The Rooftops to Make You Feel Majestic This Summer

This article was originally published in International

Hot hot heat and relaxed vibes are the keys to a feel-good summer—a especially in a rooftop setting. Nothing makes you feel more powerful than looking down at the city from way up in the sky. We’ve got the must-go summer addresses for sipping a refreshing cocktail and feeling like urban royalty.

Le Perchoir (Paris)
This bar/restaurant was one of the very first to conquer the heights of Pah-ree. At the top of a former industrial building, you can order a cocktail or chilled wine--while drinking in the city from 360 degrees. Views from on high have become Le Perchoir’s calling card: they have other great outposts in the Marais (at the top of the BHV department store) and in the west of the city (in the 16th arrondissement). This summer, they’ve also inaugurated a roost atop the Gare de l’Est, with pillowed seats spread before the train station’s epic vintage glass partition.

Queen of Hoxton (London)
The Queen of Hoxton is in the East End, a.k.a. the local playground for hedonists. The bar features an inventive cocktail list, and their roof terrace hosts activities like a Film Club (Spice World and Die Hard are on the agenda this year) as well as a Botanical Drawing Club (time to get those hydrangeas right once and for all). In the performance space, acts like Django Django, Gold Panda, Caribou, and Todd Terje have been known to take the stage. A good time in the heart of Shoreditch is easy, but it’s way better when backgrounded by the skyline.

The Refinery Rooftop (New York)
This rooftop features dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline—you would expect nothing less, naturally, when your neighbor is literally the Empire State Building. Down below, midtown is a crowded mess—but from above, the enticing power of Gotham becomes crystal clear. An indoor-outdoor patio with a retractable glass roof is equipped for all-weather fun. The cocktail list brings together refreshing recipes of all-natural ingredients, accompanied by New American cuisine and live DJs and jazz performers.

Cocktails and clouds, happy hours in the highest heights—that certainly deserves a “cheers.”