop.

Tables and chairs are arranged on a rooftop seating area overlooking the Great Wheel. Green umbrellas offer some shade over each table.
French restaurant Maximilien offers spectacular views of the downtown waterfront on its rooftop seating area.
Jim Osgood

Fog Room

Atop the Charter Hotel, Fog Room brings views of downtown center stage. Guests can scope out the Great Wheel, and peek at the waterfront while sipping a fantastic rotation of terrific cocktails (including a selection of high balls) and choosing from a well-executed food menu featuring charcuterie boards, oysters, lobster rolls, and steak. Fog Room is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, and reservations are required.

Frolik Kitchen and Cocktails

This bar and restaurant, located on the roof of the Motif hotel downtown, has a comfortable patio with fire pits, lawn games, and ample seating. The food menu includes snacks like charcuterie and nachos, and current entrees include pan seared halibut and burgers. There’s also an extensive craft cocktail list. Frolik’s rooftop curling (on synthetic ice) will return in the fall.

MBar

Sporting a rooftop patio with views of Lake Union, the Space Needle — and myriad cranes soaring above the booming SLU neighborhood — Mbar is a truly epic spot to soak up the sun. It’s even more memorable with a robust Levantine menu with dishes like smoked eggplant croquettes, muhammara, falafel, and grilled lamb chops from the same restaurant group that owns Mamnoon, as well as some potent cocktails. A special “sunset series” featuring DJs adds to the vibe from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, now until Labor Day weekend.

Terra Plata

At this Capitol Hill restaurant from respected chef Tamara Murphy, dishes like paella and roast pig shine alongside a robust list of cocktails, excellent for enjoying outside on the covered and heated roof deck. Diners who choose to hang out there are surrounded by Murphy’s edible garden.

Mercado Luna

Mercado Luna is a Capitol Hill destination that houses a few different Oaxacan dining experiences, including Patio Cielo, a patio in the sky, above Mercado. The rooftop bar is covered, and heated during colder months, and is currently open Thursday through Saturday. Fill up on birria tacos or burritos, while enjoying Mexican beer and wine selections. Patio Cielo also has a plentiful cocktail and Mezcal menu.

The Mountaineering Club

This rooftop bar opened in 2019 on top of the Graduate hotel, offering some of the best views of Seattle from any bar or restaurant. The spirits and cocktail list is expansive, with good choices for Bourbon, Irish, Canadian, and Japanese whiskeys as well as brandy, tequila, gin, and rum; there’s also a list of house cocktails. The food menu includes appetizers as well as several sandwiches and entrees like baked lamb ziti, and a boil made with shrimp, corn, potato, and sausage served with bread. The Mountaineering Club also offers brunch on Sundays.

Monsoon Seattle

The group behind Monsoon has several Vietnamese restaurants throughout Seattle, and the Capitol Hill location has a rooftop seating area that’s not to be missed. Currently open Wednesday through Sunday at 5 p.m., the rooftop is a perfect perch to get away from it all. Some summer selections from the menu include Ahi Tuna fresh rolls and pork belly. Sibling restaurants in South Lake Union and U Village also have outdoor patio seating.

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