Best Boston Rooftop Bars: 6 Spots for Skyline Views in 2026

Even though Boston boasts arctic level winter weather, I think a rooftop bar is probably the best way to see the Boston skyline any time of year. The best Boston rooftop bars can be summer only sun decks, or trendy, panoramic indoor or heated spots open year round. This guide covers six Boston rooftop bars and who each is best for. I saved my favorite for last.

Highest Rooftop Bar in Boston: Stratus at View Boston

Stratus is the highest rooftop bar in Boston, on the 51st floor of the Prudential Tower in Back Bay as part of the View Boston observatory. You do need a View Boston ticket to get in. The Sips & Sights ticket costs $48 plus a $3 booking fee and covers the indoor and outdoor observation decks and one beer, wine, or signature cocktail at Stratus. The bar has an indoor lounge and an open-air roof deck that wraps all the way around. Seating is first come, first served, with no reservations. The cocktail menu changes by season, and the fall list includes Boston-themed drinks like Autumn on the Common and Charlestown Chai.

What to Order: A seasonal signature cocktail out on the deck, and save a bit of money with the drink included in the Sips & Sights ticket.
Best If: You want the highest view of Boston and plan to see the observation decks anyway.
Skip If: You only want a drink. You pay for an observatory ticket before you order anything.

Largest Rooftop Bar in Boston: Rooftop@Revere

Rooftop@Revere is the largest rooftop lounge in Boston, on top of the Revere Hotel Boston Common between the Theater District and Back Bay. It’s decorated with couches and private cabanas facing the Back Bay skyline. The menu has cocktails, local beer, and New England bar bites. It’s seasonal and usually open from May to mid-September. Book through Resy, since capacity is limited on summer evenings. Cabanas seat up to eight people with a $60 per person food and drink minimum, so a full cabana means spending about $480 as a group.

What to Order: A cocktail and a few New England bites.
Best If: You’re celebrating with a group and want a cabana for the evening.
Skip If: You’re visiting between mid-September and May. The rooftop is closed for the season.

Best Seaport Rooftop in Boston: Rooftop at The Envoy

Rooftop at The Envoy hotel is in the Seaport area, overlooking Boston Harbor and the downtown skyline, with fire pits and covered seating for cool evenings. The bar serves great drinks, with house cocktails, local beer, and wine by the glass. They also have small plates and a lunch menu. The deck is open-air from May through October. From November through April, six heated igloos are put up on the deck, with each seating up to 10 people. I went at midday in the summer and had a few cocktails while enjoying a sunny day and the view from the couches. It was casual and not crowded at that hour.

What to Order: A cocktail from the bar to enjoy on the comfy couches in the afternoon.
Best If: You want a harbor view and a relaxed afternoon or evening drink at the Seaport.
Skip If: You’re only staying in Back Bay and not planning on visiting the Seaport area.

Best Year-Round Rooftop Restaurant in Boston: Contessa

Contessa is the best rooftop for dinner with a view. It’s in the Newbury hotel across from the Public Garden. Major Food Group, the New York team behind Carbone, runs it, and the menu offers elevated Italian trattoria cooking. The dining room has a glass roof and panels that slide open in warm weather, so it’s good for all seasons. The spicy lobster capellini is the signature dish. Dessert includes a Crema di Boston, which is a take on the Boston cream pie with vanilla custard, chocolate ganache, and ladyfingers.

What to Order: The spicy lobster capellini, then the Crema di Boston.
Best If: You want a rooftop dinner for a special occasion in any season.
Skip If: You want a casual open-air drink. This is a polished Italian dining room.

Best Sunset Rooftop in Boston: The Layover at Cunard Tavern

The Layover is a tropical rooftop bar on top of Cunard Tavern in East Boston’s Jeffries Point. The view looks back across the harbor to the downtown skyline, so the sun sets behind the city. The menu has tiki cocktails and island-inspired bites. A retractable awning and heat lamps keep the deck open year-round, and it’s three blocks from Maverick station on the Blue Line.

What to Order: A tiki cocktail at sunset, facing the skyline.
Best If: You want a skyline sunset and don’t mind a short trip to East Boston.
Skip If: You want to stay in Back Bay or downtown. This one means crossing under the harbor.

My Favorite Rooftop Bar in Boston: Bubble Bath at citizenM Back Bay

Bubble Bath is chef Tiffani Faison’s Champagne and wine bar on the 15th floor of the citizenM Boston Back Bay hotel on Newbury Street. It has an indoor bar and an outdoor patio, both facing the Back Bay skyline. Along with the Champagne and wine list, there’s a full cocktail menu and upscale snacks like a lobster roll and a caviar cart. To get up there, take the elevator to the second floor, then the next elevator to the roof. Or you can take the secret elevator behind the first set when you walk in from the street. That’ll take you straight up to the top.

🏆 My Personal Pick

This is the rooftop bar in Boston I recommend most. My wife and I went on a Wednesday at about 9pm, and it was very busy even midweek, but the service was exceptional. We had a dirty martini and a lemon drop, and both were made well. The bar is tight but swanky and has a perfect view over the Back Bay skyline. It’s my pick for a cocktail on a date night in Boston.

What to Order: Your favorite cocktail or a glass of Champagne since that’s one of their specialties.
Best If: You want well-made cocktails and a skyline view in Back Bay without buying a ticket or booking a cabana.
Skip If: You want a sprawling open-air deck like Rooftop@Revere.

Best Boston Rooftop Bars: What to Know Before You Go

A few things make a rooftop trip in Boston easier:

Plan Rooftop@Revere for May through mid-September, since it closes for the cold months.
Head to Bubble Bath, Contessa, Stratus, or The Layover in cold or wet weather, since all four have indoor or covered space.
Go to Rooftop at the Envoy from November through April if you want to sit outside, since the heated igloos are up for the winter.
Book Contessa and the Revere cabanas ahead, since both recommend reservations.
Arrive early at Stratus on summer evenings, since it doesn’t take reservations.
Time your visit for sunset if possible, that’s when you’ll get the best experience.
Bring an extra layer, since it can get chilly once the sun drops.

Boston Rooftops: FAQs

What is the best rooftop bar in Boston?

My pick is Bubble Bath on the 15th floor of citizenM Back Bay, for the cocktails and the Back Bay skyline view.
For the highest view, Stratus at View Boston is on the 51st floor of the Prudential Tower and is a bit more dramatic.
For a big summer scene with cabanas, Rooftop@Revere is the largest rooftop lounge in the city and can accomodate groups.

Which Boston hotels have rooftop bars?

Four of the rooftops on this list are at hotels, and all four are open to the public:

Bubble Bath at citizenM Boston Back Bay
Rooftop@Revere at the Revere Hotel Boston Common
Rooftop at The Envoy in the Seaport
Contessa at The Newbury Boston

Are there rooftop bars open in winter in Boston?

Yes. Bubble Bath, Contessa, and Stratus all have indoor space with a view, and The Layover has a retractable awning and heat lamps, so all four work year-round. Rooftop at The Envoy sets up six heated igloos from November through April, each seating up to 10 people. Rooftop@Revere is seasonal and closes for the winter.

Where to Stay in Boston: My Top Picks

citizenM Boston Back Bay is my favorite place to stay in Boston, with Bubble Bath on the roof. My wife and I love citizenM, and this one is on Newbury Street in the heart of everything.
citizenM Boston North Station is my pick for a game at TD Garden. It’s often way cheaper than other hotels in the city with a great view and location, even if it isn’t the best in the city. It’s a great value-to-comfort ratio.
Canopy by Hilton Boston Downtown is a trendy lifestyle hotel between Faneuil Hall and the North End, with free bikes for getting around the city.
Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District is the best option if you’re booking on points. It overlooks the Harborwalk and the Fish Pier in the Seaport, and breakfast is included.
The Lenox Hotel is the historic pick, a Back Bay hotel that opened in 1900 a short walk from Copley Square.

**citizenM Boston North Station also has an amazing view**

🍪 Final Bite

The best Boston rooftop bars can be open-air summer spots or more upscale indoor spaces with a view that work all year. Here’s where to go:

Buy a View Boston ticket and head up to Stratus for the highest view in the city.
Book a cabana at Rooftop@Revere for a summer evening with a group.
Grab a beer at Rooftop on top of The Envoy for a harbor view, or an igloo in winter.
Reserve a table at Contessa for spicy lobster capellini under a glass roof.
Cross to East Boston for a tiki cocktail and a skyline sunset at The Layover.
Order a dirty martini or glass of champagne at Bubble Bath, my favorite rooftop bar in Boston, for a fancy cocktail over the Back Bay skyline.

Found a Boston rooftop I missed? Tell me your top pick in the comments.

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