A rooftop drink at sunset is one of travel’s simple pleasures, but too many rooftop bars charge $18 for a cocktail that costs $3 to make. These bars deliver the view without the markup — most serve a drink for $3-7 and welcome travelers who are not dressed for a nightclub.
Sky Bar at Labadi Beach Hotel — Accra, Ghana
This rooftop bar overlooks Labadi Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. A local beer (Club or Star) costs $2.50. The chicken kebabs from the grill are $3. Sunset here, with the fishing boats returning to shore, is one of West Africa’s best free shows. Arrive by 4:30pm to secure a table at the railing.
360 Istanbul — Istanbul, Turkey
Located on the top floor of a 19th-century apartment building on Istiklal Street, 360 Istanbul offers a 270-degree panorama of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, and the old city. During happy hour (5-7pm daily), local Efes beer is $4 and house wine is $5. The view includes the Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, and the Bosphorus Bridge — sights that restaurants in Sultanahmet charge triple to see.
Sky Lounge at the Golden Buddha Hotel — Vientiane, Laos
You would never expect a rooftop bar this good at a mid-range hotel in Laos. Beerlao costs $1.50. The view looks over the Mekong River toward Thailand, and the sunset turns the water gold-orange. There is no dress code, no minimum spend, and the staff let you sit for two hours with a single drink.
El Mirador — Granada, Nicaragua
The name is not creative, but the view is: the entire city of Granada, with Lake Nicaragua stretching beyond it and the Mombacho Volcano rising in the distance. A Toña beer costs $1.50. The bar is on the roof of a small hotel near the central plaza. Go for sunset and stay until the city lights come on.
Terrace Bar at the Rex Hotel — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
This rooftop bar has history — it was the site of the daily press briefings during the Vietnam War, known as the “Five O’Clock Follies.” Today it serves Saigon Beer for $3 and cocktails for $5. The view overlooks Nguyen Hue Walking Street and the Bitexco Tower. A live band plays most evenings. It is touristy, but the price is honest and the history is real.
Korzo Roof Terrace — Budapest, Hungary
Budapest has no shortage of ruin bars, but the rooftop scene is equally good and less crowded. Korzo, atop a restaurant on the Pest side of the Danube, looks directly at Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge. A pint of Dreher beer costs €2.50 ($2.70). During the week, happy hour runs until 7pm with cocktails at €4.
