I love rooftop bars. Every new city I go to, I look on Yelp to see if I can find one (or more). I love the feeling of sitting outside with the limitless sky over my head. It really doesn’t matter if it’s a beautiful blue daylight sky or a star-covered night sky. I think both are equally beautiful and have a certain magic about them. When you’re outside relaxing and having a snack, dinner, and/or drinks and looking out over a cityscape, it gives you a completely different perspective and view of the world. Sometimes it can make you feel small and rather insignificant and other times it can give you the feeling that you could conquer the world. You look at the rooftops of the city below and it may be a very empowering moment for you. I know when I can sit at a table or on a bar stool far above the ground, relax and enjoy the atmosphere, it gives me a sense of calmness. It’s almost a Zen-like feeling. A feeling of wonder. The fact that I’m enjoying my dinner and drink al fresco while “floating” above a city or an ocean cliff…the location really doesn’t matter. Both hold a sense of wonder for me in different ways. Both are associated with a vastness that can take your breath away. Whether it’s the twinkling lights of the city or the swell of ocean waves hitting the rocky cliffs, both are equal in that they can evoke a feeling and sense of excitement.

An ocean setting is just plain nirvana. The sound of the waves crashing on the rocks, the smell of the ocean breeze, perhaps a margarita or a glass of Chablis with a plate of oysters on the half shell while enjoying the whole sensory experience. I’m recalling an outside rooftop bar in La Jolla, California. The view is always spectacular and the feeling it evokes in me, even now, brings me a sense of calm. If I close my eyes, I can recall the sensations. What better way to unwind?  You merely have to climb a staircase or step into an elevator and push the “magic” button!

Here’s a short history of the rooftop bar in America that I found interesting:

*“Some historians of high-altitude drinking peg the date of the dawn of rooftop drinking to 1890. That year, in New York City, saw the opening of a “roof garden” atop the Casino Theater, at Broadway and 39th Street. The theatre is remembered for changing American tastes by launching a small mania for dining, dancing, and drinking on high. The original Casino roof was designed as a place where patrons could sit for a time in the open air, drink cooling beverages and listen to music courtesy of a small orchestra.”

Rooftop bars/restaurants are some of the first locations I scout out when I go to a new city. If I’ve been to that city before, I go back to my favorite places again and again. It’s always fun to do the research and check out what the location has to offer. I’ve been to many rooftop bars in NYC, Charleston, San Diego, LA, Boston, Nashville, and in other cities I’ve visited.

I think it’s definitely worth investigating for yourself. The next time you go to a new city or even a city you’re familiar with, see if you can find a rooftop bar/restaurant to try! Sit out under a blue sky with wispy white clouds or under a starlit night sky and enjoy your favorite beverage and snack. See how it can change your perspective and attitude. Give yourself a few moments to enjoy the environment and your wonderful view. You never know…it may change your attitude by experiencing a new altitude! Check out a rooftop bar/restaurant you won’t be sorry.

Cheers!

*Imbibe magazine