12 beautiful rooftop bars in Berlin: Cool drinks, cooler views

Lots of people think Berlin is named for the bear that appears on its city flag, but that’s not true. Berl is in fact a slavic word for swamp and, since Berlin is built on swampland, its flat landscape doesn’t provide many panoramic views across the city. That’s why these hidden rooftop bars are so special. So where should you go to sit down with a cool drink and relax on top of the world?

Hotel de Rome

This is one to treat yourself: You don’t need to be a guest to enjoy the roof terrace of the luxurious Hotel de Rome. The roof offers plenty of space, you can sit on comfortable sofas and order champagne, cocktails and other drinks from the bar. There is a variety of food and beverage options – from sumptuous seafood platters and Japanese bento boxes to poke bowls, salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Rooftop terrace Hotel de Rome Behrenstraße 37, Mitte, Mon-Fri 15:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-20:00r, Tel. 030/46 06 09 12 70, online

Klunkerkranich

Klunkerkranich took over the rooftop level of the Neukölln Arcade carpark in 2013 and developed the “cultural roof garden”. This special place is emblematic of alternative Berlin. In addition to the green beer garden, there are two large bars with an indoor area and a dance floor. The small restaurant kitchen gets its ingredients directly from the raised garden beds scattered amongst the seating. When DJs are not playing, Klunkerkranich is also used for cultural events of all kinds: Readings, poetry slams, concerts and even markets take place on Neukölln’s most beautiful roof. The only drawback: if you want to watch the sunset here with a cool drink, every hipster and his dog has had the same idea already.

Klunkerkranich Karl-Marx-Strasse 66, Neukölln, Mon-Wed 18:00. to late, Thu-Sun 16:00 to late, online

Amano Hotel Bars

Berlin sunsets are best admired from the terrace of the Amano Hotel near Rosenthaler Platz. With a cool drink in hand, the Fernsehturm seems almost within reach from here. The comfortable lounge furniture and the unusual cocktail menu are very good reasons to visit; There are unique drinks here that you can’t get anywhere else in Berlin. If the bar on Auguststraße is already fully booked, don’t worry – there is also the wonderful roof terrace of the Apartment Bar of the sister hotel Amano Grand Central at Hauptbahnhof.

Amano Bar, Auguststraße 43, Mitte, Thu-Sat from 19:00
Apartment Bar Heidestraße 62, Mitte, Tue-Thu from 17:00, Fri-Sat from 21:00,
online

Hotel Zoe

Also a part of the Amano Group, Hotel Zoe at Hackescher Markt is gorgeous. During the summer months, the Zoe Rooftop Bar is not only for those who love a good rooftop, it’s also a watering hole for those who appreciate gin and tonic variations. With a cool drink in hand, we prefer to sunbake and watch the relaxed hustle and bustle at Hackescher Markt.

Rooftop terrace Hotel Zoe Große Präsidentenstraße 6-7, Mitte, daily from 17:00 (when the weather is good) online

Deck 5

Berlin by the sea? Not quite – but in Prenzlauer Berg you can at least put your feet in the sand. Ten tons of it transform the roof of the Schönhauser Allee Arkaden into one of the most unusual beach bars in Berlin, potentially the world. Weekly changing cocktail specials sweeten the visit, the soul food eatery provides changing highlights. The view over Berlin is the cherry on the cake of this unique experience.

Deck 5 Schönhauser Allee 79, Prenzlauer Berg, daily 14:00-24:000, online

Cloud One Bar

Even without an overnight stay in the hotel, you can sip a cool drink or two on the roof terrace. In this rooftop bar you get a really great panoramic view of Berlin. The sunsets with views of the Tiergarten, the Gedächtniskirche and the Siegessäule are unique. The bar specialises in gin, offering more than 50 different varieties and the right tonic water to go with each. The design of the One Lounge is influenced by the motto of the Design Hotel, “History of Film Theater”, accordingly, expect photos of movie stars, cameras and props.

Cloud One Bar at Motel One, Upper West Kantstraße 163-165, Charlottenburg, Sun-Thu 6:00-1:00, Fri+Sat 6:00-2:00, online

Monkey Bar

The best of all rooftop bars in Berlin? Maybe not, but definitely one of the most famous in the city. On the tenth floor of the 25-hours Hotel on Ku’damm, you can watch the monkeys relax in their enclosure while relaxing with a cool drink in hand. Israeli snacks come from the kitchen at Neni next door-think hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, and caramelized Basque cheesecake. The drink menu features classics as well as international creations from sister bars in Paris and London.

Monkey Bar Budapester Straße 40, Charlottenburg, Mon-Wed 18:00-1:00, Thu 18:00-2:00, Fri-Sat 13:00-2:00, Sun 13:00-1:00, online

260 Grad Bar

With its incredibly unique cocktail list, 260 Grad Bar on Mercedes Squarehas thoroughly earned its place on our list. From here you can watch beautiful sunsets, right on the Spree. Exciting tea cocktails, – served in teapots no less!- come from bar manager Nina Pechatsch. Asian snacks and sushi variations make the stay in this rooftop bar even more enjoyable. You can make yourself comfortable on leather-covered bar stools, on sofas and seat cushions. This area is start-up central, so after-work parties have established themselves on Thursdays and Fridays: Funk, soul, and house from a variety of DJs kick off the weekend here.

260 Grad Bar Mühlenstraße 1, Friedrichshain, Wed+Thu 17:00-0:00 Fri-Sat 17:00-0:00 Sun 17:00-23:00, online

Soho House Berlin

No list of rooftop bars in Berlin would be complete without the roof terrace of the private club Soho House. If a visit there does come up – and such opportunities do come up from time to time – you shouldn’t turn down the chance. The people swimming in the pool here are even cooler than the water, or at least they pretend to be. It can be difficult to get in, but still, the drinks are meticulously mixed and taste twice as good when you are surrounded by such spleandour and exclusivity

Soho House Torstraße 1, Prenzlauer Berg, online

Grace Rooftop Bar

The chic Grace Rooftop Bar at the Hotel Zoo is the place to go for hip West Berliners, newcomers and travelers. The bar’s focus: liquid classics from the 1920s and 1950s, prepared with in-house infusions and high-quality spirits. The rooftop bar has a lounge and a bar area, and the all-around glazing protects against the elements. Added to this is the unique, unobstructed panorama, making the whole experience very memorable.

Grace Rooftop Bar Kurfürstendamm 25, Charlottenburg, Wed-Sat from 18:00 online

Monbijou Hotel

The rooftop bar of the Monbijou Hotel is located in the heart of Berlin and offers a unique view . With the Fernsehturm in the background, you can enjoy the sun and sip cool cocktails. The 360-degree panoramic view features the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island. You can also overlook the Scheunenviertel and Hackescher Markt from here. DJs from London regularly play.

Dachterrasse des Mobijou Hotel Monbijouplatz 1, Mitte, daily from 16:00 online

Loft 14

On the 14th floor of the Vienna House Andel’s Berlin is the creatively named Loft 14, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Berlin. All of Berlin meets here: tourists from all over the world sit next to businessmen and women, hip grandmas and grandpas from Lichtenberg and start-up founders from Friedrichshain. The place has a real James Bond feeling. Special drinks are served from the fourteen-meter-long bar while you relax on a comfortable bar stool. Cozy seating areas and sofas make the pleasant weekend or after-work feeling perfect. Here, Berlin is at your feet.