Screw Sea Level, Take Your Drinking & Dining Experience To New Heights
There is nothing, and we mean nothing, greater than a happy hour above sea level—an aerial aperitif, if you will. The air up there is just crisper and so, too, are the cocktails. And while we might not be rooftop-rich down here in Orange County, what we lack in quantity, we make up for in quality. From tree bars to city sights and ocean-view oases, these seven sky-high dining destinations will have you feeling like you’re on cloud nine.
Skyloft
From the people who brought you Mozambique comes Skyloft. Located right off of Main Beach in Laguna, Skyloft is a modern fusion of American cuisine set in an upscale, vibey setting. We recommend popping by the newly renovated Hotel Laguna for a quick cocktail before and then seeking higher ground at Skyloft to enjoy an incredible OC sunset. Hot tip: Skyloft offers BBQ plates smoked fresh daily, but there is a limited supply, so be sure to inquire to see if you can get your hands on one of their mélange of meats.
Location: Laguna Beach
Tanner’s
Situated snugly between Paséa Hotel & Spa and Pacific City in Huntington Beach is the wonderful world of the Tanner’s rooftop treehouse. It’s giving “Lion King” vibes, and we are here for it—hakuna matata-tequila. Speaking of, their margaritas are always money. Feeling sober curious? Their mocktails are also pretty magical, featuring a cucumber mint cooler, a pineapple passion and a raspberry refresher. Pair any of your drinks with their freshly baked herb focaccia, some crispy Brussels sprouts and the ricotta toast, and you’ll be good to go. Soak in the ocean views and that beautiful California breeze. This is also an excellent spot for a little pregame before popping over to The Bungalow next door.
Location: Huntington Beach
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Topside Bar at Lido House
Topside might be the trendiest rooftop in town. Touted as Newport Beach’s only rooftop bar, this hotspot located atop the Lido House Hotel attracts a casual but cool crowd and offers sweeping views of the Peninsula. They have a strict dress code of no tank tops or board shorts and encourage reservations to ensure they can seat your party. Only open Wednesday through Sunday, Topside is known for its snacks and sips like the signature Topside Margarita, which is garnished with a seasonal popsicle, their crispy jidori chicken skewers or the trio of dips: avocado spread, hummus and baba ghanoush. Other cocktails we love are the Time After Thyme, the Lady Guava and the Summer of Rum. Dress cute because this is the spot to get an iconic Instagram photo.
Location: Newport Beach
Mozambique
Mozambique is a Laguna Beach institution that has been serving up South African specials for nearly two decades. With happy hour seven days a week and sweeping views of Pearl Beach, Mozambique is the quintessential date-night spot guaranteed to get that sunset smooch. They bring the surf and the turf with dishes like fresh ceviche, seared scallops and signature steaks with a melody of sides. Pair your meal with live music offered Thursday through Sunday, and be sure to check out industry and locals night on Mondays, which means 50% off the entire menu all day. Fun fact: Mozambique also has a specialized Halal menu that highlights their Middle Eastern offerings.
Location: Laguna Beach
Hive & Honey
Hive & Honey, situated right down the road from the Irvine Spectrum, is all the buzz with their delicious drinks and shareable bites. Dragon wings? Delish. Sliders and skewers? Sign us up. Poke? Perfect. And their sweet treats are all absolute musts. Cinnamon rolls, housemade soft serve and The Mallow—oh my! Don’t even get us started on the signature cocktails. The Jungle Boogie is a tiki-lover’s dream, and the Hive Mind will have you feeling stranger things (see what we did there?). They have DJs on Fridays and Saturdays as well as Tiki Tinga Taco Tuesday and Rush Hour Thursday with steals and deals all day. Not to mention, the sunset views up here are pretty iconic.
Location: Irvine
The Fifth
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Anaheim is so much more than just Disney and Ducks. Tinkerbell ain’t got anything on the magic going down at The Fifth. They host events like mixology classes, DJ nights and themed weekdays featuring special cocktails like Tiki Tuesday and Whiskey Wednesdays on this rooftop. We recommend going for happy hour, which is from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, to catch the sunset (and the sliders). Don’t sleep on the ahi poke shells either. Oh, and you can see the Disney fireworks from up there, which is a way better vantage point than cramming yourself in with the masses at the theme park. When people ask us if this is our favorite rooftop bar in town, we plead The Fifth.
Location: Anaheim
Rooftop Lounge
Rooftop Lounge is the OG poke spot. They did poke before poke was cool, and we have to give credit where credit is due here. This place is a locally loved institution and sports one of the best ocean views in the OC. Sure, you’ve probably been there for a sunset sip, but have you ever experienced their weekend brunch? Everything comes with a side of salt air and it is *chefs kiss.* Can’t get to the Amalfi Coast this summer? No worries—just order the Rooftop Spritz and you’ll feel like you’re prancing around Positano. We also love the Island Old Fashioned and, of course, the poke.
Location: Laguna Beach
