The 20 Best Rooftop Restaurants in Seattle
Seattle is famous for its skyline. The city offers waterfront views, mountain vistas, and more. Some of the Emerald city’s best restaurants let you enjoy these views while you dine.
What are some of the best rooftop restaurants Seattle?
There are plenty of places that offer rooftop dining in Seattle, ranging from hotel bars to upscale eateries. These 20 restaurants have excellent views and are all great places to dine in Seattle.
1. Rooftop Brewing Company
Founded in 2012, the Rooftop Brewing Company was designed to be a place where people could come together. This craft brewery serves a wide range of artisan beers, with options like coffee porters and blood orange wheat beer on tap! The venue also serves wine and offer a range of non-alcoholic beverages, like cider and San Pelligrino.
While the Rooftop Brewing Company doesn’t have a food menu, it hosts a rotating food truck line-up, allowing patrons to sample foods from many Seattle eateries. The rooftop deck offers beautiful views of Ballad bridge and ships coming into the canal. It may be a brewery, but it’s also dog and kid-friendly, with chalkboards to keep young ones entertained.
2. The Nest Rooftop Bar
This elegant bar is located on the rooftop of Thompson hotel in downtown Seattle. The lounge offers breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and of Elliot Bay. While you relax and enjoy the views, you’ll be surrounded by greenery and beautiful modern decor.
While handcrafted cocktails are its specialty, it also serves gourmet food made from seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. Offerings can vary throughout the year, but options include grilled shrimp skewers and beef sliders. The venue is 21+, and reservations are strongly recommended.
3. Fog Room
Located above 2nd Avenue in Seattle’s downtown, this is one of the only rooftop lounges in the city that’s open year-round. While the venue has unique, elegant modern decor, the panoramic views of Puget Sound are the real star of the show. It’s known for its handcrafted cocktails as well as its small places.
In addition to its signature cocktails, Fog Room has rare offerings, such as limited-edition bourbons and imported whiskey. The food menu offers a range of options, like Campanella pasta and the popular fog burger, which is served with scotch onions and cheddar cheese. This venue is only open to patrons that are 21 or older.
4. Mbar
This rooftop establishment takes inspiration from both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine! Located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, Mbar is located on the 14th flood of the 400 Fairview building. The rooftop terrace spans over 2,800 square feet and offers indoor and outdoor seating.
On the menu, you’ll find an array of distinctive dishes, including duck breast with charred eggplant and vegetarian-friendly options, like a butternut squash soup served with tahini yogurt. There’s also a diverse selection of drinks to enjoy, including a sizable wine list and an excellent selection of craft cocktails. Happy Hour specials are available Sunday through Thursday.
5. The Pink Door
Ever since The Pink Door opened in 1981, it’s been a favorite of the Seattle locals. The rooftop terrace, which is open when temperatures are above 60 degrees, provides picture-perfect views of Elliot Bay. On the menu, you’ll find classic Italian dishes that incorporate seasonal ingredients, such as roasted pumpkin ravioli.
While plenty of people flock to The Pink Door for its food, the venue is also known for its live entertainment! You can see a wide assortment of acts here, including musicians, cabaret performers, and trapeze artists! If you’d like to enjoy a beverage along with your food, the restaurant also has an expansive wine list.
6. The Mountaineering Club
At The Mountaineering Club, you can get the experience of camping without wandering off into the wilderness. Located on the 16th floor of the Graduate hotel, this rustic rooftop lounge is decorated with antique mountaineering equipment! You’ll also find glorious views of Mount Rainer, Puget Sound, and downtown Seattle.
The menu is filled with elevated versions of campfire favorites, with dishes like potato chip nachos and bacon sandwiches. It’s also considered to be one of Seattle’s top spots for hot dogs! Anyone can dine here during the day, but after 6PM, the venue is only open to patrons 21 and older.
7. Terra Plata
Created by Tamara Murphy, a James Beard award winning chef, Terra Plata takes its inspiration from local, seasonal produce. In fact, the restaurant describes itself as an “Earth-to-table” restaurant. While the menu is constantly changing, sample dishes include roast pig served with manila claims and a New York steak with a pepper-spice crust.
On the building’s second floor, you’ll find a triangular rooftop deck with beautiful views of the city. At the edge of the deck is a garden filled with greenery. While you can enjoy large portions at this venue on any night of the week, Monday is paella night, while brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
8. Smith Tower Observatory Bar
You’ll find this elegant cocktail bar on the 35th floor of the world-renowned Smith Tower Observatory skyscraper, which was built in 1914. It has an open air deck that offers spectacular 360 degree views of the Seattle skyline. Inside, the decor makes the bar feel like a prohibition-era speakeasy.
The menu includes an array of delectable small plates, with offerings like rotating meat skewers and pork belly bao buns. As you might expect, it also has an impressive cocktail menu, including drinks made with barrel-aged liquors aged in-house. While this is a great place to visit on weekends, the venue also has weekday happy hour specials.
9. Maximilien Restaurant
Located in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market district, Maximilien is a French restaurant known for its romantic ambiance. Not only does the wraparound rooftop patio have an edible garden, but it also offers panoramic views of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains. You can also see the nearby pier, including the Ferris wheel.
The restaurant’s executive chef, Christian Potvin takes locally sourced ingredients and transforms them using traditional French cooking techniques. From hors d’oeuvres like baked escargot to entrees like seared pork tomahawk, you’ll find no shortage of delicious food on the menu. If you’re looking for a great date spot in Seattle, this restaurant is one of your best options.
10. Mercado Luna
This family-owned Mexican restaurant is home to multiple eateries, including the Patio Cielo rooftop bar. Located on the Capitol Hill venue’s 14th floor, the eatery offers spectacular views of the city. Patio hours are limited during the winter, but it has much longer hours in the spring and summer.
The restaurant has a large menu with many options for vegetarians, as well as a great selection of mescal drinks. Many ingredients are sourced from the owner’s extended family in Oaxaca, Mexico. While anyone can dine in the lower levels of the restaurant, the rooftop patio is only available to patrons 21 and up.
11. Monsoon
For more than 20 years, Seattle locals have enjoyed open-air dining at Monsoon. The charming Vietnamese restaurant is home to a rooftop terrace that sits just above the trees that line 19th Avenue. While parts of Capitol Hill are bustling with activity, this restaurant is in a quiet location.
This eatery rose to fame because of its distinctive menu, which includes dishes like drunken chicken as well as the restaurant’s signature catfish claypot. During warmer months, you can enjoy blended drinks from the frozen slushier machine. Monsoon also has a great selection of cocktails, beer, and wine.
12. Frolik Kitchen and Cocktails
This 4,000 square foot patio can be found on the 5th floor of the Motif hotel. It’s the perfect hangout spot, with features like fire pits, ping-pong tables, and gorgeous skyline views. While the upscale casual restaurant feels sleek and modern, it also has a playful ambiance.
The menu is inspired by local ingredients, with many dishes that include freshly-caught seafood and foraged mushrooms. They also offer plenty of options for both vegans and vegetarians. Some of the eatery’s most popular dishes are the Frolik Mac n’ Cheese and the Pan Seared Halibut.
13. Hook and Plow
This restaurant is located right on the waterfront, in Seattle’s Marriot hotel. It’s modeled after a gastropub and offers a wide assortment of beverages, ranging from local liquors and craft beers to artisanal wines.
Hook and Plow is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a menu that changes with the season. Dishes served include buttermilk chicken, flatbread pizzas, and NY strip steak. There’s also a large selection of fresh fish, with specials that change each day.
14. Altitude Sky Lounge
This newly opened rooftop bar is located on the 16th floor of the Astra hotel. If you’re looking for views of the Space Needle, you’ll find them here, along with excellent views of Lake Union. On the patio, you’ll find plush seating and gas firepits to keep you warm on chilly Seattle nights.
The wine list is large and varied, with plenty of local beers on draft. On the menu, you’ll discover all kinds of gourmet dishes, like duck liver mousse and pork and carrot rillette. They also offer Charcuterie boards in several different sizes.
15. Hard Rock Cafe
This rock-and-roll themed chain restaurant is a favorite of tourists, and the Seattle location is one that you won’t want to miss. Not only is it packed with music memorabilia, but the third-floor rooftop eatery offers fantastic views of Pike Place market.
This spacious terrace was made for relaxation, with comfortable sofas, lounge chairs, and even cabanas. It has a fire pit, as well as a winter season tent for the colder months of the year. On weekdays, it has live music happy hours, and on Sundays, it hosts drag brunch!
16. Flora Bakehouse
Many rooftop restaurants in Seattle offer dinner, but Flora Bakehouse is an amazing breakfast spot! Its rooftop deck has plenty of shade, but also includes spots where you can soak up the sun. You can enjoy coffee and fresh baked goods while you admire the view of Mount Rainer!
Everything served here is vegetarian, and they also offer vegan options, like the venue’s famous cinnamon rolls. If you’re not big on breakfast, they also have an evening menu that includes sandwiches, pizza, and soft-serve ice cream.
17. Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
Located in the Central Business District, this venue is home to a 30-foot wine tower! If you climb the spiral staircase to the top, you’ll reach the rooftop, which offers skyscraper views.
On the wine list, you’ll find more than 600 bottle selections. They also serve specialty cocktails. The menu uses locally sourced ingredients and offers dishes like truffle mac n’ cheese and grilled Spanish octopus.
18. The Loupe Lounge
The newly reopened Loupe Lounge is located in Seattle’s famous Space Needle, nearly 500 feet above the city. It offers panoramic views of Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and downtown Seattle.
One of the highlights of this venue is its revolving glass floor, which lets you see the ground below. The menu offers fresh seafood, cheeses, and an assortment of dessert options. Beverages include classic drinks and unique cocktails.
19. The Lookout Bar and Grill
When you dine on the outdoor garden terrace at The Lookout, you’ll feel like you’re in an adult-sized treehouse! Located on the north side of Capital Hill, this restaurant provides great views of the Space Needle.
On the menu, you’ll find classic pub food, including burgers and fish and chips. There are also plenty of vegan options. It’s a popular hangout spot, with karaoke nights and daily happy hour specials.
20. Ben Paris
This rooftop restaurant is named after Ben Paris, a Seattle entrepreneur who owned businesses throughout the city. It’s located in the State Hotel and is right alongside Pike Place Market.
The eatery offers a creative take on classic American dishes, with options like a burger made from Waygu beef. While anyone can dine at Ben Paris, the rooftop terrace is only open to hotel guests. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has happy hour specials on weekdays.
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