You don’t have to wait for summer sunshine to relish an outdoor rooftop patio in the City. With outdoor heating technology, windscreens, fire pits, and outdoor heaters, we can enjoy drinks with a view year-round. Take in stunning views of the Bay at these rooftop bars in San Francisco.
Charmaine's, 45 McAllister Street, 0.5 miles from NEMA. Charmaine’s is perched 120 feet in the sky atop The Proper Hotel. The quirky and colorful interior bar is absolutely charming, but the Euro-meets-LA outdoor lounge with a wraparound terrace is why you’re there. The comfortable seating and copious amounts of fire pits create a “settle in and stay for a while,” vibe which is easy to do once you start sipping the tasty cocktails from the guys behind Bon Vivants and Trick Dog. Now serving an all-day menu from Executive Chef Jason Fox with new daytime cocktails created by partners, BVHospitality (Bon Vivants, Trick Dog) featuring the vibrant flavors, original combinations, and unique bitters and syrups for which the duo is known. Try the Proper Cup made with pimm’s, gin, strawberry, mint, ginger, cucumber, lemon, lime, seltzer, absinthe.
Cityscape, 333 O'Farrell Street, 0.8 miles from NEMA. Located 46 stories above the streets of Union Square, Cityscape is the tallest skybar in San Francisco and offers 360° views of the City by the Bay. All the drinks are top-notch and named after SF and Bay Area neighborhoods, including the Nob Hill Manhattan and the Pacific Heights (Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon). You won't be able to tear yourself away from the 360-degree vistas, so plan on staying a while with small plates like Dungeness crab with spicy giardineria, natural tobiko, and grilled brioche, and Kennebec potato crisps with a black garlic-charred scallion aioli. Prices are on the higher side but far from outrageous, considering this is a Hilton. Try The Millennial Pink made with tequila, rhubarb juice, mint, triple sec, simple syrup, lime.
Rise Over Run, 33 Turk Street, 0.8 miles from NEMA. Gaze out over sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline at Rise Over Run, a lush rooftop bar and solarium. Share a cocktail — by local legend Danny Louie — and a towered canape with friends around a firepit, or meander the multicultural offerings of Executive Chef Joe Hou inside the greenhouse. The small food menu is heavy on fancy snacks, such as a spicy tuna tostada and mezze platter, but it also has a Double Royale with Cheese that looks too good not to split. Try the Ah Foo King Pineapple made with gin, pineapple, oregano, almond, citrus.
Kaiyō Rooftop, 701 3rd Street, 1.8 miles from NEMA. The rooftop is a tropical oasis in the sky, an immersive Nikkei experience that transports guests the moment they walk through the elevator door. Plants, rich textiles, and stunning food & cocktails invite guests to explore the Japanese culinary influence within Peruvian culture. The oversized bar is a stunning centerpiece with curved arches, emerald green tiles, and hanging woven lanterns. But there’s genuinely not a bad seat in the house, helped out by the fact that the restaurant wraps around the building, so there are magnificent views from the Bay Bridge all the way to Sutro Tower. Try the Space Adventure Cobra made with roku gin, velvet falernum, matcha coconut cream, lemon, passion fruit angostura and aji amarillo bitters.
Rooftop 25, 25 Lusk, 1.8 miles from NEMA. As one of San Francisco’s newest and most sought after outdoor venues, Rooftop 25 offers outdoor seating with upbeat music and a casual vibe perfect for kicking back with friends and family. Rooftop 25 sits 50 feet above street level and is casual and spacious with communal tables and glass windscreens, as well as heaters and string lights for when the sun drops below the horizon. The oakwood fired oven serves up delicious culinary offerings with something for everyone. The full bar offers frozen and specialty cocktails, wines and a great selection of ice cold local beers. Try the Spicy Passionfruit Margarita made with blanco tequila, jalapeno, passionfruit puree, lime, espelette.
Want to refresh your spring cocktail game at home? Here are a few recipes to craft up delicious and vibrant cocktails that you can easily make in your NEMA San Francisco kitchen:
Strawberry Basil Margarita: Muddle fresh strawberries and basil, then shake with tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar. Serve over ice.
Watermelon Mint Refresher: Blend watermelon chunks, mint leaves, and lime juice until smooth. Stir in vodka and pour into glasses filled with ice.
Pineapple Rum Punch: Mix pineapple juice, dark rum, and lime juice. Serve in a glass with ice and garnish with a pineapple slice.
Blackberry Mint Julep: Muddle blackberries and mint leaves, then shake with bourbon and ice. Strain and serve in a glass with crushed ice.
Blueberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail: Mix blueberry syrup, lemon juice, and vodka. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh blueberries.
Peach Bellini: Blend fresh peaches until smooth, then stir in prosecco. Serve in a champagne glass.
Kiwi Lime Mojito: Muddle kiwi slices, lime juice, and mint leaves. Shake with white rum and ice, then serve in a glass with club soda.
Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini: Shake raspberry liqueur, vodka, and lemon juice with ice. Strain and serve in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.
Image Credit: San Francisco Proper on Instagram
Discover San Francisco Luxury Apartments @ NEMA
NEMA’s four apartment building towers and three landscaped terraces offer an amazing array of views overlooking San Francisco’s urban landscape and natural setting. Landmarks in the surrounding skyline include the iconic skyscrapers of the San Francisco Financial District, the dome of City Hall, Golden Gate Bridge, Russian Hill, Bernal Heights, Twin Peaks, and San Francisco Bay. Get social with us and follow our story on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Use #liveNEMA to share with our team.