Miami's hotel rooftops come in two kinds: decks on Collins Avenue looking out over the Atlantic, and high-rise bars in Brickell looking back at the skyline and the bay. These five, two on the beach and three in Brickell, are worth planning an evening around.
How we selected these hotels
We looked for three things in each hotel.
- A bar on the roof or a top-floor deck.
- A cocktail menu.
- Views that justify the trip up.
One catch: The Upside at Moxy Miami South Beach is open to hotel guests and private events only, so it's worth it only if you're staying there.
Hotels where the rooftop is a small terrace attached to a gym or a single bar cart did not make the cut.
Rooftop bar hotels in Miami at a glance
| Hotel | Neighborhood | Star rating | Rooftop venue | Guest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hotel South Beach | Mid-Beach, Collins Avenue | 5 | Watr at the 1 | 9.2 |
| Moxy Miami South Beach | South Beach, Washington Avenue | 3 | The Upside (8th floor, guests and private events) | 8.8 |
| EAST Miami | Brickell | 5 | Sugar (40th floor) | 8.6 |
| W Miami | Brickell | 5 | TULUM Rooftop Bar & Restaurant | 8.2 |
| SLS LUX Brickell | Brickell | 5 | Altitude (9th-floor pool deck) | 8.4 |
Planning your rooftop visit
- Miami Beach: Crowds peak on Friday and Saturday nights. Book reservations at least 48 hours in advance.
- Brickell (W Miami, EAST Miami, SLS LUX Brickell): Thursday evenings can be as busy as Saturday thanks to the after-work crowd.
- Seasonal hours: Most Miami rooftop venues shift their hours between summer and winter seasons. Check each hotel's website before you go.
- Dress code: Several venues enforce a dress code after 9 p.m. Smart casual is the minimum; athletic wear is turned away at most.
Rooftop bars in Miami: what sets these five apart
Miami's rooftop bar scene splits into two geographic clusters. On Miami Beach, the rooftops look east over the Atlantic. Brickell rooftops face west and north, giving you the downtown skyline and Biscayne Bay at dusk.
1 Hotel South Beach at 2341 Collins Avenue runs Watr, a full-service rooftop restaurant and bar with a menu built around sustainable seafood. The deck is on the 18th floor and looks directly over the Atlantic.
Moxy Miami South Beach at 915 Washington Avenue has The Upside on its eighth floor, with a pool, an outdoor movie screening area and views of the ocean, South Beach and the downtown skyline. It's open to hotel guests and private events.
EAST Miami at 788 Brickell Plaza runs Sugar on its 40th floor, a garden bar with original cocktails, Asian-inspired share plates and views over Biscayne Bay and the skyline.
W Miami at 485 Brickell Avenue puts TULUM Rooftop Bar & Restaurant on its 15th floor, with views over Biscayne Bay.
SLS LUX Brickell at 805 South Miami Avenue has Altitude, a pool bar on its ninth-floor deck with cabanas, food and views of the downtown skyline. It's open in the daytime, so plan it for an afternoon rather than a night out. We have a separate page for hotels with pools in Miami if the pool itself is your priority.
The hotels
1 Hotel South Beach
2341 Collins Avenue
9.21,864 reviews
Watr at the 1: rooftop restaurant and bar on the 18th floor with direct Atlantic Ocean views.
View hotel →
Moxy Miami South Beach
915 Washington Avenue
8.81,286 reviews
The Upside: an eighth-floor rooftop bar with a pool and views of the ocean and skyline, open to hotel guests and private events.
View hotel →
EAST Miami
788 Brickell Plaza
8.64,053 reviews
Sugar: a 40th-floor rooftop bar and garden with cocktails, Asian-inspired share plates and views over Biscayne Bay.
View hotel →
W Miami
485 Brickell Avenue
8.2250 reviews
TULUM Rooftop Bar & Restaurant is on the 15th floor, with views over Biscayne Bay.
View hotel →
SLS LUX Brickell
805 South Miami Avenue
8.4515 reviews
Altitude: a ninth-floor rooftop pool bar with cabanas, food and downtown skyline views, open daytime hours.
View hotel →
Frequently asked questions
Which Miami hotel has the best rooftop bar for ocean views?＋
1 Hotel South Beach at 2341 Collins Avenue gives you the most direct Atlantic Ocean view from a rooftop bar on this list. Watr at the 1 is at the 18th-floor level and faces east over open water.
Which rooftop bar hotel in Miami is best for a Brickell skyline view?＋
W Miami at 485 Brickell Avenue is the pick for a downtown skyline view. TULUM Rooftop Bar & Restaurant is on the 15th floor, with views over Biscayne Bay. Fifth Street Metromover station is about a 3-minute walk from the hotel.
Do Miami rooftop bars require reservations?＋
Most of the venues on this list recommend or require reservations, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings during the winter high season. Check the hotel's website before you go.
Are Miami rooftop bars open year-round?＋
Sugar at EAST Miami lists hours every day of the week, and Altitude at SLS LUX Brickell opens daily. Hours and programming shift between summer and winter, so check each hotel's website before you go.
Which rooftop bar hotel on this list is the most accessible by public transit?＋
The three Brickell hotels. EAST Miami is in Brickell City Centre, which has its own Metromover station, and SLS LUX Brickell and W Miami are each about a 3-minute walk from one. The Metromover connects to Metrorail at Brickell and Government Center. On Miami Beach, Route 100 stops within a 2-minute walk of 1 Hotel South Beach and Moxy Miami South Beach.
Which rooftop bar on this list is the highest?＋
Sugar at EAST Miami, on the 40th floor at 788 Brickell Plaza, is the highest on this list. It's a garden bar with original cocktails, Asian-inspired share plates and views over Biscayne Bay and the skyline.
