Just you, the sky and a cocktail. That’s the ideal of a rooftop bar, and you can’t only find it in places like New York and Miami — the Caribbean has quite a few. The region is full of trendy rooftop bars with terrific views of their surroundings — usually right in the middle of downtown. Here are 12 great ones across the region, from Puerto Rico to Colombia.
Mist at the San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel — Puerto Rico
This is as cool as rooftop bars get in the Caribbean. Mist has panoramic views of the ocean and San Juan and a hip, always bustling atmosphere.
Vegas 360 Bar & Lounge — Curacao
This rooftop bar at the top of the Boulevard complex in Curacao has sweeping views and an emphasis on cutting-edge mixology.
Vent Lounge — Santo Domingo
This relatively new lounge is located on the eighth floor of the BQ Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic’s capital. It’s truly a nightclub in the sky.
Pool Bar — Hyatt Regency Trinidad
The pool at the Hyatt Trinidad offers incredible vistas of Port of Spain, and its adjacent bar is always a great place to kick back and watch the traffic in port with a cocktail.
Rooftop Lounge — O:live Boutique Hotel — Puerto Rico
It’s only for guests (although you can also apply for membership), but this European-accented rooftop is the height of San Juan chic.
CRU Bar and Restaurant — Jamaica
CRU, which opened just about a year ago, has quickly become a corner of Kingston cool, definitely upscale but not without a laid-back vibe.
The Roof Top — Grenada
The relatively new “Roof Top Relaxing Lounge Bar & Restaurant” is a modern, hip bar right in the heart of historic St George’s.
Rooftop Bar — The Cobblestone Inn — St Vincent
Set at the top of a building once used for storing sugarcane, the rooftop bar at the Cobblestone Inn is one of the most popular meeting points in downtown Kingstown, with a beautiful brick decor.
Rooftop at the Renaissance Marina Hotel — Aruba
Set a few stories above downtown Oranjestad, this lounge-style rooftop pool and bar is located at the adults-only Renaissance Marina.
Sky Terrace — Spanish Court Hotel — Jamaica
This is a small bar, but it’s worth the trip up to the beautiful Sky Terrace at the Spanish Court in New Kingston.
ANANDÁ — Colombia
The historic city of Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast is home to a number of great rooftop bars, large and small, including the modern, elegant lounge at the Ananda boutique hotel.
Margaritaville — Jamaica
This hotspot is perhaps the most popular place on the famous Hip Strip in Montego Bay, and it’s also home to an always-hopping rooftop.