Rooftop bars in Bucharest: views, prices and what to expect
Bucharest: Pub crawl in the Old city and rooftop hopping in Bucharest
Duration: 4 hours
Are there rooftop bars with good views in Bucharest?
Yes, though Bucharest's relatively flat cityscape means rooftop views are atmospheric rather than spectacular. The best views are from the higher-floor hotel terraces looking toward the Palace of Parliament and the city grid. Drinks cost 35–70 RON (€7–14). Most rooftops are open May–September; some have heated options for winter.
Bucharest is not a city of dramatic rooftop panoramas — it is relatively flat, and communist-era construction replaced much of the pre-war skyline. But several elevated venues offer genuine character and, from some angles, the view of the Palace of Parliament anchored against the Dâmbovița river basin is worth climbing for. Here is what is actually there, priced honestly.
Hotel rooftop terraces
Radisson Blu Hotel — Sky Bar
(Calea Victoriei 63)
The most reliably impressive rooftop bar in central Bucharest. The 24th floor bar has unobstructed views across the city grid, and on clear days the Carpathian foothills are visible to the north. Open to non-guests. Cocktails 55–80 RON; wine by the glass 45–70 RON; beer 25–35 RON. Minimum spend of 100 RON per person at busy times. Smart-casual dress expected. Open 18:00–01:00 in summer, closed or limited hours in winter. Reserve for weekend evenings.
JW Marriott Grand Hotel — 360° Terrace
(Calea 13 Septembrie 90)
Adjacent to the Palace of Parliament, which means the views are among the most architecturally dramatic in the city. The massive communist-era structure fills the southern horizon. Open during summer. Cocktails 60–85 RON. The location is slightly inconvenient (20-minute walk or 25 RON Bolt from the Old Town) but the proximity to the Palace of Parliament makes it worthwhile for the visual context. Particularly good at dusk when the Parliament is lit.
Hotel Cișmigiu — Cloud 9
(Boulevard Regina Elisabeta 38)
A smaller-scale rooftop looking over Cișmigiu Park — Bucharest’s oldest public park. Less dramatic than the Radisson view but more pleasant in atmosphere. Less formal dress code. Cocktails 45–65 RON, beer 20–28 RON. Open May–September, 17:00–midnight. A good option for a quieter early evening drink.
InterContinental Bucharest — Rotary Bar
(Boulevard Nicolae Bălcescu 4)
The top floor of the InterContinental — historically one of the most recognisable buildings on the Bucharest skyline — has a bar with 360° views including the Old Town below and the Palace of Parliament to the south. Open year-round (fully enclosed). Prices are the highest of the hotel rooftops: cocktails 70–95 RON. Reserve well ahead.
Standalone rooftop venues
Terasa Capitalei
(Calea Victoriei 12, upper floors)
A rooftop restaurant and bar in a renovated building on Calea Victoriei. Good views along the boulevard. The atmosphere is casual-to-smart; the menu covers both cocktails and food. Cocktails 40–60 RON, food mains 65–100 RON. Open May–October. This is where Bucharest’s weekend creative crowd comes on summer afternoons.
Ark Rooftop
(Strada Doamnei 12, Old Town adjacent)
A relatively new addition above a hostel in the Old Town area. More casual than the hotel rooftops. Views are partial — adjacent buildings block some sightlines — but the relaxed atmosphere and lower prices (beer 18–22 RON, cocktails 35–50 RON) make it the right choice for a budget-conscious rooftop experience. Open April–October.
Restaurant Vatra — Upper Terrace
(Strada Armenească 11)
Strictly this is a terrace rather than a rooftop, but it is elevated above street level with pleasant views across the residential neighbourhood. More of a summer terrace than a view venue. Food-focused rather than cocktail-focused. Good for a pre-dinner drink in warm weather.
Summer lake terraces (Herăstrău and Floreasca)
These are not strictly rooftop bars but deserve mention as Bucharest’s best warm-weather outdoor drinking venues. The area around Herăstrău Park and Floreasca Lake has a strip of outdoor bar-restaurants that operate May through September.
Acuarela (in Herăstrău Park, lakefront): Tables on a floating platform connected to the shore. Beer 20–28 RON; cocktails 40–55 RON. The lake view at sunset is genuinely pleasant. More restaurant than bar, but lingering over drinks is welcomed.
Omega Dinamo: Lakeside terrace in the Floreasca area, popular with a 28–40 professional crowd. Good for afternoon drinks that run into dinner. Less tourist-facing than the Herăstrău venues.
For more detail on the park area, see the Herăstrău Park guide.
Rooftop and evening tours
If you want to sample multiple elevated venues in one evening without coordinating logistics:
Old Town pub crawl with rooftop hopping — Combines bar visits in Lipscani with access to a curated rooftop venue. About 4 hours starting around 21:00. A practical way to experience the combination without planning each venue independently.
For a broader evening experience with sightseeing context:
2-hour evening sightseeing tour by car — Covers Bucharest’s major illuminated landmarks by car with a guide. A different kind of elevated perspective — from the streets at night rather than a rooftop, but useful for understanding how the city is laid out before choosing where to end your evening.
Practical notes for rooftop visits
Sunset timing: In June–July, sunset is around 20:30–21:00. Arriving at a rooftop bar at 20:00 for a sunset cocktail and staying until dark is the most efficient approach. In September, sunset is earlier (around 19:30) and the crowds thin out after the summer peak.
Weather: Bucharest summers are genuinely hot (35°C+ in July–August). Rooftop bars during the midday heat are unpleasant. The sweet spot is 18:00–21:00 in summer; from 16:00 onwards in September and May.
Wind: Upper-floor venues can be significantly windier than street level, even on calm days. Light layers are useful even in summer for evening rooftop sessions.
Photography: Most rooftops are photography-friendly (they benefit from guests posting images). The Palace of Parliament is particularly photogenic from elevated positions at dusk.
Price comparison: what you pay for the view
| Venue | Beer (RON) | Cocktail (RON) | Minimum spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radisson Blu Sky Bar | 25–35 | 55–80 | 100 RON |
| JW Marriott 360° | 28–38 | 60–85 | 120 RON |
| Hotel Cișmigiu Cloud 9 | 20–28 | 45–65 | None |
| Terasa Capitalei | 20–28 | 40–60 | None |
| Ark Rooftop | 18–22 | 35–50 | None |
| Herăstrău terraces | 18–25 | 38–55 | None |
Exchange: approximately 1 EUR = 5.13 RON.
What to order on a Bucharest rooftop
Cocktails: Most hotel rooftop menus lean toward classic cocktails (Aperol Spritz, mojito, negroni) rather than creative modern mixes. The Radisson Sky Bar and InterContinental Rotary Bar both execute classics competently. If you want a creative cocktail programme, you are better off in a specialist bar at street level — see the best bars guide for Ground Zero and Vieux Carré.
Romanian wine by the glass: An opportunity that hotel rooftops consistently miss. Most serve the usual international labels. However, asking for the Romanian wine list sometimes produces better results — the Cantacuzino Merlot or Tohani Feteasca Neagra are often available at 45–70 RON per glass when you ask specifically.
Beer: Romanian draft lagers (Ursus, Ciuc) are available at all venues and are by far the best value option on a rooftop. At 25–35 RON per 500ml they are cold, competent and perfectly suited to the summer heat.
Avoid: The food menus at hotel rooftops are reliably mediocre relative to their prices. Order snacks (nuts, olives, cheese boards) or have dinner at a proper restaurant beforehand. The exception is JW Marriott, where the kitchen is generally stronger.
Alternative elevated views without bar prices
If you want elevated city views without committing to rooftop bar prices, several options exist:
Palace of Parliament terrace: The guided tour of the Palace of Parliament includes access to the balcony overlooks — not a bar, but the view of Boulevard Unirii from the parliament terrace is one of the best in the city. Tour entry approximately 40–70 RON. See the Palace of Parliament guide.
Top of the InterContinental carpark: The upper levels of the public carpark adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel (Strada Nicolae Bălcescu) provide a free elevated view over central Bucharest. Not glamorous, but occasionally used by photographers.
Piața Revoluției area: While not elevated, standing in the square and looking toward the CEC Palace dome and the Royal Palace gives a ground-level view that rewards understanding. For context, see the Calea Victoriei guide.
Bucharest from a tuk-tuk at night: Several operators offer evening tuk-tuk city tours that cover the illuminated landmarks without requiring elevated position. The Palace of Parliament and the boulevards look excellent at night from a slow-moving vehicle. Less “rooftop” more “mobile panorama.”
For context on the broader nightlife scene, see the Bucharest nightlife guide and the best bars and clubs guide. Calea Victoriei, which connects several of these venues, is covered in detail in the Calea Victoriei guide.
Frequently asked questions about Bucharest rooftop bars
Do I need to book a rooftop bar in advance?
For hotel rooftops on Friday and Saturday evenings in summer, yes — particularly the Radisson and InterContinental. Weekday visits rarely require advance booking. Standalone terraces like Ark and Terasa Capitalei are walk-in friendly.
Which rooftop bar has the best view of the Palace of Parliament?
The JW Marriott terrace is the closest, giving the most direct view of the Palace of Parliament’s scale. The InterContinental Rotary Bar offers a 360° perspective that includes the Palace from a slightly greater distance. Both are considerably better than viewing from street level.
Are rooftop bars suitable for families?
Most are not specifically child-oriented, but hotel rooftop terraces during daytime hours are generally family-appropriate. Ark Rooftop and the Herăstrău lake terraces are the most relaxed. After 22:00, most rooftop venues shift to an adult-only atmosphere in practice if not by formal policy.
Is there a dress code for Bucharest rooftop bars?
Hotel rooftops (Radisson, Marriott, InterContinental) expect smart-casual — shorts may be refused in the evening; flip-flops usually are. Standalone terraces are relaxed. If in doubt, one level above what you would wear to a casual dinner is the right call.
Frequently asked questions about Rooftop bars in Bucharest: views, prices and what to expect
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When are rooftop bars open in Bucharest?
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