Watch the clouds roll by while sipping something strong and unforgettable.
Nothing flips your perspective like sipping a cocktail above the clouds, peering out over mountains, city skylines, or endless desert horizons. There’s a strange thrill in the altitude—the air feels thinner, the views more surreal, and every drink somehow tastes more earned. These are the places where the scenery becomes a silent partner in your conversation, and the atmosphere makes every moment feel cinematic.
These high-altitude hotel bars aren’t just about elevation—they’re about experience. One minute you’re navigating a winding mountain road or a bustling elevator ride, and the next, you’re leaning on a sleek bar with a world-class drink in hand. Some offer polished luxury, others wild terrain—but all deliver views that stop you mid-sip. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to drink in the sky, here are the bars that bring that fantasy to life.
1. You’ll feel on top of the world at Ozone in Hong Kong.
Sitting on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Ozone is one of the highest bars on the planet. The view is an electric sprawl of Hong Kong’s skyline, made even more dazzling by the light show across Victoria Harbour each night. It’s the kind of place where the sky blends into your cocktail, and the city looks like a futuristic dream, according to the writers at Conde Naste.
The bar’s interior is just as surreal—blue neon glow, geometric shapes, and a moody ambiance that makes every corner photo-worthy. Signature drinks come with unexpected flavors and bold presentations, pairing perfectly with the sky-high vibe. The crowd is a stylish mix of locals, tourists, and business types decompressing with a drink and a view that’s hard to beat.
2. The cocktail hits different at La Paz’s Luna Bar.
Bolivia’s capital sits at over 11,000 feet, and the bar at Stannum Boutique Hotel doesn’t let you forget it, as stated by the writers at Steppes Travel. Luna Bar offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes, especially at sunset when the rugged peaks catch fire with color. It’s cozy and contemporary, offering both indoor lounges and outdoor terraces for those feeling brave enough to face the chill.
Because of the high altitude, alcohol tends to hit a little harder—so sipping slowly becomes part of the charm. The drinks here lean classic with a local twist, like pisco sours made with Bolivian singani. You’ll find travelers swapping stories between gulps of mountain air, with the entire city stretching below like a tapestry.
3. You’ll swear Paris shrank at Terrass’’ Hotel Montmartre.
Paris has no shortage of rooftop bars, but Terrass’’ Hotel in Montmartre offers something quieter, more romantic, and way above the usual tourist chaos. Perched seven stories high, the bar isn’t the tallest—but the view of the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur makes it unforgettable. When the lights come on after dark, it feels like you’ve stumbled into a scene from a vintage film.
The vibe here is soft jazz, plush seating, and bartenders who know how to mix a mean negroni. The crowd is equal parts in-the-know locals and lovebirds looking for that postcard-perfect evening. Grab a cozy corner, watch the city flicker below, and toast to timeless Paris with something sparkling.
4. There’s nowhere like the Altitude Bar in Queenstown, New Zealand.
This bar earns its name in every sense. Surrounded by the snow-capped Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu, Altitude Bar offers a rare combo of adrenaline and serenity. It’s not perched on a skyscraper—it’s embedded in the adventure capital of New Zealand, where paragliders glide past your window and the wind carries the scent of pine.
The drinks match the vibe—strong, straightforward, and great after a day of bungee jumping or trail hiking. Think local wines, crisp beers, and cocktails with mountain herbs and fresh citrus. If you catch it on a clear day, the view is almost too good—people have been known to sit in silence, just taking it all in with a drink in hand.
5. You’ll feel royal at 360 Istanbul atop the historic Misir Apartment.
This rooftop bar fuses East and West, offering panoramic views over the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, and Istanbul’s sprawl of minarets and domes. As the call to prayer echoes through the city below, 360 Istanbul becomes a dreamy perch to sip something chilled and watch the city glow gold in the late afternoon light.
The menu is full of bold, flavorful cocktails with Mediterranean flair—think fig-infused gin or pomegranate martinis. The bar turns up the energy as the night unfolds, with DJs, dancers, and a crowd that always seems ready for one more round. The city feels endless from up here, and your table becomes the best seat in the Ottoman Empire.
6. Your inner Bond villain will thrive at Sky Bar Bangkok.
This place is pure drama. Suspended 63 floors above the city, Sky Bar clings to the edge of the State Tower, famous for its appearance in The Hangover Part II. The glowing circular bar juts out into open air, with nothing but glass rails between you and Bangkok’s sprawl of blinking lights.
Every drink here is an event. The signature Hangovertini, a vodka-green tea-lime concoction, is a cheeky nod to the bar’s movie fame. The dress code is strict, but the view is pure chaos in the best way—skyline, river, traffic, and the occasional tropical storm rolling past in the distance. It’s sensory overload with a splash of vermouth.
7. You’ll forget you’re in a desert at Sky Lounge in Dubai.
Perched on the 24th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel, Sky Lounge gives you a front-row seat to the Burj Khalifa and a glittering desert city that feels like it was built on another planet. At night, the skyline glows like a computer chip, and everything below seems impossibly neat and distant.
Drinks are elegant and expensive, but the presentation and view make it all worth it. Think smoked cocktails served under glass cloches, champagne with gold flakes, and bartenders who move like dancers. It’s a place to splurge, savor, and let the surreal nature of Dubai wash over you in waves of luxury.
8. You’ll lose track of time at Top of the World in Las Vegas.
Located inside The STRAT Hotel, this bar spins—literally. It rotates 360 degrees every 80 minutes, giving you a full panoramic view of the Las Vegas Valley and the surrounding desert mountains. It’s a strange blend of kitsch and class, with neon casinos below and soft jazz piped in as your table slowly glides past the view.
The drinks here play with over-the-top Vegas flair—martinis as big as your head, or flashy concoctions with dry ice fog and glittering garnishes. But what really sells it is the contrast: a spinning calm in the middle of Sin City madness. Grab a drink, lean back, and let the Strip swirl by.
9. The air feels cleaner at Clouds in Zurich.
On the 35th floor of Prime Tower, Clouds offers a sleek, minimalist bar experience that screams Swiss precision. The view stretches over Zurich’s rooftops, the Limmat River, and out toward snow-covered Alpine peaks. On a clear day, it’s like a window into every season—urban cool below and crisp mountain magic in the distance.
The cocktail list is clean and clever, with a strong focus on local spirits and ingredients. You might find a twist on a negroni with Swiss gin or a refreshing elderflower spritz. The vibe is calm and quiet—less party, more sanctuary. You come here to think, sip slowly, and watch the clouds roll through the glass.