A good view is a good view, but a good view with a cocktail in hand? Maybe some nice music, decent conversation and – dare we say – a warm summer evening? Unbeatable.
Europe is full of great rooftop bars that offer all that and more. We’ve got our own favourites – check out our ranking of the world’s best rooftop bars here – but a new study by digital signage company Mandoemedia has compiled data about 500 rooftop bars across the world, and ranked them based on the number of five-star Tripadvisor reviews and Instagram shares they’d received.
And claiming the top spot in Europe? It was Terraza La Isabela at the 1898 Hotel, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. The bar-restaurant was eleventh best in the world, but thanks to its stunning location and views, you can see why it beat out the rest on the continent.
La Isabela is on the building’s seventh floor, and boasts brilliant cocktail service, a swimming pool and even a solarium (a glass-covered area), all overlooking the La Rambla. And we know what an amazing spot that is – Time Out Market Barcelona is due to open around here soon, too.
Barcelona actually did pretty well overall. The Rooftop at Serras and the Pulitzer Terrace at the Pulitzer Hotel both also came in the top 50, while no other Spanish city made an appearance. London was the next best European destination, thanks to TT Liquor Bar claiming spot number 17.
As for the rest of the world, Mandomedia named Sky51 in Kuala Lumpur as the very best rooftop bar in the world, with Crudo Champagne in Bangkok claiming second and The Mithra Terrace in Türkiye claiming third.
At Time Out, we know our bars. Here are our favourite rooftop spots and your regular street-level options from all over the world.
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