Summer time in Las Vegas means tis the season for rooftop bars!

There’s nothing quite as beautiful when you’re sipping a cocktail and overlooking the Las Vegas strip.

According to Liquor.com, some of the most popular cocktails right now are espresso martinis tequila, mocking birds (tequila, watermelon, fresh lime juice, and jalapeño), rositas (essentially a tequila negroni), Aperol Spritzs and colletti royales (tequila reposado, triple sec, elderflower liqueur, blood orange juice, lime juice).

Add a rooftop and a city skyline to this equation of tasty, sparkly cocktails, and you’ll get an amazing night.

With that being said, the history of rooftops, bars and happy hours is actually an interesting story.

According to Bloomberg News, the origin of the now-popular roof top bar stems from the 1880s. Rudolph Aronson was a New York conductor and musician. He took a trip to Europe and saw urban gardens performing music or theater acts, which attracted a pretty substantial audience.

Upon arriving back to New York, Aronson recreated the situation he saw in Europe. Except, he added a little twist. Instead of creating an urban garden on the street, he created a “Moorish-styles Casino Theatre” on his roof.

Due to no air conditioning, theaters often were excruciatingly hot and unbearable to sit through.  Aronson’s rooftop-style theater became an escape for many people, offering a little “staycation” for those who wanted to escape the stuffy city for a few hours, and it was far less hot on the roofs. These rooftop theaters became bigger and better as the money started pouring in.

People came to these rooftop spots to “let loose” with dances such as “The Roof Garden Two-Step” becoming popular in 1885. As time went on, the idea of “tall apartment” buildings became a symbol of class and economic status. If you could afford to live, party, etc. with an apartment building with an elevator then you were deemed as wealthy.

“The crowded city no longer separated its rich and poor laterally by neighborhood,” Bloomberg states in the article.

After a few dips and upticks in popularity, the modern-day rooftop emerged as a vision from excited developers. Rooftops started to become neoclassical city hall with lush gardens, dwindling real estate on the “street level” of cities also created more innovation when it came to rooftop design.

The vision of Aronson’s original rooftop bar isn’t far off from what we see today. Currently, we have tons of beautiful rooftop bars in Las Vegas that offer entertainment, amazing cuisine and craft cocktails that allows people to escape from their everyday cacophony of noise, family, bills, money and more.

Now, rooftop bars are a staple when it comes to celebrations, brunch with loved ones or a night on the town. We love our rooftop bars in Las Vegas because it’s simply a luxurious feeling to drink cocktails while looking at the beautiful glittering light of Sin City.

Below are some of our favorite rooftop bars in Las Vegas that will make you feel like you’re entranced in a different world.

  • Taverna Costera

    Address: 1031 S Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

    Taverna Costera is located right in the heart of the Arts District. From having delicious food, a little coffee shop and beautiful art, this downtown gem is perfect for any night out. The rooftop is beautiful, and they have live bands playing frequently.

    Taverna Costera

    Taverna Costera® is the flagship full-service casual fine dining experience. Coastal Mediterranean fusion is the theme, drawing inspiration from coastal Spanish, French, Italian, and Greek cuisines and beyond - there are, after all, 21 countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Merchant Logo ZAI Nightlife - Las Vegas

    Address: 700 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

    ZAI is an open-air nightclub and bar near Fremont Street. The property has gone through a couple of facelifts and name changes. But, the most recent venture infuses gastronomy, Latin American flavors and artistic flairs to create an unforgettable experience in Las Vegas. The bar and cuisine is tasty. During the weekends, the rooftop gets electrified with people dancing and having fun.

    Nightclub | Rooftop Bar | Private Event Space | ZAI Vegas

    Perfect for unforgettable nights out, private parties, and special occasions. Join us at ZAI Vegas where every night is a celebration.

  • Legacy Club

    Address: Located inside of the Circa Resort & Casino

    The Legacy Club is the epitome of Las Vegas luxury. The view from the top of Circa Resort & Casino is utterly breathtaking. It’s the perfect cocktail lounge for a date, celebration, special occasion, etc. Getting a reservation during sunset is also worth it. The glow of orange and yellow covering the city while the sun sets into the horizon is a spectacle that everyone should experience.

    Legacy Club™ Rooftop Cocktails | Circa Resort & Casino Las Vegas

    Inspired by Las Vegas' founding fathers, this elegant rooftop lounge gives a panoramic view of the downtown skyline. Come experience it for yourself.

  • Foundation Room

    Address: Located inside Mandalay Bay

    Another Las Vegas staple that made the list, the Foundation Room is iconic in history and clientele. The environment is luxurious, and the food is delicious. Some of the highlighted menu items include Skuna Bay Salmon, Korean Fried Chicken, bao buns, fresh market fish and more. 

    Foundation Room - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

    Elevate your dining experience with fresh seafood and comfort dishes at the Foundation Room restaurant, located on the 63rd floor of Mandalay Bay Resort.

  • Beer Park

    Address: Located inside of The Paris Las Vegas

    If you’re looking for a more casual rooftop experience then check out Beer Park. It overlooks the major “tourist” hot spots of Las Vegas like the Bellagio Fountains. Instead of cocktails, this bar focuses on craft beers, elevated traditional bar food and a fun atmosphere that’s perfect during sports games.

    BEER PARK | Paris Las Vegas

    Fun & Games in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Play Games. Watch Games. Socialize. People-Watch. Fun atmosphere, great food & drinks. Lots of cold beer...

  • Commonwealth

    Address:  525 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

    Another fixture in Downtown Las Vegas, Commonwealth is a popular spot among college students and younger tourist, who are looking for an energetic bar that’s perfect for a night of club hopping. According to the bar’s website, they mostly play hip-hop and open format music.

    COMMONWEALTH

    A swanky two-story cocktail bar with a rooftop dance floor overlooking Fremont Street's iconic neon landscape, Commonwealth has anchored the Downtown Las Vegas entertainment district since 2012 with world class hip-hop and open format DJs. Hidden inside is The Laundry Room, an internationally acclaimed speakeasy with limited seating and a menu of exceptional craft cocktails.

  • We All Scream

    Address: 517 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

    This bar is also an ice scream shop that features DJs, art and more. ‘The rooftop features a custom ice cream cone-shaped DJ booth and 360-degree views of downtown,” the bar’s website states.

    WE ALL SCREAM

    No Description

  • Downtown Terrace Kitchen & Bar

    Address: 707 E Fremont St Suite 1170, Las Vegas, NV 89101 in Downtown’s Container Park 

    This rooftop kitchen and bar offers a different ambience compared to the other bars in Downtown Las Vegas. This rooftop is more of a lounge than a jumpy dance club. It’s located in Container Park, so it’s slightly separated from the business of Downtown.

    Home - Downtown Terrace Kitchen & Bar

    Online Ordering - Place your order online for delivery or carryout. Downtown Terrace is a full service restaurant experience featuring a sophisticated, shareable menu and bird's eye view of live music and entertainment. Our light and seasonal farm fresh dishes are complemented by a lush ambiance, featuring a signature palette of pomegranate and canary.

  • BrewDogs

    Address: 3767 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109′

    From rotating guest breweries, an in-house microbrewery and over 30 beers available on top, this is two stories of heaven for any beer lover. The view is great and gives guests a full view of the Las Vegas Strip.

    Las Vegas

    Featuring two floors of craft beer paradise, featuring a rooftop bar with the best views of the strip, restaurant, games area and microbrewery. Every Wings Wednesday, get bottomless wings. And of course, we're family and dog friendly.

  • GhostBar

    Adress: Palms Casino Resort

    When the Palms shuttered its doors, many of us were sad that the GhostBar closed alongside it. However, after the Palms re-opened, we were elated to see the GhostBar making a comeback! This rooftop bar over looks the city, and it’s an iconic venue for many Las Vegas parties, celebrations and celebrity appearances.

    Ghostbar

    From the Red Rocks to the west to Downtown Las Vegas in the north to the famed Las Vegas Strip in the east to the new Allegiant Stadium in the south, there is literally no point in the city that is not visible from Ghostbar.

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